On the road again....

On June 19, 2011, Marci and I started this post from a small room in Managua, Nicaragua (check it out Undaunted Travelers).  For those who followed (then and since), thanks!  It has been a surprise to us how many people were interested in our trip to Central America.

Since that time, we took Kiana and Jolene to San Diego (October of 2011).  Kiana got to swim with Dolphins for her birthday...

Jolene, as always, LOVED spending time on the beach.

Marci and Jolene at sunset

The only other BIG trip we took was a cruise to Hawaii.  It was stunning and we can see why people love the islands and call them paradise.

Honolulu from Diamond Head

But actually, we aren't sure we'd go back.

(I can hear the gasping across the Internet!)

You see, cruising IS amazing.  You are treated like royalty, eat like you are in a five star restaurant at every meal, and LITERALLY have no worries.  Someone is always there to make your bed, wash your clothes, get you a drink, sweep up your mess - you get it....  If you want nothing more than to be pampered, this style of vacations is for you.

But we found that many of our fellow passengers were...well...whiny jerks.  They complain about the food, they complain about the staff, they complain that there aren't enough deck chairs.  I mean, really?  Most of my shipmates look like they spend a great deal of time on Aisle 4C at Wal Mart back home.  What gives?

Well, we had almost two weeks to think about it, and I believe we came to a conclusion.  They ARE Wal Mart shoppers and believe that complaining enhances their status.  Like they are used to better treatment (as if that is possible).  And us?  well, to those of you who know us you won't be surprised, we gravitated to the crew!

Puspita - from Indonesia

Most of the crew on cruise ships come from very poor countries.  They work two shifts per day and six days per week.  And the pay (by US standards is abysmal).  But what great people!  

And that got us to thinking, the kind of people we REALLY like to spend our time with are humble citizens of the world (and not the US kind either).  

And so tomorrow, CHRISTMAS DAY 2013, we are off to our next adventure as Undaunted Travelers.  We are heading to Mexico City!

When most people hear this - we get confused looks (and a few more gasps).  They immediately ask if we are worried about being kidnapped by the drug cartels?  The answer - no, we are not.

Although there are no hard-fast rules about population estimates, Mexico City is among the top populated cities in the world (at an estimated 25 million souls).  So yeah, it is BIG and yes, there is crime.  But did you know that Mexico City sits on top of the greatest Aztec City ever built?    In 1978, telephone workers dug up the ruins of a great temple (Templo Mayor).  It turns out that the Spanish used stones from this site to build one of the most important Catholic Churches in the Americas.  And the artifacts (which continue to flow from this site) are housed in what is considered the second greatest museum in the world (#1 is the British museum in London, England).  

So for people who love history, culture, and humble happy people (us for sure) then this is one of the little known travel gems of the world.

Our next post will come from Mexico City.  Can't wait!