“Hey Xela, stars about to fall so what do you say, Xela” – Noel Gallagher, lyrics altered slightly (Lyla) Quetzaltenango (Xela) is a decent backpacking beast. Factually it is Guatemala’s second biggest city. Though quite where these half a million odd locals actually are could baffle you. We arrived across the border from Ciudad Cuauhtemoc…
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After Mexico it was time for some backpacking in Guatemala. It was my first time in the country and on the first night, after crossing the border from Ciudad Cuauhtemoc into La Mesilla, we got two chicken buses to Quetzaltenango, also known as Xela. A few days before we needed to book a hostel though,…
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Time for another installment of World Borders, and yes that means another journey with my passport exiting one land and entering another land. This was actually the first ever border I crossed in Central America and I only did it recently on the first of August, so here’s a run down of my journey, which…
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On a day tour to Palenque and Agua Azul, there was also the added bonus of a trip to Misol Ha waterfall, you an book a trip there using Guatego. This was on one of the side trips we did while based in San Cristobal de las Casas – a day out to Agua Azul…
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Mexico certainly surprised me. I loved the food, the people and the variety of things to see and do. In between all the tours of Mayan ruins, football stadiums and getting my fix of tacos and enchiladas, it was also my girlfriend’s birthday. So rather than settle for another night on a night bus or…
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The Mexicans are great at food and quirky appetite quenching ideas. Hats (or sombreros) off to them for that. I’ve been backpacking in Mexico recently and visited places like Mexico City, Teotihuacan, Oaxaca, Monte Alban and San Cristobal de las Casas. Food and drink wise, it’s been overwhelming! I could write about 20 Friday’s Featured…
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It’s been seven years since I went backpacking in the USA and while I have fond memories of touring Los Angeles and New York on the cheap, it’s the realisation that the world is huge and we may never be there again. Here’s a sure fire top 5 things to do in Atlantic City in New…
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Mexico roped me in with food. I’m not a food freak at all but while in Mexico I simply loved the food and drink and the endless bars and restaurants in places like Mexico City, Oaxaca de Juarez and especially in San Cristobal de las Casas. With Friday’s Featured Foods to come on Mexico, it’s…
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Mexico had more surprises for us than we could have predicted. While spending five days in San Cristobal de las Casas it became obvious that the easiest way to Guatemala would be to base ourselves there, do a few side trips then get a bus south to Ciudad Cuatemhoc. After our time in Oaxaca and…
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Here goes. This is a big one. A big one for me personally. Every single time I hear the mention of Maradona, Norman Whiteside, Jose Batista, Joel Bats etc. I get inspired. The 1986 World Cup Finals in Mexico were my first major childhood memory. Northern Ireland qualified. We punched well above our weight, defying…
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