Trip dates: May 1, 2024 - May 20, 2024
A memoryMy first adventure to South America (albeit a short one)!
Trip activity
First flight on my way to Mexico City
I'm really excited for this trip although a nervous about leaving Ericka and Jaxon at home for three weeks.
Couple of hours to transit in Sydney
Then 15+hours to Dallas
Lining up at US Customs
Here’s hoping I make my flight and don’t start acting like a sheep with all these lines but I must say it looks much more organised that LAX so need to keep an eye on the positives
Arrived safely in Mexico City
I'm excited to have arrived safely at the Hilton Reforma. I'm pretty wrecked from the flight and going to sleep well tonight (hopefully)
Sunrise from Mexico City
Sleep didn't work out too well for me but the positive is I got to see this really cool sunrise over the historical center of Mexico City
Walking tour
Took an interesting walking tour of Mexico City. Heard about the history of the region pre-Spanish "influence" and after.
I previously commented to Ericka that parts of Mexico could be in the Philippines, there's a lot of similarities. Today I learned they are actually much more connected than I realised. When the Spanish "took over" the Philippines it was actually administered by Mexico on behalf of Spain. I later learned that 5-10% of the Tagalog language has Aztec influence. Isn't that interesting?
Eating some local food at El Caifan
The food is good although I ordered too much of course haha
Plaza de las Tres Culturas
An archaeological site where they’re excavating temples
Peramide de la Luna y Sol
The Pyramids of the Moon and Sun (are not actually pyramids as they do not have a pointed peak) was really cool (but bloody hot). Had a really nice group of people on the tour too.
Basilica de Santa Maria de Guadalupe
The monastery had its origins in the late 13th century, when a shepherd from Cáceres, named Gil Cordero, discovered on the bank of the Guadalupe River a statue of the Blessed Virgin, which had been apparently hidden by local inhabitants from Moorish invaders in 714. On the site of his discovery a chapel was built, dedicated under the title of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
King Alfonso XI, who visited the chapel more than once, invoked Santa Maria de Guadalupe in the Battle of Rio Salado. After gaining the victory, he ascribed it to the Madonna's intercession, declared the church at Guadalupe a royal sanctuary and undertook an extensive rebuilding program.
There's actually four buildings on the site now.
A lovely moment 😎
Over two decades ago, I befriended Claudia from Mexico online. We regularly chatted, occasionally exchanged gifts, and kept each other updated on our lives and milestones, maintaining a steady friendship despite life's distractions.
Today we finally met for the first time! Thank you and Sandra for your time, the Enfrijoladas de Pollo and Chamoyadas (still not sure if I like this or not!) and for your thoughtful gifts for Ericka, Jaxon and Ethan!
We will meet again; maybe in Australia next time 😀
Museum of anthropology
Well worth a visit if you're in Mexico City. The museum is split up by culture but has an amazing flow; you explore the exhibits and then step outside to "recreations" in the gardens. I spent way too long here
Arrived at Cancun
Left Mexico City and arrived in Cancun in preparation for the Awesome Motive Annual Retreat. Really excited!
AM Retreat starts tomorrow
The venue for the retreat is the same as last year but still great. This year I have a view of the beach from my room and I can hear the waves crashing on the beach which is super relaxing.
Retreat is sadly done…
On my way to Ecuador via Panama 😎 you know its too early when the airport is practically empty haha
Flying into Panama 🇵🇦
I wont be spending much time in Panama but the view flying in was spectacular.
Landed in South America
The first time for me officially in South America; another continent ✅
Adamas Hotel is very cute
Having shortness of breath sometimes with the altitude but I was expecting that
Walking tour off Quito was great
The tour was great and was a great exploration of both indiginous and post-Spanish history. Did some dancing, talked about guinea pig medicine, drank some "chicken based" booze and a dope-pop haha
Uno cafe
Been searching for a great coffee shop, could En-Dulce be it?
Middle of the World
While I know this is very much a tourist trap it was still cool. The "experiments" were questionable to say the least though haha
The clouds really roll in here in Quito
It's quite amazing at this altitude to see the clouds rolling in.
Cute little cafe called Crustum 2850
The cake tasted like something Nanna J would have made me once upon a time
Bringing some treats home 🍫
Hummingbird experience
The hummingbirds were so tiny and cute. Legit one of my best wildlife experiences I've had in my life to date. The ones with little pants on were my favourite!
Ziplining above the canopy
I'm not the most adventurest person but the ziplining experience was fun. There was one that ran for 1.5hrs; firm pass on that though haha
Trekking in Mindo rainforest
The walk was great and the waterfalls looked beautiful. I forgot that I could go swimming and didn't bring my boardies but that's okay.
Chocolate tour, tasting and mask
The visit to "Yumbos" was great. They talked through the whole process, the different types of cocoa plants and even gave me a cocoa face mask.
Markets and Indigenous community
One our way to Quilatoa we visited a market and indigenous community. Was very nice to see all the different fruits and foods.
Quilotoa volcano climb
It was beautiful as you can see but I was always going to get to the lagoon and back up, even if it took a long time. I was walking with a Mexican friend I had made who was struggling but we got up together.
My phone recorded that we had walked 9kms and done 110 flights of stairs.
I told her that the Aussie way is that there is "no mate left behind" haha
My time in Ecuador comes to an end
With a 4:30am flight to Bogotá and then onto Mexico City again just for 1 night . I tried to get some sleep before heading to the airport but alas I couldn’t nod off.
Got to experience my first “private inspection” while going through security. I guess it is very common place in South America. It’s funny, it doesn’t matter that I know I have nothing; it is still nerve racking.
The flight to Bogotá is only 1.5 hrs and then I have a 2hr transit. I should get into Mexico City around 1pm and expect to crash at the hotel pretty quickly!
Arrived in Bogotá
Just for a couple of hours though but flying in, Bogota looks beautiful as well. Maybe next time I will get the chance to explore more!
Back in Mexico City for the night
Lucky I wasn’t planning to explore around the hotel. It’s a little rough looking outside but free shuttle for tomorrow morning!
First of 3 flights & 30+ hours travel
Heading home and excited to give Ericka and Jaxon bigggg hugs ❤️ While 3 weeks felt too long away from Ericka it’s been amazing and full of firsts and milestones for me;
- I reached 32 countries visited
- first time hanging out in Mexico City
- first time meeting Claudia Hernández González after being friends for 25+ years
- first time visiting South America and Ecuador
- highest I’ve ever been (not on a plane) at over 3800 meters above sea level
- first time feeding hummingbirds
- first time dealing with low oxygen climate due the altitude
- first time meeting many of my new colleagues
I’ve got a long trip ahead 🇲🇽 ✈️ 🇺🇸 ✈️🇦🇺 ✈️ 🏠 but it’s all worth it 😀 thank you Ericka for your patience, trust and understanding
Back in Dallas for 5 hours
Immigration and re-security lines were long but fast moving. I’m glad I planned for a long stopover though; so much less stress haha I did get "randomly screened" again by security at the gate. I asked "If it was random, why is my name on a list there?". She said that "it was randomly added to that list" hahah
17 hour flight to Sydney incoming.
Transit in Sydney then Radelaide
Flight was okay other than the big guy trying to cuddle me all the way. Managed to get a few hours sleep despite that (or maybe because of?)Sydney immigration was crazy; so many agents shouting different things and people pushing their way through. Haven’t seen it that bad. I also couldn’t use the egates because I’d been to Ecuador; so after lining up for that I had to go to another line hahaMade it to domestic terminal amazingly and not waiting for my last flightRead more
Home at last
We surprised Jaxon as he was walking back from the train and it was a lovely moment. He's been very sweet to me since I got back and really happy.
