America

  • America,  Country Guides,  Peru,  TDM,  Tips

    10 things to know before your visit to Machu Picchu [update 2020]

    Guide updated in May 2020 1. Mountain sickness I think that 100% of the visitors of Machu Picchu must pass first by Cusco before going to Machu Picchu. Cusco is at 3 400m of altitude, so if you come from Lima (or any place < 2500m of altitude), you risk to have the mountain sickness ( soroche). Allow 1-2 days of acclimatization in Cusco. Even if Machu Picchu is only at 2500m, the route Cusco – Machu Picchu will pass by places higher than 3800m, which is starting to do a lot 🙂 To remedy this, chew coca leaves (all hotels and hostals in Cusco will provide you with free…

  • America,  Country Guides,  Peru,  TDM,  Tips

    [Rates 2020] How to go to Machu Picchu without having to trek, walk, get tired

    Article & Rates updated in May 2020 To join Machu Picchu from Cusco is really the course of the fighter. There is no direct way where one can simply go up in a bus, make a small nap then to wake up just in front of the entrance of the ruins while saying “Oh! we already arrived!”. Moreover, many agencies, intermediaries, various options which are offered to us in Cusco do not arrange the things. Too much information kills information! Before coming here, I believed that only the Inca Trail of 4 days led to Machu Picchu. And then, I was told about a 2h walk along the rails then…

  • America,  TDM,  Travel Journal,  USA

    7h stopover in Las Vegas (United States): a Giant Amusement Park

    To make Mexico City – Paris, JB found an atypical but economical and interesting route: Mexico City – Las Vegas – Paris with a 7h stopover in Las Vegas. At the beginning, I just wanted to rest quietly in one of the lounges at the airport (because we have the Priority Pass with the American Express), but JB encouraged me and convinced me to go out and visit the city a bit. I admit that I had a rather negative preconception of Las Vegas, but after a few hours of stopover there, I changed my mind. Part 1: Travel Diary Part 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Diary The arrival…

  • America,  Mexico,  TDM,  Travel Journal

    Pyramids of the Sun and Moon in Teotihuacán (Mexico)

    Here is a great short travel notebook to quickly show you the pyramids we saw in Teotihuacán. Along with Palenque, Calakmul and Uxmal, these pyramids are among my favorites in Mexico. Once one ofthe largest cities in Mesoamerica, Teotihuacán is only an hour from Mexico City. The Pirámide del Sol (Pyramid of the Sun) and the Pirámide de la Luna (Pyramid of the Moon) dominate the remains of the ancient metropolis, which, even after its fall in the 8th century, remained for a long time a place of pilgrimage for the Aztec royalty. Today, it attracts a crowd eager to soak up the mystical energies that are supposed to converge…

  • America,  Mexico,  TDM,  Travel Journal

    Visit of two former mining towns: Tlalpujahua and El Oro (Mexico): Travel Diary #2

    In the previous travel diary, we were in Sierra Chincua to see monarch butterflies. We then took a truck to go to Tlalpujahua, a magico pueblo next door. It’s an old mining town, also known for its handicrafts: blown glass balls make it the town where it’s Christmas all year round. Part 1: Travel Diary Part 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Diary Workshop: Fabrica De Esferas Fimave Despite the late arrival, we arrived in time to visit a workshop for the production of blown glass balls – with a live demo. The tools are simplistic, there is no protection (for eyes or hands) but the craftsman’s dexterity is undeniable.…

  • America,  Around the world,  During the World Tour,  Mexico,  Tips

    [Travel Guide] Monarch Butterflies in Sierra Chincua: Bus from Mexico City (CDMX, Mexico)

    From CDMX (Ciudad de Mexico City), it is quite possible to get to the Monarch Butterfly Reserves by bus. Between December and March, millions of migrating monarch butterflies find refuge in Mexico. If you are there during this period, do not hesitate to make the trip. Organized tours can be very expensive (for almost the same program as us, an agency gave us a quote at 2600MXN/person including transportation & entrance fees, one night in a hotel – without food). With our independent program, you can get there for 1750MXN/person ALL INCLUDED (2 days, 1 night, departing from Mexico City). The reserves of monarch butterflies are numerous in the state…

  • America,  Around the world,  Mexico,  TDM,  Travel Journal

    We visited a Monarch Butterfly Reserve in Mexico – Sierra Chincua #1

    We have all seen on television or on social networks, a video or a photo of thousands of monarch butterflies resting on tree branches. I didn’t think I would ever be able to admire this spectacle one day, thinking it was deep in an inaccessible forest. But the dream came true because we were able to see them in Mexico, where we are present at the right season. Excellent timing. To explain the phenomenon: every year, around November, the winter migration of monarch butterflies begins: they come from Canada and the United States and land quietly in Mexico, between the state of Michoacan and the state of Mexico. These small…

  • America,  Mexico,  TDM,  Travel Journal

    Mexico City or Ciudad de MĂ©xico (Mexico): Travel diary

    I know it’s totally unfair to summarize Mexico City in a few lines, but I don’t have much time to give you a long post. We met N., a French expat who spent +20 years at CDMX. So we were able to visit with her MERCADO SAN JUAN Here you can find all kinds of insects – edible: spiders, worms, ants… there’s even lion meat! The locals go there especially to taste the ceviche (there is a very famous restaurant there), the tourists go there especially to take pictures. They also sell edible flowers <3 <3 MERCADO LA CIUDADELA This craft market is the best place to admire the works…

  • America,  Around the world,  Mexico,  TDM

    Evening of Lucha Libre (Mexican wrestling) at the Arena Mexico (Mexico)

    In Oaxaca, Mexico, I discovered Lucha Libre, the “Mexican wrestling”, which isn’t to be missed. If in Oaxaca, there are 2 or 3 Lucha Libre evenings per month with a few hundred spectators, it is very different in Mexico City. Here there are several performances a week and the temple of the Lucha Libre is called the Arena Mexico. Luckily, this Arena is only a 5 minute walk from our Airbnb. Arena Mexico City The Arena Mexico is simply the largest hall of Lucha Libre, it can accommodate up to 17,500 spectators! It hosts fights 3 days a week : Tuesday from 7:30 pm Friday from 8:30 pm Sundays from…

  • America,  Around the world,  Mexico,  TDM,  Travel Journal

    Attend a soccer match at the mythical Estadio Azteca in Mexico City (Mexico)

    After Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Turkey, Argentina, Colombia and Canada, Mexico is the 9th country where I will attend a soccer match. Mexico City being a huge city, there are no less than 3 clubs playing in the Mexican first division: Club America Cruz Azul Pumas of the UNAM The 3 clubs of the capital are part of the big four of the championship completed by Chivas, the club of Guadalajara With only 2 weeks left in Mexico City and already having a busy schedule for next weekend, this Saturday is the only day I will have the opportunity to attend a game. That day, Cruz Azul and Pumas are…