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Ola!!!
Well its only day 3 in Mexico and I feel like I have been here for weeks. It�s bloody hot and will probably only get hotter.
Spent my last couple of days in Santa Monica soaking up the atmosphere and then flew out of LA on Thursday night, Friday morning (00.30am to be exact) and landed in Guadalajara at 5:25am (only 3 hours flying but a 2 hour time difference).
Guadalajara is the next biggest city to Mexico and only 5 hours from the Pacific Coast.
I was still suffering from jetlag so didn�t mind the overnight jaunt. It was still very dark when I arrived so I decided to hang out in the airport until it became light. Caught the local bus and made my way (after not getting off at the right stop and having to go back the same way again) to the city centre. Found some nice accommodation for 270 pesos p�night ($27US - sorry to use US as a reference but 10 pesos = $1US hence easy to convert). Spent the arvo either catching a few zzz�s�or walking the streets checking out the sights. �
I cannot believe in the heat that all of the women, and I�m talking at least 95% wear jeans, like all of the time. Only those under 10 or over 50 wear skirts, and just a handful of men are seen in shorts - just don�t get it!!!
Mexicans must love shoes as every second shop is a shoe store - now don�t get excited Mel and Di as they are not fab in style but are�pretty darn cheap.
The language barrier is interesting - not a lot of english is spoken and so trying to get from A to B can be pretty tricky. Thank god I bought the lonley planet Mexican Spanish Phrase book!!!!
Spent my 2nd day taking a short trip to the suburb of Tlaquepaque (7km away). Here there were many beautiful art, craft and homewares shops. It was very beautiful and I found an amazing artist� �Rodo Padilla�who paints and sculpts fat people. It was very good and I have taken some photos in which I will upload at a later date (don�t have my connection cord with me to download at this moment).
I had a interesting luch here of fresh fruit sprinkled with chili, salt and lime juice. Yes everything comes with chili, even frsh fruit and surprisingly enough it was quite yummy.
Once back in the city centre I went for a wonder on the other side of the city to the day before. I found lots of street stalls and even an undercover market that had literally hundreds, maybe even a thousand, stalls. There were even food courts which turned my stomach and may have put me off seafood forever. (no refrigeration and no ice - hate to think what the chances of getting food poisen from those places is like)
I also found the plaza which is famous for �Mariachis�music. Fortunately there was a group in the square and I got to enjoy a song or two over a carona or two. I had to laugh at one of the guys who continued to smoke his cigarette throughout the song while playing his trumpet. It actually costs about $10US for a song but fortunately it was the other tourists paying and I just got to enjoy. Speaking of tourists, I very rarely saw a white tourist here only Mexicans.
Now its day 3 and I have made it to the Pacific Coast. There are lots of white tourists here and I would hate to think what it is like in the peak season. Have found myself a nice hovel to stay in ($20US p,night) and will be moving out first thing in the morning to a nicer hovel up the street for $25US p,night and a balcony. I know I should be saving my pesos but I am to used to the nicer things in life - will all probably change once I have been here a few more weeks.
Hope to add some photos tomorrow. Internet is cheap at $1US per hour and its also a good way to fill in an hour of an evening so get ready to be inundated with my journal logs.
Dad - Happy Birthday. Was planning to ring but have spent the afternoon searching for a phone card with no success. Hopefully tomorrow when more shops are open I will find one.
Will sign off for now.
Love Fi xx
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