MEXICOWe arrived in Mexico City just in time to celebrate Independence Day with the local people. We had a brilliant time and the atmosphere was phenomenal. The following day we watched the Military parade which was very impressive. It seemed like everyone living in Mexico City was out in the zocalo that day. The people are very patriotic to their country but in turmoil with their current political situation. On Sunday we overdosed on the cultural thing and visited museums and art galleries. The best part was that admission was free the whole day. Mexico is so rich in culture and history and the museums are fascinating. Right in the heart of the city is Templo Mayor, an ancient Aztec ruin, surrounded by an urban city. The anthropological museum is impressive and educational, where you can learn about the many ancient civilisations that inhabited Mexico throughout history. From the Mayans to the Toltecs and the Aztecs. The art galleries are wonderful and we can't mention art in Mexico without mentioning Diego Rivera. His murals can be found in public buildings all over the city. His work is quite stunning and seemed ahead of it's time. Catching the metro was an eventful experience. Filled to the max with commuters and people moving through the carriages selling their wares. Anything ranging from Cd's to plasters. The most bizarre thing we saw, was a young man throwing himself onto broken glass with his bare back, trying to earn a few pesos. A harsh realisation of some people's struggle, if this is what they are resorting to, to earn money.From Mexico City we did two day trips to visit ancient ruins. The first was Teotihuacan, an ancient Aztec ruin. We spent the day exploring the archaeological area and were impressed by the enormity of the 2 pyramids. The Sun and the Moon. The pyramid of the Sun is the 3rd largest in the world, one which we can boast to have climbed. A real chore but rewarding as the view of the ruins below was fantastic.The following day we went to Tula, an ancient Toltec ruin. This ruin is on a much smaller scale than Teotihuacan. Known for it's 4 and a half metre stone warrior figures called Atlantes. We were fortunate enough to have the ruins all to ourselves for 20 minutes. This is very rare considering it is a tourist attraction. It was a wonderful feeling to be there on our own, to soak it all in.Next we took a night bus for a 15 hour journey to Palenque, an ancient Mayan ruin. The ruin is surrounded by an emerald green jungle and the humidity here is very high, which you certainly notice once you start scaling the stairs of all the temples. Palenque rose to prominence under the 7th century ruler Pakal, whose treasure loaded tomb deep within the fine Temple of Inscriptions was discovered in 1952. The Palenque ruins are thought to be the most beautiful of all the Mayan ruins.Yey, another 15 hour bus journey later and we found ourselves in Oaxaca. The old town is a World Heritage site, filled with lovely Spanish Colonial buildings and inviting cafes and shops. You can see why UNESCO gave it a stamp of approval. The main zocalo was a stark contrast, where people were staging a political protest and had set up camp outside the Palacio Gobierno (government office) which had most of it's windows shattered. Political graffiti adorns most of the buildings in the surrounding area. In spite of this, Oaxaca is a colourful and laid back town.Eager for some beach time we headed towards Puerto Escondido. On route we had a minor hair raising encounter with a group of protesters, who threw a beam of wood with massive nails protruding from it, in front of our bus to ensure that the vehicle stopped in it's tracks. Our hearts started beating a little faster as we weren't sure what would happen next. They surrounded the bus and pasted political stickers all over the vehicle and then let us pass. Relieved, we carried on our journey along the windiest road known to mankind. The scenery through the mountains was breathtaking but after 6 hours of sliding around in our seats, we were glad to finally arrive at our destination. Puerto Escondido is a lovely seaside town and a haven for surfers, as it is home to the famous Mexican pipeline. With some 20 foot waves crashing onto the beach. Not for the faint hearted.We spent our last day back in Mexico City with the Hostal Cactus crew. Saying goodbye over a few beers with new friends and a wannabe Keanu Reeves look a like. Mexico is a beautiful country with so much to offer and we had a fantastic time. A destination that needs to be returned to.