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 | 231.Puebla & Veracruz States, Mexico 2008On this trip we purposely veered off the Mexican “gringo trail” to explore some of Mexico’s least visited but most worthwhile sights and cities.
Landing in the small but friendly airport on the outskirts of Puebla, we spent our first two nights in the university town of Cholula. From there we journeyed (by public bus, always) to Xalapa before side-stepping over to the port city of Veracruz. We then hugged the Gulf coastline on our way to Papantla, tumbled through mountain shortcuts to the indigenous village of Cuetzalan and finally zig-zagged our way back to Puebla for a final night’s rest.
What were the highlights? The pure tourist in us reveled at wandering through Puebla’s bustling Sunday markets, then delighted in discovering an "untouristy" outdoor danzon performance at a plazuela in Veracruz. The amateur archeologist in us crooned while counting niches at El Tajin, then cursed while ducking through tunnels beneath the Gran Piramide of Cholula. But the traveler in us will never forget watching the waves of fog lap in and out of Cuetzalan’s main square each evening - confirming the town's appellation as a "pueblo magico".
If you can do without white-sand beaches, can speak a little Spanish and can endure some twisty mountain bus rides, this journey will reveal a side of Mexico that few North Americans see. Fascinating ruins, indigenous mountain towns and grand colonial cities await – and all amazingly without hordes of tourists. | |
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 | 232.Yangon, MyanmarYangon (formerly Rangoon), the capital of Myanmar (formerly Burma), appears to be crumbling before your eyes. Time stopped decades ago for this city of four million. It is the Havana of Southeast Asia.
Thankfully, Yangon has at least one beautifully maintained structure - Shwedegon Pagoda - one of the most important and imposing Buddhist shrines in the world. Shwedagon is reason enough to linger.
Heat and humidity conspire to defeat even the most enthusiastic of tourists in Yangon. Yet, even as reservoirs of perspiration pool in your shoes, you can't help being drawn into the charms of this time-warped town. | |
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 | 234.ScandinaviaScandinavia: Capitals to the Fjords, a GoAhead Tour. Traveling by plane, train, bus, and ferry, we saw the highlights of Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm, and Helsinki. We ate Danish pastries, herring, salmon, and reindeer; we sampled the local beers, vodka at the Ice Bar, and AquaVit. We used 4 different currencies: DKK, NOK, SEK, and the Euro in Finland. Puzzled by the languages, I was grateful that everyone speaks English fluently. | |
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