Today we stayed in San Ignacio in Belize. In the afternoon I hiked up a hill. There I visited the Maya ruins, Cahal Petch. This is a small but nice ruin site. In the evening when we were for dinner in a restaurant a lot of children in masks came to get sweets. I have never seen this. Here the kids go from shop to shop and into restaurants to get sweets. Halloween seems to be quite important here in Belize. The picture is from my hike up the hill. A view over a part of San Ignacio.

Today we stayed at the campground in San Ignacio. We organized the border crossing and the trip through Guatemala and did some repair at our RV. We are the only RV here in a beautiful garden. There is another couple in a tent and some other people in cabins here. We have here everything we need like quite fast WIFI, clean toilets, and hot showers. And the shops and restaurants are only 5 minutes walk away. And the climate is much more pleasant than at the sea where is it's hot and humid. We decided to stay two more days here.

Today we traveled from Belize City to San Ignacio. The original plan was to go out to the Caye Caulker Island and do some snorkeling there. But the weather forecast predicted another storm for today. Therefore we decided to travel on. On the way, we visited the St. Herman's Cave and the Blue Hole National Park. These are not very interesting sightseeing points. But for us the best things to do for today. San Ignacio is a nice little town. Here we met a lot of tourists. I think people come to do some tours from here.

Today we traveled from Orange Walk Town to Belize City (103 km). We parked our RV in the Old Belize Marina and went with a taxi into town to visit it. Here at Sunday everything is closed. We didn't see many beautiful things. The town looks old and run-down. Then we went back to the RV and had a nice sunset before a storm with a lot of rain started. The storm caused a power breakdown just in the area where our RV stood. But we can survive with gas and battery for at least a day. The picture shows the Haulover Creek which cuts Belize City in two parts.

Today we stayed at Orange Walk Town. In the morning was a small crocodile just 5 meters away from our RV. Then we made a boat tour to the Maya ruin site Lamanai. It is the best way to take the boat from Orange Walk Town to Lamanai since the road must be very bad. It's about a 40 km ride which took a bit more than an hour with the speedboat. The ruin site is one of the oldest of all Maya sites. The outstanding thing is the Mask pyramid. Here two big masks decorate the pyramid (see picture). The great pyramid is the third highest of all Maya pyramids. Sure enough, we had to climb up. When we came back from the tour we found that our RV was invaded by small ants. We had to fight against hundreds of ants. For now, we were the winners. We have to see if they come back or not.

Today after a swim in the lagoon we drove to the border with Belize (11 km). First, we canceled our visas and the TIP on the Mexican side. Then we drove to the Belize authorities. Here we got new visas, TIP, and insurance for the RV. Everything together needed about 2 hours. Then we drove to Orange Walk Town (58 km). Here we camped at a beautiful river (see picture). Our RV stands only about one meter away from the water in which there are sweetwater crocodiles. We didn't see any in the evening but maybe there is one here in the morning. After almost two months in Mexico, I can say that this is a very beautiful and interesting country. We met a lot of nice people and we never felt unsafe. I hope this will be the case here in Belize too.

Today we traveled from Bacalar to Chetumal (38 km). But first, we did a boat tour on the Bacalar Lagoon. The lagoon was the reason for us to come here. I read that the water has seven different colors. I wanted to see this. On the boat tour, it became clear that the watercolor is related to the water depth. The shallower the water the clearer the blue color is (see picture). Then we drove to Chetumal. First, we went into town to do some shopping and our RV got a wash. Then we camped a bit outside of the town at another lagoon. Our RV stood about 20 meters from the water of the Milagros Lagoon. We had a very nice day at, on and in the water of the lagoons.

Today we first traveled to Cobá and then to Bacalar (310 km). In Cobá we visited a Mayan ruin site again. This one is still in the jungle, is not renovated and you have to walk kilometers from one ruin to the next. Or you rent a bicycle or a rickshaw. We walked the first half and did the second with a rickshaw. And here we could climb a pyramid again as the picture shows. It was quite high and steep and with uneven steps. It was a lot of sweating! In Bacalar are no RV Parks. Therefore we spent another night in a hotel.

Today we traveled from Cancun to Tulum (139 km). We traveled along the Riviera Maya but didn't see the sea one single time. The road was too far away and there were again a lot of hotels between us and the sea. By the way, it's the Caribbean Sea now. In Tulum, we visited the Maya ruin site. It is not spectacular but the beauty is that it lays directly at the sea. Then we went to the RV Park we intended to spend the night. But it was closed. We drove to another one and it was closed too. In the end, we landed in a hotel room again. Tulum is a real Mexican town. Many backpackers come here for vacations. They stay in small hostels or hotels and go out for dinner. We sat in a restaurant with a lot of foreign people. The picture shows the ruins of Tulum at the sea.

Today (2018.10.22) we visited Cancun. First, we drove through the town and went shopping. In my view, Cancun is the most modern city in Mexico. Then we drove out to the beach where the hotels are. Here for about 10 km is one hotel beside another. People who come here for vacations live in their own world. It was hard to find a public beach access. The picture shows how nice the beach is. Since we didn't like the RV Park we were the last night because the bathroom was not clean and only with cold water in the showers we went to another one for this night.

Today we visited first the Maya ruins of Chichen Itza which were only 6 km from our hotel. The ruins are different to the ones we already saw. Here are many decorations visible. There is even a sports arena! Then we drove to Valladolid (42 km). Here we visited the center of the town. It's nothing special. Then we drove to Cancun (173 km). The RV Park is outside the town. We will visit Cancun tomorrow. The picture shows the main building in Chichen Itza.

Today we traveled from Merida first to the Cenotes in Cuzama (46 km) and then to Chichen Itza (96 km). A cenote is a subterranean lake. There are thousands of such cenotes here in Yucatan. We visited three of them today (see picture). The third one was more a cave than a cenote. The fun part was that we were driven there with a horse tram. One way was about 30 minutes. We didn't swim in the cenotes. The water seemed to be quite cold. In Chichen Itza, we didn't like the RV Park and took a hotel room again.

Today we visited the Maya ruin sites of Kabah and Uxmal. Both sites consist of very nice decorated buildings. Then we drove to Merida (116 km). Here again, we lived in a hotel room. We went to visit the center of the town, had a nice Mexican dinner there and watched a light and sound shows at the cathedral. The picture shows another building in the center which is nicely illuminated at night. It's a bank building which contains a museum with free admission.

Today we traveled first to Edzná (53 km) and then to Uxmal (148 km). In Edzná we visited the Maya ruins. These ruins seem to be the oldest Maya ruins. They started to build it already in the year 600 BC. Then we drove to Uxmal on small roads through rich vegetations and agriculture land. Near Uxmal, we took a hotel room since there is no RV Park. The picture shows the main pyramid at Edzná.

Today we traveled from Palenque to Campeche (359 km). The drive was not spectacular. The only nice thing was when we reached the Gulf of Mexico in Champotón. This is the first time we saw it from the south. The last time we were at the Gulf of Mexico was in Texas USA. In Campeche, we went to the historic city to look around and have dinner. Campeche is a walled city founded by the Spanish in 1540. The picture shows the Sea Gate of this wall.

Today we traveled from San Cristóbal de las Casas to Villahermosa (304 km). Our goal is to travel to Palenque. The direct way from San Cristóbal de las Casas would only be 219 km. But this way passes through the town of Ocosingo. Here the people are fighting against the government and build roadblocks during the day and demand a road charge of 50 Pesos. Furthermore a few weeks ago a German and a Polish bicyclist were killed in this region. Therefore nobody drives through Ocosingo anymore. We have to do a detour of 230 km. Since there is no RV Park in Villahermosa we booked a hotel room. The picture shows the Malpaso Lake which we passed on this trip.

Today we stayed in San Cristóbal de las Casas. But it rained until 4 pm. Then we walked to the town center and looked around. It is a small, colorful town. Therefore many foreigners come to visit it. Then we celebrated Katharina's birthday with a very delicious Mexican dinner. The picture shows a corner of the town.

Today we traveled from Tuxtla Gutiérre to San Cristóbal de las Casas (59 km). On the way, we visited the Nationalpark «Cañón del Sumidero». Here are five overlooks to the gorge in which a dam formed a 13 km long lake out of the Grijalva River. The gorge is until 1000 meters deep (see picture). Then we wanted to do the boat tour on the lake. But we had to wait too long. Therefore we traveled further to San Cristóbal de las Casas. Here in the RV Park, we met the Swiss couple again which we met in the RV Park in Teotihuacan. We went together to the town center to have dinner and some drinks together. We had a nice evening together.

Today we traveled from Salina Cruz to Tuxtla Gutierrez (351 km). We drove again over mountains but over plains too. The picture shows the last mountain range we had to cross before we reached Tuxtla Gutierrez. Since there is no RV Park here we checked in to a hotel.

Today we traveled from Oaxaca to Salina Cruz (287 km). The road was even more extreme as yesterday. We drove on a small winding road through the mountains. There was not much traffic, therefore, I didn't have to pass many trucks. In the end, we landed at the Bamba beach at the Pacific Ocean. We stayed overnight in an eco-friendly surf camp. It is far away from any civilization. Therefore there was no Wifi and no running water. The picture shows the Bamba Beach. Here turtles come to lay their eggs. But now was not the right time. We had problems with sand flies, which bite us in legs and arms.

Today we traveled from Puebla to Oaxaca (350 km). First, we visited the pyramid and a church on a hill in Cholula which is a suburb of Puebla. Second, we drove to Oaxaca. The way was mostly on winding one lane roads in mountainous landscapes. I learned how to pass trucks the way Mexican do. They just don't obey any signs and rules. But it works fine. We just saw one accident! The picture shows the church on the hill outside of Puebla.

Today after 18 days in Mexico City we finally were able to continue traveling. We drove to Puebla (132 km). In Puebla, we visited the cathedral and some shopping streets in the historic center. The picture shows the Calle de los Dulces (Street of Candies). Here a lot of shops sell sweet things.

Today we wanted to leave Mexico City. On the way out we stopped at a car workshop. We made an appointment last Saturday to analyze the board computer of our RV and acknowledge some error messages. We brought the RV at 10 am to the workshop. They said they need until 4 pm to do the job. With this is was clear, we can not leave Mexico City today. We spent the day in the city of Texcoco. There was a nice square to sit in the shade of trees and a market to see a lot of things. When we came back to the car workshop at 4 pm they told us that their computer didn't fit our European car. What we wanted to be done couldn't be done. But they checked the car through and couldn't find any problems. And they did it without costs for us. But we lost another day. The picture shows the square in Texcoco.

Today we did the last sightseeing trip to Mexiko City. This time we visited the Chapultepec Park. This park is huge and has a lot of things to do and to see. There is even a lake on which a lot of people cruise with small rented boats. There were a lot of people in the park. We visited the castle on a hill and the Anthropological Museum. The picture shows one side of the Chapultepec Castle. It seems to be an important Mexican monument because a lot of people come to visit it. It contains many different exhibitions. And from the hill, there is a nice view over the city.

On October 3 I could do the administrative work with some days of delay. The days between October 4 and 6 we used to finish the repairs at our RV. During these days we walked many times into the village to buy tools and parts. In the end, we were satisfied with our work. The picture shows the entrance gate to the church which lays near the RV Park.

Overnight we traveled by a bus from Nuevo Laredo to Mexico City. In the morning between 6 and 7 am we arrived in the suburbs of Mexico City. The traffic was huge as always. The bus needed some time to get to the North Bus Terminal. Here we had our breakfast. Then we took the other bus back to Teotihuacan. The rest of the day we just took a rest. The picture shows the traffic in Mexico City. Therefore we never drive into the City with our RV.

Today we arrived in Nuevo Laredo in the morning after a night bus trip (1110 km, 16 hours). First, we had a nice Mexican breakfast and then we took a taxi to the border. Here we got the TIP without any problems. We spent the rest of the day in a shopping center and in the evening we took the bus back to Mexico City. The picture shows the view over the Colorado River from Mexico to the USA. Over the bridge, the traffic moves between the two countries. We had to walk here to get to the customs building.