Travessem la frontera a peu per un dels ponts que creua Río Grande. Mentre caminem amb fluïdesa per entrar a Mèxic, en sentit contrari hi ha una gran cua de gent i cotxes que esperen ser revisats per entrar a EEUU. Nosaltres no trobem ni policia, a la nostra frontera d'entrada només hi ha militars. La família de la Yazmín ens venen a esperar i ens conviden a dinar a casa seva, a Nuevo Laredo. El matí “està inquieto” com diuen ells, un helicòpter dóna l'alarma que alguna cosa està, algun tiroteig per la ciutat. Esperem unes hores fins que tot està més tranquil i ens porten a l'estació on agafem el bus fins a Monterrey, un dels grans motors econòmics del país, una ciutat immensa. Anem directe al centre i la nostra sorpresa és la poca activitat que s'hi mou. El barri antic està format per carrers estrets, cases baixa blanquinoses i carrers adoquinats, un lloc prou agradable si no fos que la situació del país n'ha fet marxat la gent, traspassar locals i ha fet desaparèixer els turistes. La darrera nit, des de l'hostal sentim les "balaceras" que van corroborant la inseguretat de la zona i la forta problemàtica que suposa pels seus habitants. Agafem el bus i travessem una llarga i àrida carretera en línia recta fins a Zacatecas.En aquesta ciutat passem uns dies, estem en un hostal amb una bona terrassa i ha coincidit que es celebra un festival de músiques folklòriques. Així doncs, comencem a trobar els primers turistes (mexicans i estrangers) i gaudim de la ciutat, un lloc amb moviment, jovent i molta activitat cultural. A més, entrem força endins a la mina del Edén i coneixem millor com treballaven els miners de la zona. Al cap d'uns dies anem a León, on ens trobem amb el nostre amic Cristóbal, passem un dia a casa seva, "platicamos" unes hores i aprenem molt de la història i els orígens dels mexicans. El següent dia anem a Guanajuato, un dels llocs més interessants, una ciutat viva i molt particular, plena de color, de desnivells, carrers estrets, molts universitaris, molta cultura i també festa, "mezcal" i tequil.la. Tots tres compartim un parell de dies ben divertits. I des d'allà fem un breu desplaçament fins a Morelia, tranquil.la ciutat colonial amb una gran catedral al mig i una plaça rodejada d'arcades que acullen cafeteries i restaurants.En aquest moment decidim dirigir-nos al sud del país, i ens preparem pel canvi de paisatge i d'ambient, per entrar a zones més verdes, de mar però també de selva, entrar a zones rurals, descobrir Chiapas, les ruïnes Mayes, les arrels i costums més indígenes i retornar al centre per conèixer Ciudad de Mexico. No obstant, el nostre destí serà un altre. Arribem a Oaxaca, ciutat de cases baixes i carrers empedrats que ens porten al conegut zócalo, als mercats, cafeteries, a les esglésies i places, però no podem gaudir-ne massa, el segon dia ja ens trobem a l´hospital, on passarem gairebé una setmana. El vol de tornada ens veiem obligats a avançar-lo i abans del previst ja som a casa. El més important, és que ara estem a casa i estem bé.
We reached the border crossing a brigde above Río Grande, Yazmin’s family was waiting for us at the other side. While we walked fluently to Mexico, there were a lot of people waiting to the USA border. Arriving in Nuevo Laredo, we saw an helicopter and we realised soon that something was wrong in the city, after a few phone calls we knew about a shooting in the street. We waited some hours and we left to Monterrey, known as one of the economic engines of the country. We arrived to the ancient part, but surprisingly, there was no one at the street and a lot of places were for rent. We saw what used to be a nice neighbourhood that nowadays was an empty place because of the insecure situation. The last day in our hostel we listened astonished the sound of several fire shoots. We took the bus crossing a long, dry area and finally, we arrived in Zacatecas. Once there, we found a nice hostel with an excellent rooftop terrace and we enjoy the Folklore Festival that was taking place in the city. We met the first tourist and we walked around among young people, music and different cultural activities. Besides, we visited a deep mine called La Mina del Edén.After a few days we reach León, where we met our friend Cristóbal, we spent one day at his home, talking and learning a lot of things about the Mexican history. Next day we went to Guanajuato, one of the most vibrant and interesting cities, full of colours, narrow streets, university students, culture and also nightlife, “mezcales” and “tequilas”. The three of us had a great time over there. After that, we went to Morelia, a colonial city with a huge cathedral and a big square full of cafes. On that time we were ready to travel to the south, expecting to find a “different” Mexico, some beaches, the jungle, rural villages, ancient ruins and indigenous traditions, adding our visit to Ciudad de Mexico before going home. Nevertheless, we had another fate. We arrived in Oaxaca, a pleasant city with markets, cafes, churches, squares and a quite atmosphere that we couldn’t enjoy as much as we would. The second day we had to go to hospital, where we spent almost a week. At the end, we moved forward our flight back home without having time to visit anything else. The most important thing it’s that now we’re at home and we’re fine.
We reached the border crossing a brigde above Río Grande, Yazmin’s family was waiting for us at the other side. While we walked fluently to Mexico, there were a lot of people waiting to the USA border. Arriving in Nuevo Laredo, we saw an helicopter and we realised soon that something was wrong in the city, after a few phone calls we knew about a shooting in the street. We waited some hours and we left to Monterrey, known as one of the economic engines of the country. We arrived to the ancient part, but surprisingly, there was no one at the street and a lot of places were for rent. We saw what used to be a nice neighbourhood that nowadays was an empty place because of the insecure situation. The last day in our hostel we listened astonished the sound of several fire shoots. We took the bus crossing a long, dry area and finally, we arrived in Zacatecas. Once there, we found a nice hostel with an excellent rooftop terrace and we enjoy the Folklore Festival that was taking place in the city. We met the first tourist and we walked around among young people, music and different cultural activities. Besides, we visited a deep mine called La Mina del Edén.After a few days we reach León, where we met our friend Cristóbal, we spent one day at his home, talking and learning a lot of things about the Mexican history. Next day we went to Guanajuato, one of the most vibrant and interesting cities, full of colours, narrow streets, university students, culture and also nightlife, “mezcales” and “tequilas”. The three of us had a great time over there. After that, we went to Morelia, a colonial city with a huge cathedral and a big square full of cafes. On that time we were ready to travel to the south, expecting to find a “different” Mexico, some beaches, the jungle, rural villages, ancient ruins and indigenous traditions, adding our visit to Ciudad de Mexico before going home. Nevertheless, we had another fate. We arrived in Oaxaca, a pleasant city with markets, cafes, churches, squares and a quite atmosphere that we couldn’t enjoy as much as we would. The second day we had to go to hospital, where we spent almost a week. At the end, we moved forward our flight back home without having time to visit anything else. The most important thing it’s that now we’re at home and we’re fine.
