Category Archives: Oaxaca

Working our way across Mexico to the Gulf of Mexico

Saturday October 3, 2015, 171 miles (275 km) – Total so far: 11,835 miles (19,047 km)

Four days 171 miles We are on our way across Mexico to the Gulf of Mexico. Our goal is to explore the ancient Mayan city of Palenque that flourished in the 7th century. After our night in Selina Cruz we cycled to Juchitan where we began our climb through the mountain valleys. This area of Mexico is very windy as evidenced by the hundreds of wind turbines we rode by. The wind screams through the mountains from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean. These wind turbines capture and harness this energy in a vast valley that runs to the Pacific. The climbing is quite easy but several times we decided to walk our bikes as the wind was pushing us all over and sometimes in the driving lane. Our second night of this crossing was spent in the small town of Matias Romero.

Money here continues to puzzle me as most businesses want small change when purchasing stuff. Mexican currency comes in the denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200, and then 500 peso bills. I’m sure there are larger but we have never seen it. Dollar wise these are from $1.20, $3.00, $6.00, $12.00, and $30.00. When we go into a store or restaurant the proprietor wants as close as the item costs. We found this the same case last year in Morocco, Iran, and several Asian countries. The problem is that ATMs here in Mexico only dispense 500 peso notes. So if we buy a few drinks they really get upset because they don’t have the change either. Banks are only in larger cities and then trying to get inside for change is a whole different story since there is always a huge line. Because of this people carry plastic bags full of small coins. I have started to do this too. If the business does not have change they run around and try to find it. Sometimes it takes a lot of time to purchase something. I get most of my change from hotels and always give them a 500 peso note. They do scoff if the charge is only 200 pesos but I stand my ground. In other words the banking here is quite confusing. We have wanted to get change for our 500 peso notes in a bank but I won’t stand in the line that looks like it can take hours. The bottom line is that most businesses and people do not have the smaller currency because they cannot get it.

We cycled into our 10th Mexican state of Veracruz yesterday. On a previous post I had counted incorrectly. The states that we have thus far cycled into are:

Baja California Norte Baja California Sur Sinaloa Nayarit Jalisco Colima Michoacan Guerrero Oaxaca Veracruz

We were also in Mexico City which is state designated DF (District Federal). There are 33 states in Mexico.

We will reach the Gulf of Mexico tomorrow.

Cinemex, Walmart and Sams. Huge shopping center outside of Salina Cruz. Anytown U.S.A.
Cinemex, Walmart and Sams. Huge shopping center outside of Salina Cruz. Anytown U.S.A.
Working our way to the start across Mexico.
Working our way to the start across Mexico.
Cool piece of art.
Cool piece of art.
Our first ever digital traffic lights. Stop...
Our first ever digital traffic lights. Stop…
...and Go.
…and Go.
Maybe we can trade in our bikes for this. Lots of room and we could share driving.
Maybe we can trade in our bikes for this. Lots of room and we could share driving.
Or maybe this.
Or maybe this.
Or this perhaps! The senor is eyeing Jocelyn's bike. We like what we have.
Or this perhaps! The senor is eyeing Jocelyn’s bike. We like what we have.
A typical roadside dump.
A typical roadside dump.
Great feed spot for these guys.
Great feed spot for these guys.
These are a lot of fun.
These are a lot of fun.
You can go anywhere in town for 10 pesos ($.60).
You can go anywhere in town for 10 pesos ($.60).

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On the Pacific side the valley before the mountain start is full of wind turbines as the wind screams from the Gulf to the Pacific.
On the Pacific side the valley before the mountain start is full of wind turbines as the wind screams from the Gulf to the Pacific.
I don't know why they just can't cross the street. Somebody made some money.
I don’t know why they just can’t cross the street. Somebody made some money.
Hundreds of wind turbines.
Hundreds of wind turbines.
Water cascading over rocks creating cool colors.
Water cascading over rocks creating cool colors.
The valley on the Pacific side as we start climbing.
The valley on the Pacific side as we start climbing.

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Very windy.
Very windy.
Occasionally we saw one of these signs. The first ones started showing up about 40 miles into our ride. Strange. No signs at the start.
Occasionally we saw one of these signs. The first ones started showing up about 40 miles into our ride. Strange. No signs at the start.
Another great fish dinner.
Another great fish dinner.

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The Mexican government has a really good road system. Much better than China.
The Mexican government has a really good road system. Much better than China.
Coatzacoalcos is on the Gulf of Mexico. Veracruz is where Hernan Cortez started his push on the Aztec Empire in the early 1500's.
Coatzacoalcos is on the Gulf of Mexico. Veracruz is where Hernan Cortez started his push on the Aztec Empire in the early 1500’s.
These locals were very interested in us.
These locals were very interested in us.
We always carry food for dogs. Most are scared of humans since a lot of people throw rocks at them. Jocelyn trying to make a new friend.
We always carry food for dogs. Most are scared of humans since a lot of people throw rocks at them. Jocelyn trying to make a new friend.
We had a few pieces of chicken for lunch. The dog stayed with us and waited. On the street people sells cold drinks and Churros to drivers.
We had a few pieces of chicken for lunch. The dog stayed with us and waited. On the street people sells cold drinks and Churros to drivers.
After lunch I went over and bought churros. Delicious.
After lunch I went over and bought churros. Delicious.
He warmed up to us. We have seen so many dogs we would like to bring home. Some are so skinny.
He warmed up to us. We have seen so many dogs we would like to bring home. Some are so skinny.
The infamous cheese cactus!
The infamous cheese cactus!
We cycled into our 10th Mexican state. Adding Mexico City D. F.(District Federal) makes that 11 out of 33 states so far. We entered Mexico two months ago.
We cycled into our 10th Mexican state. Adding Mexico City D. F.(District Federal) makes that 11 out of 33 states so far. We entered Mexico two months ago.
Sunrise over Jesus Carranza.
Sunrise over Jesus Carranza.
Riding out of Jesus Carranza this morning.
Riding out of Jesus Carranza this morning.
The traffic on a Saturday morning was tough. A road less traveled...
The traffic on a Saturday morning was tough. A road less traveled…
Nice kid. The horse wins by a nose.
Nice kid. The horse wins by a nose.
Delicious shrimp and fish.
Delicious shrimp and fish.

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