Hello again!

I am back with the newest updates from Mexico. Since last time I have been several places: I went back to Queretaro, then to Oaxaca in the south, San Cristobal de las Casas in Chiapas and now I am in Palenque waiting for a bus to Tulum.

I went back to visit Anibal again in Queretaro since it was weekend and then he had better time. Actually it was the start of the Semana Santa (Easter) so he was looking forward to some well-deserved vacation. I arrived friday in Queretaro to go to Anibal's University were there the semi-final in the national volleyball tournament was being played. That same night Anibal took me to one of his friends for a private party where I really got to speak a lot of Spanish! I think Anibal was surprised at how good - or not bad - my Spanish was, but all the sangria-like alcohol, tequila and the beers probably helped a lot as well. But that night I learned the most important swear words and his friends came to know me as Pavlychenko because I apparently look like Tottenham's Russian stricker...

I also got to meet Anibals family and his mum and dad at the city of San Juan del Rio where he grew up and where I tasted Mexico's apparently best hot dogs - and I must admit I enjoyed it!

I had to get on with my schedule because I really wanted to go to Oaxaca city to experience the Semana Santa because this place should be so colorful already. And Anibal's just needed to relax from the studies so I used all Sunday to reach Oaxaca where I was picked up by Oscar, a local from Oaxaca who I had written to on couchsurfing.org because whats better than experiencing a Mexican holiday than with a Mexican? Sadly he had to study when I was there but I generally had an excellent time staying at his house with his big Mexican family were I could almost only speak Spanish. Surprisingly enough, I think they liked me because his dad took me to the nearby Maya ruin, Monte Alban, and they told that I was welcome if I ever would come back! What great hospitality I recieved!

Oaxaca itself was a place I immidietly fell in love with. It is a city famous for its artists and thus also their galleries. But you didn't even need to go to a gallery to experience the colorful art of Oaxaca while it was everywhere on the street as well with small fantasy figures in all the colors of the rainbow. I was very fascinated about this place with a cozy plaza and a laidback attitude even though the streets were packed with Mexicans on holiday.

I also got to go to nearby sights as Hierve el Agua which is the like the strangest looking waterfall ever. It looks (and smells) like something from Yellowstone but you won't get boiled if you swim in the water - it's actually pretty nice! Also I went to the ruin Mitla, a wovery and a mezcal destillery where I got my bottle of mezcal with the famous worm in it!

Of I went to San Cristobal de Las Casas to the West and inside a mountain/jungle area. I really found out that I was in the mountains the hard way because it was relatively cold when I arrived. The weather changed quickly though and it got hot as all other places but in the end it started pooring down with rain. The weather has really been something else the last few days in Oaxaca and San Cristobal - it has started perfect with sun and clear blue sky but I also reckon that as soon as I get my sun block on it starts to rain - I have even experienced hail here!

San Cristobal is a nice city though - a lot of backpackers - and I met some really cool people going to an indigenous village through couchsurfing, but if think it might have suffered I little bit from my mood. I have come to a point where I think I just need to rest! I have pushed myself for a long time and experienced a lot of things in a short time - now I look forward to the Caribbean beaches in just a few days!

Today I also went to the ruins of Palenque which was a really cool experience - its something different when it is all surrounded by jungle! You can see pictures from it and all the other things on facebook and on this site soon. But now I will say my good byes. I hope you enjoy Easter out there :)