Having been home for over 2 months, the only thing that kept my travels alive was not finishing my blog. But it has to be done as for this chapter of my life to be closed. So after over 2 months in Malta and still ironically lost in this small country, here is my humble attempt to share with you the spell Latin America has cast on me. So with 'Woman of Latin America' from Putumayo I try to transfer myself back in that magic part of the world and write what was the last couple of months of my travels. 
Mexico came after Guatemala. And in Mexico unlike the way I like to travel, I had a deadline to meet a very good Maltese friend of mine, Alvin, in Mexcio city. And that' s where we ll start. The plan was to make it to Cancun by bus in 3 weeks as to catch a plane to Cuba from there. Then cross Belize into the north of Guatemala and head back to Mexico city. But with him, Alvin seemed to have gotten a curse of bad weather and hurricanes which we were constantly trying to avoid, and we did a very good job doing exactly that.
Apart from a couple of unpleasant experiences in the massive and very efficient Metro in Mexico city which caters for a staggering 22 million peopple with standard fares of 6c, yes still maltese, where we were literally dragged in and out of the carraige by the flow of the eager Mexicans, the city itself despite it's size and amout of people proved to be a pleasant experience with lovely plazas, crazy markets, bettle taxis and numerous mayan ruins. Distretto Federal, DF as it i
s called by the locals, is where Mexico itself was founded when an eagle was seen capturing a snake and taken as a sign that a city had to be founded. Teotijacan are impressive Mayan temples feturing the world's 3 rd largest pyramid. Truly impressive.Another visit we made was to the Basilica de Guadlupe, a sacred place for most Mexican who worship La virgin de Guadalupe. Literally.
Oaxaca was a mix of excellent food, mescal, textiles, more temples and a couple of heavy nights on mescal washed away with Corona. It was some quality time I spent with Alvin who was still getting into travel mode. Had we not been so hung over on a visit to a market, I got very close to eating the local delicacy, fried grasshoppers served in all shapes and sizes. So i thank the mescal the night berofe for a very probably unpleasant snack.
Wow it was a long 2 months and a long time has passed and I am already struggling to remember details. I think it' s time to back already!! hehehe
Puerto Escondido, Ziploite and Mazuntye were next. Lying on the pacific side of this massive and magnificent country, the latter 2 spots proved to be proper laid back beach villages, with amazig surf, sunsets and of course hammocks. Lovely seafood became the daily lunch before crashing in a hammock and read for the rest of the afternoon.
Next stop on the way to Cancun the was the magical San Cristobal de las Casas. Beautiful Zocalos surrounded by curches and Mayan indigenous people make this a very special place even though there is a touristy feel to this spot in the highland of Chiaps region.
Some sea and sand action was urgently required afer the chilly Chiapas. And that is exactly what we got. The tacky resort town of Cancun, with it' s marvelous beaches, scarred by the massive hotels lining the stretch of Cancun, wasn' t half as bad as every backpacker had advised.
And Cancun was where we headed to Cuba. The Cuba of Fidel and El Che. The communist Cuba.
After a long time on the road, in places like Colombia and Bolivia, not many places give you the thrill and excitement that you get on boarding the 30yr old Soviet plane of Cubana for the 1 hour flight from Mexico to Havana.
Maybe it's the charm of Havana or the communism, the cigars or the beautiful women, El che or maybe Fidel, the Chevvy or Plymouth. There is simple something in Cuba that is unique and magical maybe tragic or divine that you can only get a glimpse of by visiting this unique place in the Carribean.
Our visit started in Havana up towards Vinales, down to Trinidad and back in Havana, always staying at host families.
The cigar farm which we visited by horse in Vinales, La casa de la musica , the falls, beach and the beauty of Trinidad were the highlights of Trinidad. In havana you can close your eyes and transport yourself back to the fifties and imagine a buzzing city, shiny showing off it s beauty to the Amrican sailors, corrupt businessman and even worse politicians. All before El Che and Fidel fought all this away all for Cuba and the Cubans. Including the fact that I left Havana with a vanished passport after Aiport checks and headed for Mexico as an illegal immigrant, Cuba was a true highlight of my visits so far. One of the few places that meets and exceeds the expectations you get by having such a reutation.
A bad hangover accompanied us to Isla mujeres back in Mexico. Another lovely chillout place. Playa de mujeres and Cozumel were the last places.
The final stages was Belize before passing through the gorgeous Guatemala, visitng the spectacular Tikal and majesic Palanque before a long bus back to DF.
And that is the end of my travels in Latin America. It passed like a dream, stuck like an addiction and was the best year of my life so far.
Hasta Luego !
