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A Latin American Adventure
  • Robert Allan
  • Robert Allan

A Latin American Adventure

A couple of Scotland friendlies, some exploring, new cultures and relaxation in Panama, Peru, Mexico and Cuba. Read more
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  • Robert AllanA Latin American AdventureTraveler

    Cancun

    June 4, 2018 in Mexico ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    Wee lie in after walking around Teotihuacan, and late flight yesterday.

    Walked 4km to the main hotel area, blisteringly hot, even in the shade. Stopped off to cool down at a beach side bar. Fantastic views of the Caribbean, but definitely an all inclusive holiday destination, with huge hotels. A bit too much of the American model for me. You can't walk far without someone trying to sell you something, or offering a taxi.

    Cracking sunset though.    Read more

  • Robert AllanA Latin American AdventureTraveler

    Temozón, Mayan town

    June 5, 2018 in Mexico ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    After the hacienda we pass through the small town of Temozón, where their first language is still Mayan, only learning Spanish at school. Here the local churches have been built from the remnants of Mayan temples, destroyed by the Spanish.Read more

  • Robert AllanA Latin American AdventureTraveler

    Las Coloradas

    June 5, 2018 in Mexico ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    It's another two hours north from Valladolid to Las Coloradas. These are a serious of shallow lagoons, initially filled with sea water, then transferred every two and a half weeks to the next.

    The first few lagoons still have micro organisms in, which flamingos feed on. The colour changes from blue, to brown, to eventually pink in the final lake, where the water evaporates and the salt can be extracted. The process from sea to extraction takes about six months. It's only recently opened to the public, as it's a working salt factory.Read more

  • Robert AllanA Latin American AdventureTraveler

    Mangrove Boat ride

    June 5, 2018 in Mexico

    About 30 minutes from Las Coloradas, we got on little boat's under a bridge. This river is the Ria Lagartos, not Río, as Río is fresh water, and Ria is a salt water river.

    We went up river to a large lagoon, where we spotted flamingos. Then a little bit down we beached to get mud packs put on us.Read more

  • Robert AllanA Latin American AdventureTraveler
    1

    Río Lagartos

    June 5, 2018 in Mexico ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    We then went past the bridge, down river, spotting heron, more flamingos and an eagle. We looked for alligators, but never spotted any.

    We eventually passed the small town of Río Lagartos, were we beached again near the mouth of the river, to swim and wash the mud off us. After about half an hours swimming, we crossed the lagoon to Río Lagartos, stopping for lunch.Read more

  • Robert AllanA Latin American AdventureTraveler

    Chichen Itza

    June 6, 2018 in Mexico ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    A very early, 5am start to the day, so that we beat the crowds and heat of Chichen Itza. We were the first in the car park at 8am.

    Chichen Itza was set out by the Mayans 1100 years ago, with three main Temple's around a plaza. They worshipped the Corn god, so each temple was located to aid the seeding and harvesting of it. The Temple of the Warriors had a statue in the middle of it which would line up with the sunrises on spring and autumn solstices (21st March & 21st September).

    The Kukulcan Temple, the main pyramid at Chichen Itza, was used to determine midday on the Summer Solstice. It had 365 steps for each of the day's.

    The Temple of the Jaguar lined up with the solstice sunsets. Each temple was precisely aligned with each other, using the open mouthed statue of a serpents head to align with the other Temple's. The Kukulcan Temple was even sloped south to North, so that the Sunrise on a certain day would light up the side of the North stairway, representing the serpents body, whose head was at the bottom of the stairs.    Read more

  • Robert AllanA Latin American AdventureTraveler

    Pelota Ball court

    June 6, 2018 in Mexico ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Behind the Temple of the Jaguar was the Great Ball Court. A capital "ɪ' shaped court surrounded by 10m high walls, made from limestone. This allowed the court to have a great resonance, and even though it was 167m long, it's said you could talk to someone at the other end without shouting. At one end was the Kings viewing area, at the other the dignitaries.

    The Mayans managed to discover the technique of vulcanising rubber, and made a ball out of it. The game involved passing the ball between players using only the shoulders, chest or hips. They would try to pass the ball to their captain, who stood on a raised platform the length of the court at the side. He had a stick which he needed to propel the ball through a ring, high up on the centre, side of the court.

    Legends say that the winning Capitan would present his own head to the losing Capitan, who then decapitates him. While this may seem a very strange reward, the Mayans believed that this to be the ultimate honour. The winning Capitan getting a direct ticket for heaven instead of going through the 13 high steps that the Mayan's believed they had to go through in order to reach a peaceful heaven.    Read more

  • Robert AllanA Latin American AdventureTraveler

    Sagrado Cenote

    June 6, 2018 in Mexico ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    To the north of the site lay a Cenote, where the ground had collapsed and formed a lake. There was another to the south of the plaza. Near it was a much smaller pyramid.

    Ater that we stopped at the obligatory souvenir stalls.Read more

  • Robert AllanA Latin American AdventureTraveler

    México City

    June 7, 2018 in Mexico ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    The flight from Cancún was ahead of time. Really like them showing the view from the front of the plane during take-offs and landings. But with folk taking their time getting off the plane, and a shuttle bus to the terminal, it made for a very quick stopover in México City, an hour and 45 minutes.

    Because the next flight was International to Cuba, for some reason I wasn't allowed to check-in online or at Cancún. So I had to pick up my bag, then go to International check-in, which seemed miles away, checked it onto the flight, then go through security again. Finally got through with about 40 minutes before the flight, 10 minutes before flying, just enough time to get a drink.    Read more

  • Robert AllanA Latin American AdventureTraveler

    Havana

    June 7, 2018 in Cuba ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Thought it was going to be a flight from hell to Havana, with a noisy guy on my left, and a screaming bairn across the aisle. Thankfully both fell asleep after take-off. Turned out to be a pretty good flight from México City, arriving in Havana 15 minutes ahead of schedule.

    Got into the terminal and queueing for the Immigration took about 30 minutes, in a dimly lit hall. Then took about another 30 minutes until I finally received the bag, due to the baggage carousel breaking down. Suppose I better get used to this. Accommodation is a Casa Particular, basically a Bed and Breakfast, in Old Havana which is a grid of old streets, looks a bit "interesting" but perfectly safe.    Read more

  • Robert AllanA Latin American AdventureTraveler
    Castillo De Los Tres Reyes Del Morro

    Malecón

    June 8, 2018 in Cuba ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    I walked not far north until I reached the road along the waterfront. This is Malecón, an 8km long promenade. Walking to the east, and towards central Havana, you realise the contrast of the bygone buildings, some retain their splendor, others have been left to become decrepit. It must have looked amazing in those days. Once closer to the centre, more have been preserved.

    From the most eastern part of Malecón you get a view across the entrance of Havana port to the impressively named Castillo De Los Tres Reyes Del Morro. Lots of locals rod fishing here.

    Along the way you can't but notice the variety of transport.    Read more

  • Robert AllanA Latin American AdventureTraveler

    Plaza 13 de Mayo

    June 8, 2018 in Cuba ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    Coming southwards into the port, I come across the Plaza de Trece de Mayo. In it there's statues for Gustavo Morez, José Martí, the writer during the independence revolution, and a huge Cuban flag.

    Just behind that is the Museo de la Revolución, with a part of the original city wall on one side at the front, and the tank Fidel Castro used to fire a shot at a US destroyer on the other side.    Read more

  • Robert AllanA Latin American AdventureTraveler

    Castillo de la Real Fuerza

    June 8, 2018 in Cuba ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    This is not what I was expecting to see in Havana, a star shaped castle with a moat completely around it.

    After Havana was raided in 1555 by French buccaneer Jacques de Sores, destroying the original fortress, it was necessary to build a new fort to protect the city from further pirate attacks. Castillo de la Real Fuerza was completed in 1577 to serve this purpose, but soon proved to be ineffective because of its poor position too far inside the bay.

    No longer useful for defense, military commanders and governors moved in to make the castle their residence. It also was used as a place to safely store treasures brought from America.

    In 1634, the lookout tower was crowned with a bronze weather vane known as La Giraldilla. It soon became a symbol of Havana, even though there is disagreement about what it represents. Theories range from it being a symbol of victory, a representation of Seville, and a likeness of Ines de Bobadilla, the wife of Spanish governor Hernando de Soto.    Read more

  • Robert AllanA Latin American AdventureTraveler

    Plaza de la Catedral

    June 8, 2018 in Cuba ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    I wander further along the side of the Port and came across Plaza de la Catedral. A lot more tourists here, so followed their routes and found some interesting streets, and a bar "La Bodeguita del Medio" famous for something, have to investigate the Internet when I get it again, to find out why?

    Update: It turns out Ernest Hemingway was a regular at this bar.    Read more

  • Robert AllanA Latin American AdventureTraveler
    El Capitolio
    Old Bacardi building

    Parque Central

    June 8, 2018 in Cuba ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    I spot a lot of old American cars, they are everywhere, but these one's are in great nick. This is Parque Central where a lot of tourist buses start their tours from, hence the guy's offering tours in the cars.

    Next to Parque Central is a very impressive building, El Capitolio, or National Capitol Building. It was the organization of government in Cuba until after the Cuban Revolution in 1959, and is now home to the Cuban Academy of Sciences. "El Capitolio" has a size of 681 by 300 ft. Its design is compared to that of the United States Capitol.    Read more

  • Robert AllanA Latin American AdventureTraveler

    Plaza de la Revolución

    June 9, 2018 in Cuba ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C

    This was the turning point of the hop on hop off bus. A huge plaza, with a massive modern monument to Jose Marti, and a couple of buildings looking over it with the efigies of Fidel Castro and Che Guevara on them.

    After the bus tour, I move Casa particulars to the G Adventures meeting one. There I meet up with the tour group, going over our itinerary, before going for a meal at a local restaurant.

    The group is made up of an Irish couple, Kevin & Ruth; a Canadian couple, Gino & Hazel: an English couple, Adam & Hayley; a couple of Irish friends, Clodagh & Veronica; friends who met on a Sri Lankan tour, Joss from New Zealand and Becky from Scotland; a Norwegian girl, Nina; a German girl, Petra; another New Zealander, Leann; a German guy, Christian; and Ian from England. The guide was Jorge Luis, the bus driver Michel, both from Cuba.    Read more

  • Robert AllanA Latin American AdventureTraveler

    Cueva del Indio

    June 10, 2018 in Cuba ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    Next we go through the small town of Vinales, where we'll spend the next two nights, but we don't stop. Instead we head up a small gorge to the Indian Cave (Cueva del Indio).

    We climb a little to the cave entrance, go in about 250m, before coming to a river inside the cave. We board small boats to tour the rest of the cave, finally coming out into the daylight, and a landing stage.Read more

  • Robert AllanA Latin American AdventureTraveler

    Finca Macondo

    June 10, 2018 in Cuba ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    After visiting the cave we travel not too far to a small farm that produces and makes their own cigars.

    We visit the drying shed, where they constantly rotate the racks of leaves from top to bottom. Then we are given a demonstration of the making of a cigar, before getting to smoke one. Wasn't as unpleasant as I thought it would be. They dip the mouth end in honey, and because they don't use preservatives, it doesn't reek.Read more

  • Robert AllanA Latin American AdventureTraveler

    Dance show

    June 10, 2018 in Cuba ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    So after the meal tonight we visited an open air dance show, and the salsa looked a lot more intruquite than what we had been taught, but the basic steps were the same.

    On the walk to the homestay after, we got a great lightening show over the mountains.Read more

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