City Of Gardens

One can't help but feel transported into a whole different world. A significant, yet fast drop of altitude led from almost nordic mountain forests into tropical gardens. Cuernavaca occupies the lower southern slopes and hills of the cool high lands on which Mexico City resides. On a mere 1600 metres above sea level its character is a very different one though; the climate is agreeable, spring is here already and the nights are so mild, you can go out wearing short sleeves.

For convenience's sake, I took quarters in the very heart of the city, in a little guest house named 'Don José', which in time felt like my island within a pool of mad human (hyper)activity. The central streets are buzzing with life, or to put it in other terms: with traffic, people and noise. This, and a certain touristic flair don't particularly endear the city to me, but luckily it has other sides to it, too; gardens and parks, quiet back streets with book shops and cafés and bars.

Aïna and Paula - the two Spanish teachers I had met in La Paz - came down from Mexico City for our reunion and to visit Cuernavaca for a music festival.

It was great to see the dynamic duo again and sure enough it was through them, that I saw more of the city, met more people, and had a more active time in general. Their sheer amount of (positive) energy still amazes me, and they are motivating company all right.

But despite all the good times, Cuernavaca - like any of the bigger cities I'd visited before — was intended to mainly be a service stop. Thus the bike got a new chain and some general TLC, I caught up with my correspondence, did laundry and purchased supplies for the coming days on the road.
There are still some little things to get (I finally broke my sunglasses in a way not fixable with tape), but tomorrow or the day after I'll start tackling the last mountain ranges before the lowlands along the coast of the Golf of Mexico.

I guess, I'll follow it for 1000 something kilometres to Cancun...

I dream of flat lands...
Just a few more days of hard work...