Yariv's Trip

Israel

2006-10-19T08:29:00.000-07:00

It's good to be back home. My school starts on Sunday, and I still have to find an appartment near Ramat Gan, a car and a job. In short, I need to get a life.

Back to Miami

2006-10-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

I am in Miami. Reunioned with Yoav.
In Mexico city I left my hostel and used the Metro to get to the airport. I had to switch 3 trains. It took an hour and it cost only 2 pesos (20 cents). On my first day in Mexico City, when I used the Metro, I kept all my bags close to me. Now I threw all my bags in the corner of the wagon and found a place to sit. My bags are too heavy. I have learnt how much stuff I shouldn't have carried with me. For example: a sleeping bag (if I needed I could rent), heavy shoes, heavy Mexico guide book (buy in Mexico, don't carry to Guatemala), books not for exchange, and so on.
We went straight from the Miami airport to... eat sushi. Oh, I missed sushi. By the way, if you didn't guess what I did with my spare pesos - I went to Las Sirenas.
I will land in Israel on Oct 15th.

Mexico City 2

2006-10-11T09:34:00.000-07:00

That´s my last day in Mexico. I have found that the best way to tour a city is check its restaurants! Yesterday I happened into a fancy restaurant called Las Sirenas. The chicken-mango salad was so good. They even pilled the shell of the tomatoe! Now that´s an indicator for a savvy restaurant. So now I am left with 200 pesos and a spare hour. Mmm... I wonder what I am going to do with all this money...

Here is the Center for Fine Arts.

And the interior.

A poilceman.

Mexico City

2006-10-09T14:10:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I took the last ferry from Isla Mujeres to Cancun at 10pm. Then I went to the CocoBongo which is the best club in Cancun and the best club I´ve been to.

It is huge and it features live shows like in Vegas.

This is Tamar with Betelgeuse.

Every 5 minutes they make a show about another Hollywood movie. This one is a reconstruction of Matrix.

I came to the club with Aimy, a med student from London who travels the around the world in 3 moths (here she is on the ferry to Cancun). In the entrance I was told to look for Shy-li, the girl that gives Israelis a discount. Already in Gutemala I was told to look for her in the Cocobongo. It took me time to find her, although she was standing right at the entrance with a shirt that said Zahal. Shy-li welcomed me very nicely and told me that she thought I was an Israeli with that muchila (bag), but then she saw Aimy and thought we were both European. Shy-li has been promoting Cocobongo for 6 years now. I was warned by her not to drink too much so I miss my flight. She was right because the drinks were free and everyone lost it.

Then on 4:30am I left the club to Cancun´s airport and caught a flight at 7:00am. My plane almost landed in Toluca near Mexico City, but then the pilot pulled for some unknown reason and we flew to Acapulco. Here is Acapulco. It's the first time I see the Pacific ocean.

30 minutes later we landed for refueling and took off again to Toluca. I arrived at Toluca at 11:30. From Toluca I took a bus to Mexico City. In Mexico City I took the Metro, changing it once on the way, to the arrive at Hostel Catedral. And now I am writing after 2 days without sleep. Mexico City was a bit of a shock because of the slums. It looks like a beautiful European city under 10 meters of dirt. In the Metro people stand and try to sell stupid things like only instant glue. I was warned not to take a taxi from the street because I would be kidnapped and raped. Also not to walk with credit card because I will be kidnapped and carried all over the city for ATM withdrawals.
I am out of here in 2 days.

Isla Mujeres 2

2006-10-07T12:22:00.000-07:00

The bad news are that I have a sore throat and I feel ill. The good news are that I can wake up late, lie on the beach, have a lobster for lunch and attend the night party on the beach of my hostel.

Playing vollyball on the beach of Hostel PocNa.

Sunset in Isla Mujeres.

Isla Mujeres

2006-10-04T19:37:00.000-07:00

So, I left Tulum yesterday morning and went to Playa Del Carmen. In Playa I stayed in Youth Hostel Playa. I met there this bunch of med students, one from Israel and the others from Serbia. Together we went out dancing in the Blue Parrot. This morning we moved to Isla Mujeres to PocNa Hostel which is cheaper (100Pesos) and is the center of events at night. Mental note: Serbian girls are sharper like Israelis and Jamaican girls really know how to dance. Every night all the Israelis on the island and some more come to my hostel on the beach for the party. I usually have the 2 for 1 pinacoladas and find out what´s interesting to do around, in hebrew of course.
I bought a flight ticket from Cancun to Mexico City on October 9th.

Tulum 2

2006-09-30T17:49:00.000-07:00

Still here near the most beautifull beach, catching tan everyday.

In the ruins of Tulum I saw many Iguanas.

Tulum

2006-09-27T18:44:00.000-07:00

The most beautiful beach I´ve ever seen. I arrived this morning after a night bus. I am staying at a hostel called Weary Traveler in dorms. It costs like 12USD which is thrice as expensive as Guatemala. I´ll stay here more than one day, although Moshe & Maayan and Moshe & Alyn (two couples I met in Guatemala) already want to leave.

I went to snorkel in Cenote Dos Ojos. Cenote is a staglactites cave filled with sweet water. Dos ojos means Two Eyes - named after the two underwater connected caves.

As we took a ride back we noticed this Tarantula crossing the road as if it was king of the road. When I scared him he got into an attack position.

Palenque, Mexico

2006-09-26T12:03:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I left Guatemala at 5am in a shuttle to the Mexican border. It was a 4 hours ride on rocks until we got to Bethel (few houses in the middle of nothing), where we signed of passports out of Guatemala. Then we proceeded on boat to the other side of the river. It felt like we are being smuggled out of Guatemala, although it´s a very comon way to pass to Mexico. As we landed on the other bank we saw houses with planted grass and a cantina that looked much more advanced than Guatemala. We went by a minibus less than 10 years old to the city of Palenque (2hrs). Palenque in one word is like Osfiya. Many stores that sell cheap clothes and gifts, old low houses, merchants sitting outside of stores. Don´t be mistaken, this is a great advance from the colonial towns I am used to from Guatemala (that looked at times like 19th century). Here there new cars, many TVs, more bored soldiers, different music on the radio, and the people have chinese eyes and brighter skin at times. Oh, I forgot to mention that there are paved roads at last - I can sleep on the buses! I am travelling with Moshe and Maayan - a couple on honeymoon from Flores to Tulum. This evening we will take a bus to Tulum (11hrs), which is my first beach on this trip.

Flores 2

2006-09-24T12:37:00.000-07:00

Every time I come to a new place thinking I will stay 2 days I find myself staying longer, unwilling to pack my stuff and leave. This is the same with Los Amigos Hostel. The atmosphere is really good. As well as Israelis, there are some German girls, Ausy/English/Kiwi group and very nice Dutch owners. I really like the fruit shakes and BBQ chicken dish. The minus - for the first time I have no agua caliente (hot water). In the dorms I meet people with interesting stories, like the Belgian guy who spent a night in Belizian prison because he hadn´t had car insurance and the crying French girl that hates man because one English guy just abandoned her.
Yesterday I got up at 0330am to see Tikal. The way there took and hour and then we started a rapid walk carrying flashlights in the jungle to climb a ¨pyramid¨ and wait for sunrise. We had a nice guide called Little Ceasar that explained about the Mayan history and the archaeological findings. Caesar is 45 years old, 16 years in the business. After his father was shot for treason during the 36 years long civil war of Guatemala, Caesar moved to USA just to find out he is mostly interested in his ancestors´ heritage. Then he came back and studied 3 years just to be a tour guide. Now he makes 700Q a day (teachers earn 1500Q a month). After Tikal, when we came back at 1200pm, I had to fall asleep for 3 hours. Then, at night I went for a night swim in the lake near the hostel. Today I woke up at 10am, ate an expensive lunch in a restaurant (equivalent of 55NIS) and tomorrow I am going to Palenque, Mexico. I am heading to Tulum in Mexico and the fastest way to go there is by Belize, but that will cost 70US$ just to cross the borders for someone with an Israeli passport like me. Belize doesn´t like Israelis. Maybe because we voted against them in UN, or because we armed Guatemala with many Gallils (I see many on soldiers). So I will go north-west to Palenque, and then north-east to Tulum, which is on the Caribbean beaches of Mexico. The rides in Guatemala are the worst I´ve ever had and are very expensive. Tomorrow I will pay 30$ for 6 hours ride, while I pay 3.5$ for a night in my hostel.
There are internet places on the street in every village in Guatemala. They are open for the many tourists. On the other hand - I haven´t had TV in my room all the trip, because it is considered luxury. Most places have hot water by an electric device they put on the shower tap.

Flores

2006-09-22T10:39:00.000-07:00

On the lake of Peten Itza rests Flores, a sunny town close to the Mayan archeological attraction - Tikal. I hoped to find here many Israelis for Rosh Hashana, so I came to Los Amigos Youth Hostel and celebrated the holiday evening with 10 Israelis and another 10 non-israelis who joined us around the table.

Finca Ixobel

2006-09-21T17:33:00.000-07:00

I am here in Finca Ixobel. It is a farm and a hostel near Poptun, Guatemala. I enjoy doing nothing but reading, hammocking, hiking and eating. Tomorrow I am going to check if there is a group of Israelies in a hotel near Tikal to celebrate Rosh Hashana together. In the meantime I have met here people from different nationalities - Dutch girls, German couple, Bask couple, Australians (Ausis), New Zealand surfer (Kiwi), Korean and more. The Dutches were vivid. I almost couldnt understand any word of one of the Ausis.

A dog harrasing a parrot in Finca Ixobel.

I saw these girls in Rio Dulce nd then they came to Finca Ixobel, too. Here they are playing twister in the bar.

In the bar after vodka, tequila, beer and pinacolada (each about 2US$) we danced (did I mention those Dutches?) and at 0030 the fire show began.

I did not see any mokeys around the ranch, but this sign was on the door of the dorms.

Lanquin

2006-09-15T11:11:00.000-07:00

I am in Lanquin, which is a small town near Coban. The attraction here is a piece of heaven called Semuc Champey, which means Natural Bridge in Kiche dialect (the local Maya dialect). That´s because there is a river flowing under some beautifull bathes. I am staying in El Retiro, in dorms with Oded (whose going back to US next week) and another British girl. The Hostel has Americans, Dutch, British and of course Israelis. Last night they served dinner and it was very nice.
This keyboard has letters wiped off it, ufff...

I left Lanquin to Rio Dulce with Roy, Jamie and Laura. We stopped to change bus in El Estor, where we were surrounded by several curious locals. In this picture you can see Jamie in the middle. Jamie is a product of 28 years of American culture. Maybe that is why she likes to travel Guatemala with a plastic dog on wheels. On the left it is a local child staring astonishly at Jamieand at her dog alternately, incapable of grasping why would a modern looking lady act the same like him. So he grabbed the dog by his collar and started walking him around, too.

A chicken on the bus from El Estor to Rio Dulce.

Mosquito net on my bed in Rio Dulce (Hotel Tijax). My roommate found a dead yellow spider near his pillow. Hotel Tijax is on the bank of lake Rio Dulce. All the place is made of wood cabanos 1 meter above the marshy ground.

Dining room at Hotel Tijax, Rio Dulce.

San Pedro 2

2006-09-10T15:46:00.000-07:00

Here are some pics from San Pedro and the surrondings.

Dany and me in San Juan.

This is me fluting in San Juan on my way back from the Indian Nose.

On the way down from the Indian´s Nose.

Me on lake Atitlan and San Pedro Volcano in the background.

Can you see the Indian´s Face?

The view from the Indian´s Nose.

San Pedro

2006-09-06T16:08:00.000-07:00

This is my third day in San-Pedro. It´s a wonderful little town on the lakeside of Atitlan. It´s fun to relax here before I decide to go on with my trip.
Today I did horseback riding and I took a spanish lesson.
Yesterday we danced Salsa in a local club where a girl from Alaska teaches LA-style.

Last night I dreamt of San Pedro
Just like I'd never gone, I knew the song
A young girl with eyes like the desert
It all seems like yesterday, not far away

Tropical the island breeze
All of nature wild and free
This is where I long to be
La isla bonita
And when the samba played
The sun would set so high
Ring through my ears and sting my eyes
Your Spanish lullaby

Chichicastenango

2006-09-03T15:07:00.000-07:00

Today I visited the Sunday market at Chichicastenango together with Israelis I met in Antigua. It was a square mile of colorful cheap souvenirs. Tomorrow we are planning to have a boat to San Pedro and sleep there.

Volcano Pacaya

2006-09-02T18:28:00.000-07:00

This is Volcano Pacaya, as you can notice in the background, it´s active.

I am sitting in an Internet place in Antigua, a spanish music is in the background and I am planning my trip to Gutemala/Mexico. There are many options and people to hang out with so I am not sure yet how it will be. It´s probably going to be Chichi or Atitlan tomorrow. Anyway good morning to you all. Adios por ahora.

Home with Ernesto

2006-08-30T07:14:00.000-07:00

So, as I've already said, Ernesto changed our plans, so we're staying in Miami even though Ernesto has been demoted from a hurricane to a (lower level of) tropical storm. Since tuesday 17:00 we are not recommended to go outside. Nevertheless we managed to sightsee Miami before the storm began.

So, Monday morning we ate breakfast at IHOP (International House of Pancake) :

Then we went straight to Miami Seaquarium. (click to enlarge)

Afterwards we took a walk on the beach of Key Biscane's National Park.

To end a long day we went to Miami Beach to eat sushi,

were we came across a Hustler store:

Ernesto changed plans

2006-08-28T07:00:00.000-07:00

Our Key West plans for Sunday-Tuesday were cancelled due to hurricane Ernesto:

The huricane is expected to arrive at Miami on Wednsday morning. All visitors in Key West were evacuated, so we got a phone call from the hotel just before we left the house.

Miami Saturday

2006-08-26T15:23:00.000-07:00

Here is Yoav's appartment interior:

We are planning to go tomorrow to Key West. Here is where we'll stay: http://www.weatherstationinn.com/

We went out (saturday night) to Lincoln Road, were we ate a lot of sushi in Sushi Siam and took a walk along the avenue. All shops were still open at 23:30, since this is the time most people hang around there in restaurants and so.

Then we went to the Mango Bar on Ocean Dr. :

Miami First

2006-08-26T07:16:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

I have landed in Miami. I met my cousin, Yoav, and he's showing me all around the area.

On Friday morning, Aug. 25th, just after my landing, we drove from the airport straight to have breakfast in Ocean Drive, which is the street by the shore of Miami Beach.

Then we went to Yoav's appartment. This is the outlook from Yoav's appartment:

Here is me in the shopping mall of Bal Harbor. This is a highly prestigeous shopping center, where you can't afford even a lousy T-shirt unless you're Paris Hilton.

I'll keep you posted soon, Have to go to the beach now...