Hello there!

A little update here from Mexico.

Last time I wrote I was having some trouble getting used to traveling alone and in a country where people speak ISpanish and not English. Well, lots of things have changed since! Just as I left the city of Chihuahua on the Ferrocarril Chiuahua-Pacifico (the infamous train going through Copper Canyon from Chihuahua to Los Mochis on the Pacific Coast) I started feeling a lot better, even though it was 5 o'clock in the morning. I spent a few days in Copper Canyon in the small pueblos of Creel and Chechaui inside the canyon. And must say I enjoyed life there. The weather was absolutely perfect and the views are simply incredible! It is a lot like being in a pinetree-filled, Mexican version of Grand Canyon - I think that tells a lot about the beauty of this place! So it shouldn't come as a surprise that I'll definietly call this the most rewarding train ride I've ever had! I recommend it a lot - it's not very turisty. I only met a few turists. I became traveling companions with an Italian with whom I shared rooms. He didn't speak good English so everything was in Spanish, which was quite a challenge for me. I also met Trino and Heather from California who was waiting for Trino to get an American residenceship after he has lived illegally in the states for years. Really amazing people all of them, and I wish the best of luck to Trino and Heather - you really deserve it!

I wasn't only enjoying the great views in Copper Canyon. I also visited the Raramui indigenous people. Some of them actually live in caves and they are famous for long distance running which is why they also have an ultra marathon the small town of Urique on the bottom of the Canyon - a place I also visited.

I said my goodbyes to Trino, Heather and Enrico (the name of the Italian) from the train when I was heading south and they north. My next destination was Mazatlan on the Pacific Coast, a highlight in Lonely Planet because of the Urban pleasures mixed with the charm of a beachtown. I must admit that I really didn't really consider it a highlight for me. It is a nice place, with a beautiful beach and a charming main plaza, but you can see that almost everywhere in the Southern European countries, so I wasn't impressed. So I only spent one day there. That day I was actually going on a so-called "booze cruise" with free drinks and a 3 hour boatride for 250 pesos which is just about 20 dollars. I was really excited but when I arrived at the pier, I found out that they had switched the summer time that exact day! So I missed the cruise! That was really, really sad.

So I left Mazatlan for Puerto Vallarta, where I arrived yesterday. This place really seems like a turist paradise. It literally just a big resort. People really see it as a big compliment that I speak Spanish here. It's really silly, but I like it. I have found the best hostel ever and looking forward to spending the next few days here.

Oh, then there is the food. God, I get my taste buds tested! Food is really spicy in this country. But I'm getting used to it :)

That was it for now - hope you're all doing great!