The Mexican Pacific Coast,
Puerto Escondido and Zipolite.

Thursday 24th we moved on to Peurto Escondido - an eight hour bus ride. We arrived right on dusk and walked down a steep cobbled street to find the hostel, where we had booked dormitory beds over the Internet, had messed up our booking, BUT they could offer us a private room at a cheaper price. Fantastic! Third floor again but a beautiful room with sea views and a balcony big enough for chairs.

We loved the hostel and Puerto Escondido so much our planned two days turned into five. Our hostel was full of friendly travellers from around the globe (Scotland, New Zealand, U.K., Sweden, Japan, Iceland, Finland, France, Germany, USA, Canada and 2 Aussie lads). The Aussies organized a BBQ for Saturday night and bought fresh fish off the boats and veggies from the markets, then costed it out at around $A3.50 each! It was a feast and so good to eat simple food, with no chili for a change. Each night we would all gather in the common room and drink, talk and play pool. Puerto Escondido is a major surfing beach, but also has sheltered bays and there is no wind just a constant gentle breeze.
 
We abandoned our plans to go inland to Oaxaca and thought we would travel a little further down the coast to a little village called Zipolite. We caught a local bus (non-existent springs and Mexico has the biggest and most speed humps known to man) to the town of Pochulta and then a 4 wheel drive utility with seats in the back, to eventually find the village. We did not have accommodation booked, but soon found one - you guessed it 3rd floor again! Very basic with cold shower only, but right on the beach - almost on top of the surf - with hammocks on the balcony to watch the sunset. Eating is pretty cheap at $A2.50 for a meal of chicken, beans and rice and the same for a cooked breakfast.
 
Next it will be farewell to the Pacific Coast and we´ll put ourselves in the hands of a bus driver for some 13 hours to take us to the border of Guatemala. It is only a temporary farewell to Mexico as we plan to re enter at the Yucatan Peninsular, after Guatemala and Belize.