Leaving Taxco

I am in an internet cafe in what I regard to be the most beautiful Mexican city I have ever seen. Although, I think I´ve dream of a similar place many times, it was always a composite of past travel experiences, fantastic pictures and a healthy dose of imagination. But for the last 3 days I´ve been living that vision.

We arrived 3 nights ago after a long bus ride from Acapulco, winding through intense switch backs and overlooking cliffs that dropped hundreds of feet to valleys bellow. The intensity of that was made all the greater by the fact that we are in Mexico, so people are swerving to pass while honking and considering the double yellow line little more then a warning. Compounding all of this was the fact that there was large cows grazing randomly on the very edge of the road (sometimes while standing on the road too.) Arriving in town it was nice and cool, like a warm Summer´s Victoria night, which let me tell you, after 6 days in the humidity of Acapulco is nice!

We unloaded from our bus and looked upon the colonial town that was built into the side of a mountain. Built in this location because of rich silver deposits the whole town is steep and narrow cobblestone streets built around a massive and gorgeous Cathedral. The people are exceptionally friendly, standing lost in the Zocalo (plaza at the center of almost all Spanish towns) and staring at our Lonely Planet map a number of people approached us to offer directions. With such help we soon found our hostel tucked quietly away in one of the corners of the market.

It was a sprawling 3 terraced level 15 room beauty for a rather fair price that looked out over many of the roofs of the city. But none of us were in the mood for views, it was food and drink that we all wanted after 6 hours pent up in a bus.

Wondering lost through the city we paused obviously lost at another zocalo and two pretty american birds came over to offer aid. They pointed out some places on the map, I played dumb and talked them into a guided tour in exchange for some beers. We hit a local hot spot and much food and drink is imbibed while we get the basic background of the town. Apparently it is a big hotspot for Americans to come to study Spanish (that does hurt the charm a litle.)

The charm of the city persisted as I strolled through many markets, and countless silver stores with beautiful hand crafted works.

Unfortunately today is the last day with my good friend Lee on the trip as he heads back to Victoria early tomorrow morning. I am going to miss having him as a travel companion, we made each other laugh throughout the last 10 days, whether playing frisbee in a 12 meter pool, gawking at gorgeous girls, or playing which of these two hot starlets would you rather. The party has now dwindled to two and Heather and I are continuing south this afternoon to either Oaxaca or right to Guatemalan border.