view – Page 3 – THE ONLY ERIKA IN THE VILLAGE

Itinerary: 2 days in Quito

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Quito is Ecuador’s capital. It sits high up in the mountains and has beautiful colonial architecture in a serene setting. It’s likely you will spend a day or two here if you are going anywhere else in Ecuador so take your time, enjoy it, it doesn’t feel like a big city until you see the urban jungle sprawled out from high up Vulcan Pinchincha.

GENERAL INFO

Getting there and away:

Quito has multiple connections to many other locations in Ecuador and beyond as big cities do. We arrived in Quito via Otavalo (3 hours by bus to the North Terminal) and left on a bus to Banos (4 hours by bus from the South Terminal). The distances in Ecuador are refreshingly short after Colombia.

Note: Both regional bus stations are approximately 30 minutes from Centro Historico in opposite directions. Make sure you know which one you will need to take a bus from and taxi to the correct one (The taxi should cost approximately 7 dollars). Quitumbe is the South Terminal and Carcelen is the North Terminal.

Accommodation:

I recommend Community Hostel in Quito – they have a great vibe, organise lots of activities and serve up a wonderful breakfast! You can book through booking.com.

Food:

Enjoy the great free breakfast at the hostel, look for a restaurant that does a cheap ‘Almuerzo’ set menu for lunch and then you can splash out on dinner. Calle La Rhonda has nice restaurants and bars.

Top Tips:

Despite using USD Ecuadorian coins are unique to the country and useless outside of Ecuador so try to use your coins up as tips etc.
Centro Historico (and many other parts of Quito) are not safe at night. Be careful – wander in the daytime and at night stick to lighted streets and get restaurants to call a taxi home for you.

DAY 1

If its a clear day, take a taxi to the TelerifiQuo which is the cable car up to Vulcan Pinchincha (swap your mornings around if the weather is bad as you need a nice clear day for this). The Telerifiquo opens at 8am, costs approx $9 USD and takes 10 minutes to reach the top. The cable car offers beautiful views over the city and there are a few photo opportunities – a swing looking out over the city and some tame llamas. You can also do a hike right up to the top of the volcano (be aware you will need to allow a few extra hours if you are going to do this hike and only go if the weather is very calm – the conditions can get dangerous up this high).

Spend the afternoon in the old city. Spots of interest include:

La Iglesia de Santo Domingo (a church in the distinct ‘Quito school’ architectural style)
Museo de la Ciudad which details the history of Ecuador
Plaza de San Franscisco
Iglesia de la Compania de Jesus
Plaza Grande
Basilica de Voto Nacional
La Casa de La Moneda (a money museum)
Calle La Rhonda (picturesque street)

Once you have toured all the key landmarks in the historical center head back to Calle La Rhonda for the evening as at night this street comes alive with food, artisans, games and music. The street itself is safe so you can wander up and down enjoying the atmosphere and get dinner and drinks.

DAY 2

In the morning, get up early and wander the Mercado Central to experience the morning hustle and bustle and then taxi to Capilla del Hombre Art Gallery. This gallery explores the suffering of indigenous and poor people in Ecuador and the building overlooks the city. Allow 2 hours to explore here. Entry includes a free tour in English. From here, you can have a wander around the La Floresta neighbourhood which is filled with art galleries and eateries and stop for lunch.

In the afternoon, head to Mitad del Mundo. You can get transport here from Community Hostel whether or not you are staying here – the transport will take you to both main ecuator sites. Although neither site is exactly on the ecuator its still a fun trip and photo spot. Take your passport as you can get it stamped with a souvenir stamp here.

Erika xx

Itinerary: 24 Hours in Otavalo

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Otavalo is an easy breezy mountain town. There’s not a lot to do here but relax! You can choose to stay a while and rest from your tough adventures but you should definitely visit for at least an overnight to enjoy what Otavalo has to offer.

GENERAL INFO

Getting there and away:

The bus station in Otavalo is right in the centre of town which takes away all of the hassles of getting to your accomodation – you can just walk.

Buses leave regularly in both directions – the trip to Tulcan (to cross the border into Colombia) takes 3 hours but can often get stopped by police so allow extra time. The bus to Quito takes 2 hours. Both ways have amazing views so best to travel during the day!

Accommodation:

We recommend Hostal La Rosa which you can book through Booking.com. It is very centrally located and comfortable.

Top Tip:

If you have some extra time Otavalo is a great town to just wander around. It’s safe, small and quaint plus its surrounded by some gorgeous scenery.

SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES

The indigenous market in Otavalo is the largest of its kind in South America and is definitely the largest in Ecuador. It’s very centrally located in Otavalo and so theres no need to travel to see it – just walk right out of your hotel and you will be there. Best to go to this market early. Also, its more of a photo/sightseeing opportunity than the best place to purchase souvenirs: there are a few unique items but its best not to try to buy Alpaca products here as many are fake (unless this is the only market you are visiting in South America then you will have to take the chance!).
Early in the AM is the best time to visit and the market closes up around 4pm.

2. Hiking around Cuicocha Lake is a wonderful activity in Otavalo. This is an easy hike that helps you to get used to the higher South American altitudes around an unbelievably picturesque lake. You can probably fit this in in an afternoon after the market if you are fit – if not I would allow a day so that you don’t feel too rushed. See my post on Hiking Lake Cuicocha here for more practical info.

Erika xx

Hiking Lake Cuicocha

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Lake Cuicocha is a picturesque lake in the northern mountains of Ecuador. There is a relatively easy, beautiful hike here that goes all the way around the lake. I highly recommend this even if you aren’t the greatest hiker or if you are training to do some hikes in the higher altitudes of South America. The Lake Cuicocha hike varies from 3100 to 3500 metres above sea level as you go around and takes 4-5 hours at a very slow pace.

Top Tip for Lake Cuicocha:

Take it easy! Theres no rush to get to where you are going here. Start early in the day if you are worried about your fitness levels and you will definitely make it around the lake before dark. The signs on site say the hike takes 4-5 hours but we easily did it in 3.5 hours with LOTS of picture stops and rest breaks. Chill out in the serene landscape.

Where to stay:

We stayed in Otavalo as we wanted to see the indigenous market here but you could also stay in Cotacachi which is closer to the lake. We recommend We recommend Hostal La Rosa in Otavalo which you can book through Booking.com. It is very centrally located and comfortable.

Getting there and away:

You can get to Lake Cuicocha by taking a bus from Otavalo bus station to Cotocachi which is nearer the lake. Once in Cotocachi you can take a taxi to the lake for approx. $7 USD one way. You can arrange for the taxi to come back when you have finished the hike but lots of taxi’s frequent the area so it shouldn’t be a problem if you don’t have one arranged to pick you up. The whole trip from Otavalo to the lake should only take an hour or so. Just do this in reverse to get back to Otavalo.

Getting around:

I suggest trekking clockwise around the lake as the trailhead starts about 2km up the road from the visitors centre where the taxi will drop you off and the last thing you want to do is walk along a road with no view at the end of your long hike. but either way is fine!

Food:

Take food with you – there is a restaurant at the trailhead but most likely you will want to picnic on your way and take in the incredible views. Plus its always key to take snacks and water with you in case you are hiking longer than expected.

What to expect:

A nice easy hike with great views of the lake and the mountains beyond – well worth an afternoon’s adventure. Enjoy!

Erika xx

Visiting Guatape: Day Trip from Medellin

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Colombia has a lot of big cities. Medellin is to me just that (unpopular opinion – lots of travellers love Medellin). Yes it has some fascinating history but really these days its a mild city with mild weather and mild activities. Most of the ‘things to see’ here are tours trying to re-create some of the excitement of Medellin’s sordid past by making you feel like you are visiting somewhere dangerous.

However, if you do find yourself in Medellin I do suggest taking a day trip to Guatape. This country town is definitely worth seeing – it is one of the most colourful places you have ever seen with bright paint everywhere and murals on every building. Also, it is home to Piedra Penol – a giant rock with 700 steps so you can climb to the top and see an amazing view of the beautiful Colombian countryside.

Top Tip for Guatape:

The town of Guatape is super cute but the best thing to do here is Piedra del Penol so don’t miss this! It’s a massive climb with lots of steps but its worth it for the view! Allow plenty of time to get to the top if you aren’t super fit and don’t think you can manage it. There is a place to purchase refreshments at the top if you need to rest for a while once you get there.

Definitely don’t discount the town though! It’s a great place to relax and breathe in the cool mountain air after your climb!

Where to stay:

Guatape is a pretty small town – I definitely think a day trip is plenty of time. BUT if you want a relaxing weekend away or want to take things a bit slower (ie. you are travelling with children) then I definitely suggest booking a stay through Booking.com – their search function is super user friendly to customise what you are looking for and its easy to find the information you need.

Getting there and away:

The best way to get to Guatape is by bus from Medellin. Buses to Guatape leave from Terminal del Norte and cost approx. 20,000 COP. The trip takes 2 hours – buses leave approximately every 30 minutes so there is no need to book in advance.

You can get to Terminal del Norte from Poblado via Metro Line A (get off at Caribe Metro station as this station is connected to Terminal del Norte).

You can book your return ticket at the Guatape bus station in advance – if you want to travel later in the day I suggest doing this as these buses can fill up quickly with day-trippers like yourself!

Getting around:

I suggest getting off at Piedra Penol first – you can ask the bus driver to drop you here directly so that you don’t need to catch a taxi from town – it will save you some time and a bit of cash. After visitng the rock you can take a taxi into the town proper – it shouldn’t cost you more than 15,000 COP and there are plenty of taxi’s waiting around the rock.

Food:

Walking up Piedra Penol sure makes you work up an appetite: Once you are back down to the base of the rock there is a small restaurant on the left as you exit the steps of Piedra Penol that does a great Bandeja Paisa (share one!) and has beautiful views over the lake.

What to bring:

Take lots of water for the climb, good walking shoes and your camera to capture the view and all the quaint colours of Guatape.

What to expect:

Entrance to Piedra Penol is 20,000 COP. It is open from 8am to 6pm every day.

In Guatape town itself, just soak up the atmosphere. Wander the cobblestone streets and plazas, drink coffee and people watch in the main square. EVERYTHING in Guatape is art.

We were there at Christmas so the town was even more spectacular with colourful Christmas decorations everywhere!

Erika xx

Itinerary: 48 hours in Bogota

High above the Bogota sprawl on Monserrate

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My first time in Bogota was back in 2011 – to be honest not a lot has changed! I like a city that you can return to and feel comfortable that you still know your way around – I love wandering through neighbourhoods that feel vaguely familiar and trying to find places you once visited and don’t remember the name of. Just me? Ok..well anyway…

If you are flying to Colombia from anywhere in the world you are most likely going to arrive in Bogota. The majority of tourists will transfer directly to one of the warmer, beach areas (well…Cartagena mainly) but I highly recommend giving Bogota a chance (hey – you are already giving Colombia a chance so you are a step ahead already!). Bogota has a cool vibe and you won’t regret it!

Bogota is vibrant and colourful from all the street art

GENERAL INFO

Getting there and away:

From Bogota Airport (El Dorado). Take a yellow taxi from the airport into Candelaria (approx. 30,000 COP, maximum 40,000 COP). They should use their meter – check this. It will take 30-40 mins to get into Candelaria.

You can also take a bus to/from the airport. To take the bus you need to purchase a transmilenio card but you may be able to just pay the attendant and they will use their card to get you on. We took a bus back to the airport as we were travelling during the day. Las Aguas/Universidades is the station closest to Candelaria. From here you can take From the K6 platform here you can transfer to a bus going to ‘Portal El Dorado’ (the last stop). The next bus leaves from the same platform you are dropped off at and you don’t need to pay again. It’s red, white and green, number K86 and says Aeropuerto on the front.

Bogota is connected everywhere in Colombia by bus. Just head to the station and find a bus that is going to where you want to go.

Accommodation:

Definitely stay in the Candelaria neighbourhood. I suggest Fatima Hostel Suites but there are so many good options on Booking.com in the Candelaria area.

Food:

See the below top tip for the best local delicacy to try in Bogota – there’s something you will have never heard of before in each region of Colombia.

The other crucial food to try is Lulo. This is the tastiest most refreshing fruit you have ever tried. As far as I know you don’t actually eat them…(please correct me if I’m wrong) but lulo juice should be a daily fixture of your Colombia diet.

La Puerta Falsa is a good restaurant for traditional warming food – its tiny so be prepared to snuggle up with the next table.

Getting around:

You can walk around most of the interesting places here if you are in the Candelaria neighbourhood. There is also a day of the week when the streets close to cars and everyone bikes around – a great time to get on a bike and explore.

Top Tip:

Bogota is a great place to try a Colombian delicacy – Hot chocolate with cheese. Yes that’s right – with cheese. As Bogota gets pretty cold at night (even in summer) – It makes sense to spend your evenings in a little restaurant packed with people sipping hot chocolate and melting your cheese in it. I like the idea – and its definitely worth giving it a try. I have to admit I’m not a big fan but it did warm me up enough to brave my walk back to my accomodation.

SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES

The Gold Museum: The Bogota Gold Museum is fascinating. Head there and see some beautiful Gold treasures (34,000 to be exact). Its free on Sunday but get there early. Its popular! I would allow 3 hours. Theres a lot to see.
Take a Graffiti tour: Bogota has some of the most interesting graffiti in South America and it’s EVERYWHERE. Graffiti is illegal but many people who own buildings give the street artists permission to create art on their walls. A walking tour is a great way to see the city and get an explanation of the art and the social and political statements being made from a local artist. The walking tour meets at Parque de los Periodistas (near the Statue of Simon Bolivar under the dome) and you can book in advance. Suggested tip 20,000 COP or whatever you think its worth.
Walk up Monserrate: do like the locals do and walk up Monserrate. Its a tricky walk if you aren’t used to the altitude. Start the climb early in the morning and you will see locals running up doing their daily workout. The view at the top is spectacular! You can also take a cable car or funicular train up to the top. This is advisable if you are heading up for sunset or at night. There is a church, a small market and some food stalls up the top.
Have a party in the Zona Rosa – a great place to hang with locals, drink and dance the night away.
Explore Bogota’s historical centre – incl. Plazoleto Chorro de Quevado (thought to be where Bogota was founded) and Plaza de Bolivar.
Visit the Bolero Museum – if you like art even a little bit you will love Bolero.

I hope you love Bogota as much as I do!

Erika xx

Itinerary: Overnight in Jaisalmer

Alibaba the Camel in the Jaisalmer Desert

Jaisalmer is otherworldly. The ‘Golden City’ is a small rugged city in the middle of nowhere where it almost never rains. The city is an oasis in the Thar desert where travelers long ago used to rest for months on end partaking in copious amount of Opium in luxurious havelis.

GENERAL INFO

Getting there and away: We took an overnight train from Jaipur to Jaisalmer – this took 12 hours (we left Jaipur late at night and arrived in Jaisalmer at midday). You can walk into the centre of Jaisalmer from the train station or there are plenty of rickshaws.

From Jaisalmer, we travelled on overnight train to Jodhpur which took 6 hours and arrived in the early hours of the morning.

On our trip to Jaisalmer we were pushed for time (We had 3 weeks to explore 9 locations in India!) so we took an overnight train to Jaisalmer and back out again. This was the only way we could fit 2 days here into our itinerary. If you are in a similar situation I highly recommend doing the trip this way – its exhausting but much better than skipping Jaisalmer altogether. It is possible to spend only a day in Jaisalmer and take back to back overnight trains. The train station has a secure luggage storage service so you can explore the city with a daypack – however I highly recommend staying at least a night as the long train journeys are exhausting and your day would be very rushed.

Accommodation: There are many great options for accommodation in Jaisalmer – a lot of them quite pricey. We didn’t stay in the city itself so can’t recommend a specific place here.

I do recommend spending a night out in the Thar Desert however – there are multiple camps that combine a night in the desert with sandboarding, camel riding and dinner cooked under the stars. We stayed at Damodra Desert Camp which was a great experience. It is gorgeous (see photos below) and we particularly enjoyed dinner around the fire with local performances.

Food: Most of our meals were at our accommodation (as above) but we did have a great lunch at Natraj Restaurant. It is a lovely terrace restaurant with views of the upper part of Salim Singh Ki Haveli.

Getting around: We walked everywhere in Jaisalmer except for arranging transport with our accommodation out to the desert. All accommodation in the desert will provide this service and I highly recommend using it as its your only option to get out there unless you have your own car.

Top Tip: If you aren’t spending the night in Jaisalmer itself I definitely recommend making use of the luggage storage at the train station. This was so helpful as it meant we could do some sightseeing in Jaisalmer before and after our trip into the desert without lugging around our huge bags with us.

DAY 1

Use your morning to explore the intricate Havelis in Jaisalmer – you could even purchase one for yourself for a steal and settle in Jaisalmer permanently. Head to Nathmalji ki Haveli first and take a look at the outside – each side of this Haveli is slightly different.

Then make sure to visit Patwon-ki Haveli – the Kothari’s Patwon-ki Haveli Museum is the only part here worth entering. Allow an hour – hiring a guide is definitely recommended as you learn so much about the history of Jaisalmer and the beautiful Haveli.

In the early afternoon it will be time to head into the Desert for a little adventure. Your accommodation provider will put you on a camel to ride into the centre of the Dunes. After doing a bit of sandboarding to satisfy the adrenaline junkies you will then settle on the sand to watch the sunset.

This trip isn’t all that spectacular – don’t get me wrong its all nice – but there are more amazing deserts elsewhere; better places to sandboard and much more interesting camel rides. However, we had a good time and I did have the most impressively spectacular faceplant when I was sandboarding – it could have happened anywhere but it happened here and was captured on camera by my wonderful husband – so there’s that! *sigh*. Its a fun way to spend an afternoon.

You can still do the same activities above as a day trip if you would prefer not to stay overnight.

DAY 2

Day 2 should be spent visiting Jaisalmer Fort.

If you spent the night in the Desert (like we did) you will be dropped back into town around 10:30am after breakfast. Therefore, I recommend visiting the Jain Temples in the Fort first as they are only open to the public between 11am-12pm. No shoes or leather items are permitted inside.

After the Jain temples wander the rest of the rest of the Fort. This Fort is particularly fascinating as it is one of very few ‘living forts’ in the world – almost one fourth of the population still resides within its walls. Make sure to visit the Fort Palace and Museum (the audio guide is worth getting).

EXTRA STOP

If you have time – try to visit the haunted village of Kuldhara near Jaisalmer. Deserted places are fascinating and this village has a great legend. Around 300 years ago it was a thriving village. The state prime minister at the time set his sights on the daughter of the village chief and decided to force marriage upon her. Instead of following orders, the whole village left their homes and vanished, but not before leaving a curse forbidding anyone to settle their village ever again. It is probably more likely that the true story is that taxes were raised and the inhabitants had to migrate as they couldn’t afford to pay but the village has remained empty to this day and many believe it is haunted by the curse.

I didn’t have a chance to go here but I will definitely be visiting next time I make it to Jaisalmer.

On the roof of the Fort Palace and Museum

I hope you enjoy Jaisalmer as much as I did!

Erika xx

Itinerary: 2 days in Jaipur

Jaipur has to be one of the most beautiful cities in India. It has such a majestic presence and around every corner was something beautiful. Udaipur is often touted as the most beautiful city and I have to say I was unimpressed (Maybe if you can afford to stay at the palace in the middle of the lake it might live up to its reputation!). Jaipur on the other hand blew me away.

GENERAL INFO

Getting there and away: We took the train to Jaipur from Agra which takes 4 hours. Agra-Jaipur-Delhi is a common tourist route (The Golden Triangle).

When you arrive in Jaipur, you can get a prepaid autorickshaw or taxi from the station to your accommodation.

We left Jaipur on an overnight train to Jaisalmer.

Overnight train is a great way to get around if you are short on time. I love that you can save money on a night of accommodation (Such an easy money saving hack!) and also save time on your journey. A flight may technically be faster but when you include waiting time at the airport and the journey to/from the airport you have usually wasted at least half a day. Yes you don’t exactly get a great nights sleep but you can make up for that the next night when you are in your nice, comfortable hotel bed.

Accommodation: We stayed at Zostel Jaipur which was in a great central location handy to all the attractions. We had a private room here which was clean, tidy and modern. Plus bonus points as the staff let us shower in the shared facilities and hang out in the common room after we had checked out (before our overnight train to Jaisalmer). However, you had to have your shoes off around the hostel which I was a bit grossed out by in areas like the shared bathrooms. The floors were cleaned regularly though.

Food: There are plenty of restaurant options in Jaipur. Our top pick is Bar Palladio which is a very high end and ridiculously overpriced Italian bar and restaurant. The food is divine, the drinks are spectacular and the decor is stunning. Its worth the splurge.

We also had a nice meal at Hotel Sweet Dream which is right in the thick of the action. Their rooftop terrace was a nice oasis away from the busy streets below and the food and drinks were affordable.

I would avoid Ganesh Restaurant – we went there on a recommendation and although the location sounded amazing (its on the rampart of the old city) you were really just eating outside on a concrete wall – there was no view of anything. The toilet (men only – there was no toilet for the ladies) was pissing off the side of the wall – right above where dishes for the restaurant were being washed on the street below.

Top Tip: Allow for some extra time in Jaipur to just wander or do something spur of the moment – we found we didn’t have time to appreciate all it had to offer. Wander the bazaars and haggle like crazy (You want to end up with the item for less than half of the price that the shop owners offer it for), pop into random bars and restaurants or tag along with someone you meet to where they are going. Jaipur has surprises around every corner and this is the spot in India to be spontaneous.

DAY 1

Take the bus to Amer (Amber) Fort from Badi Chopar (the roundabout next to Hawa Mahal). This will take 40 minutes. There is a lot to explore at the fort – keep an eye out for the secret tunnels and the view from the fort back over the winding pathway in. It goes without saying but I am going to say it anyway – please don’t ride the elephants up. It’s cruel. Allow 5-6 hours for a round trip to the Fort.

If you have some time left over in your day, I would suggest exploring Royal Gaitor. It’s a beautiful little park full of intricately carved cenotaphs. It was a nice relaxing spot to wander and take some nice photos. Its central so you can probably walk there from where you are staying.

DAY 2

Spend your second day in Jaipur exploring within the city. The can’t miss attractions are:

City Palace
Hawa Mahal

City Palace is absolutely stunning. A Highlight is the beautiful ornate set of four doors (two are pictured below). I highly recommend getting an audio guide here so you know what you are looking at – there is a lot to explore.

Hawa Mahal is the ‘Palace of the Winds’. A beautiful building designed so that the royal ladies could discreetly look down at the goings on in the street below. It can be a little hard to find the entrance as it is at the back of the complex. From the intersection that is on your left as you face the Hawa Mahal, turn right, then take the first right again through an archway.

If you have some extra time you can visit Jantar Mantar. This is a collection of nineteen architectural astronomical instruments built by the Rajput king Sawai Jai Singh II, the founder of Jaipur. Don’t bother with the audio guide (its not great). You could hire a guide to explain the instruments if you want. I definitely don’t consider it a must see but its interesting if you have the extra time.

I would love to go back to Jaipur and explore more – let me know in the comments below if you have any other suggestions of how to spend time in Jaipur!

Erika xx

Acquainting myself with Mexico

My flight finally arrived in Mexico at midnight local time. I had heard many horror stories about this part of the world, and Mexico was my first stop on my own, so I was understandably quite worried about this. However, changing some cash to local pesos and taking a taxi to my hostel ended up being pretty uneventful. In fact, my fear probably caused my only problem: the taxi office short-changed me and I didn’t count my change, as I didn’t want to have my money out in the open for too long. It was only 5 US dollars which I lost though, so its not like It broke the bank. The experience did remind me to be extra careful though.

I woke up just before 8 am the next morning to bright sunshine streaming into my dorm room. I walked onto our tiny balcony to see a gorgeous view from my window. I knew then that I was going to love Mexico City and I headed downstairs to book my room for the rest of the week. I was also quite happy when I discovered that there are only 4 people sleeping in my 12 bed dorm and they are all girls who are travelling alone. I spent the morning having breakfast and thinking about how I wanted to spend my time in DF.

I headed out to explore the Centro Historical (the old centre) after breakfast to get by bearings and have my first taste of Mexico’s hustle and bustle. I wandered the streets, which were exciting and hectic although I was continuously harassed by buskers and beggars and even more so by men in general. Every time I stopped to sit down, I was approached by Mexican men who exclaimed how beautiful I was and started a conversation. These conversations generally didn’t last long thankfully due to my poor Spanish. Even men arm in arm with women walking down the street were blatantly staring and whistling. I thought that dyeing my hair brunette was supposed to discourage this? I wonder what my experience would have been had I been blonde…One guy had been very offended when I didn’t want to go drink tequila with him right then and there, assuming that I must have turned him down because I didn’t like Tequila, that there couldn’t have been any other reason. At least I know it will be easy enough to make local friends and practice my Spanish!

After my walk I found some lunch at a cute little Tostada shop. I paid US $1 for one tostada and it has kept me full all day! My budget will thank Mexico. After lunch I visited the beautiful Catedral Metropolitana where the Archbishop holds mass on Sundays. The photos which I have taken of the cathedral do not do the place justice, especially as flash was not allowed, but are available to view on my Flickr page.

Until next time,
Erika xx

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