Introduction

It’s always been Mikaela’s dream (especially after covid curtailed her previous plans) to go to Mexico, and we finally went in April, spending the month there, partly to celebrate her 30th birthday. We both absolutely loved it, the food, the culture, the people, and the place were just amazing.

Vancouver

We flew with Air Canada (who were very good), with our stopover in Vancouver. It was only an hour more than going via LA or SF, and also a bit longer than flying via Dallas. We had 12 hours on the way there. The weather was very grim, but we still enjoyed it.

First stop was Gas Town as we walked around looking for a Tim Hortons (not hard to find). The old town was really pretty.

We then walked over to Granville Island, we really liked it and the market there. Had some great seafood for lunch and a nice beer. From there it was back to the airport (which felt like the 90s) to get our connecting flight to Mexico City.

CDMX

After about 36 hours of travel, we finally were in our AirBNB in the neighborhood of Roma at about 2AM. There was a small taqueria practically next door open, and we had a quick bite to eat, it was great.

On our first full day we headed to the centre of Mexico City to visit the cathedral and the main square.

Next to it, are the old Aztec ruins of Temple Mayor

We then went to Chapultepec park, which was super busy as it was the holidays, and to the castle overlooking it, which was stunning.

It was also very special as we got engaged!

Nothing like going to Lucha Libre the night you get engaged!

Teotihuacan

We took a day trip out to visit the two pyramids just outside Mexico City called Teotihuacan.

It was quite warm, and we had to queue for a while to get in, but definitely worth it. I also climbed one of them, which was serious work.

We then had lunch in this restaurant, La Gruta, which is inside a candlelit cave. It was one of the best meals I had on the trip, and the atmosphere was amazing.

Puebla

After about 4 days in Mexico City we caught a bus out to the old town of Puebla for a few nights.

The view from our hotel was great, with an amazing balcony.

We had an amazing dinner, where we both had mole, at Mural de los Poblanos, to celebrate our engagement. The restaurant, named from the mural, was stunning.

Puerto Escondido

After a short bus back to CMDX, we caught a flight down to the pacific coast town of Puerto Escondido. It was really quite hot, but we loved it.

The sunset was really, really pretty here. Everyone flocks to the beach to watch it.

We stayed in a really nice hotel with a great pool, so we spent one day at the beach, and one day at the pool, which was just as nice. I also enjoyed watching UCL live by a bar on the beach. Watching games live at reasonable times was fantastic.

Oaxaca

After that we caught a bus to Oaxaca, a city in the centre of the country. It was my favourite place and outside of the engagement, the highlight of the trip. I loved it, the colours, the food, the architecture, was just fantastic. I especially loved Oaxacan cheese.

Great Porsche Speedster we saw, that was being used for a wedding.

Hierve el Agua

From Oaxaca, we did a day trip out to Hierve el Agua, some watering holes up in the mountains.

On the way out, we stopped by this tree, the tree with the biggest circumference in the world.

Mikaela had a dip, and we had some of the best food of the trip there.

Yucatan

From Oaxaca, we caught a flight to Cancun on the Yucatan Peninsula, and hired a car for 7 days.

Merida

Stop one was Merida

Chichén Itzá

From Merida, we made our way back to Vallodolid, via Chichén Itzá. This was another highlight. It was really, really impressive.

Xajum Cenote

We then went for a dip in the local cenote, which was just spectacular and so refreshing.

Valladolid

We then spent the night in Valladolid. It was a really great little town, and some awesome food. We barely spent 18 hours here, though.

I inadvertently had (what seemed like) the worlds biggest beer.

It has it’s own cenote in the centre of town.

Talum

For 4 nights, we met up with some friends in Tulum where we all stayed in a beautiful appartment to celebrate Mikaela’s birthday.

With Celeste and the birthday girl at Birthday dinner.

It was just fantastic going to a pub at 1:30PM on a Saturday to watch Chelsea play, eating some fantastic prawns with a few Pacificos. Watching us lose? Not so much.

Birthday on the beach.

CDMX

After here it was back to Mexico City for a couple of nights to see some last minute things.

Outside Frida Kahlo’s house.

Leon Trotsky’s house and museum. This was really cool.

Vancouver

We flew back home through vancouver, and this time we we had some beautiful weather. We headed to Stanley Park.

stanleypark Was pretty happy to see a nice Corvette, too.

Conclusion

All in all it was a fantastic, and highly memorable trip. We had the time of our lives.