¡Adiós!
Leaving Mexico also means leaving the Spanish-speaking countries that we have traveled through in the last 6 months. We have cycled from Chile via Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, past the Darien Gap to Panama and via Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala to Mexico and now already in the USA.
¡Adiós! South and Central America.
On our trip through Mexico, we actually somehow managed not to visit a single touristic sight. We just cycled. Almost every day. And honestly, it was wonderful. We found many roads that were far from the main roads. The traffic was bearable and we had time to see and enjoy the landscapes. The bike tour was like something out of a picture book.
Our first major city was Veracruz, which meant we made the transition from the Pacific side to the Atlantic.
Veracruz, a city in the state of Veracruz in Mexico.
It was the port of export for Mexican gold and, above all, silver to Spain. Precious metals were the basis of the Spanish world power of the time.
It is Mexico’s gateway to the world, as the port has been the country’s most important port from its beginnings to the present day. For 250 years, it was the only port through which goods could enter and leave from America to Europe, which led to the development of a rich merchant class. Turkeys, corn, beans, avocados and cotton were exported from the port of Veracruz to Spain.
And a lot of gold and silver.
Between 1500 and 1650, Spain is said to have imported 180 tons of gold and 16,000 tons of silver.
This city is a bit strange, architecturally at least. But it is a pretty “neat” city. The promenade is beautiful, some of the old buildings have been beautifully restored. A bit of brutalism, a bit of Bauhaus and neoclassicism. The latter, with its order and symmetry, characterizes the city. We hadn’t planned anything for today and just cycled around a bit.
We NEVER felt unsafe. Whether Mexico was a dangerous country, we didn’t “feel” anything like it. Or we were just lucky. But after all our experience, I think we can judge it a little. Well, as always, it may be different in other parts of the country. For us, it was a mentally relaxed section.
„Arriba, andale andale!“ and “¡Adiós! Mexico! Hello USA!”
We are at the border and are traveling out of Mexico and into the USA today. Our last country and little adventure before we return to Europe. Mexico was unexcitingly exciting. We enjoyed the back roads. We enjoyed the fact that somehow it wasn’t that different. We didn’t visit any Inca, Mayan or Aztec spots. We just enjoyed cycling. The many “Buenes dias” and “Buen provecho” (bon appétit) when we sat somewhere on the side of the road was just the right dose for a constant smile and feeling of well-being. At no point did it feel unsafe. But we were also digitally “accompanied” by a cycling community here in Mexico. So if there had been any problems, we would have had someone to talk to immediately. Thank you Mexico. That was a “quiet” 1800km.
And so there’s not much more to report, then to say ¡Adiós!.
Arriving at the border to the USA, we thought it would be an easy transition for us. Unfortunately, the official was not prepared for our visa. Almost exclusively Mexicans cross the border here. We don’t see any refugees here. With German tourists on bicycles and a visa, she is not prepared for that.
After a few questions and the help of another official, it’s clear: we don’t need an ESTA!
An ESTA authorization is not to be confused with a visa. The travel authorization does not replace a US visa. If you have a US visa, you can enter the USA as normal and do not need to apply for an entry permit (ESTA).
ESTA stands for Electronic System for Travel Authorization. This is an electronic entry form used to determine whether a visitor is authorized to enter the United States.
Why we have a visa at all.
Well, we were in Iran and it is compulsory to apply then for a visa. We did this 6 months ago in Auckland, New Zealand. That way we could make sure that we were allowed to enter the USA despite our visit to Iran. After all this was sorted out, we had to pay a fee. And I’m sure, at the latest now she thought we were extraterrestrials. When we paid a fee of $12 in 1 dollar coins, she couldn’t stop smiling. She hadn’t seen these 1 dollar coins for years, she said. The coin was rather unpopular and so the 1 dollar bill remained the more common means of payment. We still had them from countries where not only their own currency but also the dollar was the official means of payment.
¡Adiós! Mexico. It was really nice staying with you.
And with that, we say goodbye with a few quirky Christmas pictures.
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Mariachi musicians.
Finally something authentic for Mexico! Mariachi musicians spotted in Veracruz, Mexico. Too bad the sombrero is missing. Instead, there happened to be this lettering: “Loyalty Patriotism”.
Mariachi bands typically wore traje de charro, the clothing of the cowboys of Jalisco – matching uniforms with tight, decorated pants, boots, wide bow ties, sombreros and short jackets. In 2011, Unesco added the mariachi to the list of intangible world cultural heritage. Classically, Mexican street musicians play polkas or waltzes, traditional ballads that tell of love, war and life in the countryside.
