WOW...at last in Latin America. Crossing the border on the 15.09.05 at Sonoyta (Arizona, USA/ Sonora, Mexico) was quite an experience! From 1 minute to the next my whole trip had made a huge leap! It was only 100 metres of cycling but everything was different. No more English, only Spanish! The wide, good roads were no longer but instead, narrow dangerous roads with dogs barking, growling and chasing me. Latino music 'thundering' out of an old VW beetle as it passed by. Yes, life is so different here. Out of many cars comes a hoot and a 'hola' (hello) or a '¿a donde vas?' (where are you going?). After changing some 'pesos' I got going on the narrow 'carretera' (road), leading out of Sonoyta and I was out there alone again...not quite! loads of trucks passing by!!! a waving hand again and a hoot!!! It just keeps going on! I love it when the Mexicans are so friendly!
right: 'Chainfruit Cholla', a typical desert plant!
left: the Mex 2, a rather narrow and dangerous road to travel on. Hundreds of trucks driving from the south up to the border towns to deliver goods passed me each day! Other encounters were scorpions, a western diamondback rattlesnake and hundreds of dead animals lying next to the road. The many dead dogs smelt awefull in the midday desert heat! Really disgusting..no one cleans up any mess next to the road! I was glad to get off the Mex 2 after 260 km!
Over 90 % of the Mexicans are catholic. One realizes this when seeing all the little roadside praying altars with statues of the virgin inside!
The first night in Mexico was spent in a dried out river bed near the road! I was so glad when the sun went down!!The heat really gets to you!
right: on the 17.09.05, 240 km to the north west of Hermosillo, I realized that I desperately needed a break. I eventually 'pushed it' all the way to Hermosillo the next day to take a 2 day break after cycling 1000 km in 8 days through extreme heat, consuming close to 100 litres of water during this period. I had also met an interesting chap, Eduardo next to the road. We ended up talking for about 40 minutes (with the little Spanish that I speak, it gave me confidence that I can get myself through the country). Eduardo sells carved woodwork which he carves himself with some of the finest, heavy wood around. As a gift he gave me a beautiful carved wooden pen and holder. He did not want any money for it but he asked for one favour: a postcard with the swiss alps on it! (As soon as I get back to Switzerland I will certainly send him a postcard of our beautiful mountains!). I better send the woodcarved item back to Switzerland! It is heavy carrying it on my bike!!
left: After eventually getting to Hermosillo at 7:30 pm, I just wanted to sleep! After sleeping for many hours I got up and looked at the city of Hermosillo! it is terribly hot and one of the worlds hottest cities. Temperatures of 46 to 50 degrees are not uncommon! Luckily it is not quite that hot now (only about 35 degrees but very humid!). I had a look at the 'Palacio de Gobierno' (Govenment Palace). Very beautiful on the inside. The courtyard is great and colourful, dramatic murals depict episodes in the history of Sonora (Sonora is the province).
Sunset behind the 'Palacio de Gobierno' and the 'Catedral de la Ascension' in Hermosillo! A fantastic time of the day....the time when everyone is out on the street. At last the temperature is somewhat more bearable!!! Time to eat 'tacos con carne' and drink a 'cerveza'. I am really enjoying the great mexican food. The food at the 'mercado' or at the street corners is really delicious! How long will it take until I get diarrhoea....? (I obviously hope not too soon).
I cycled on to Guaymas on the 21.09.05! It was a good ride until midday. After that, even though the road always had a slight decline going down to the sea, it was unbearably hot (about 45 degrees). Arriving at Guaymas (after a long ride with only 5 minute stops to drink water) the temperature was a little lower thanks to the sea breeze blowing in from the sea. Guaymas is a lovely little harbour town situated along a mountainous coastline, full of fishing boats in the harbour! The fish & shrimp tacos are so delicious!!
WOW...at last in Latin America. Crossing the border on the 15.09.05 at Sonoyta (Arizona, USA/ Sonora, Mexico) was quite an experience! From 1 minute to the next my whole trip had made a huge leap! It was only 100 metres of cycling but everything was different. No more English, only Spanish! The wide, good roads were no longer but instead, narrow dangerous roads with dogs barking, growling and chasing me. Latino music 'thundering' out of an old VW beetle as it passed by. Yes, life is so different here. Out of many cars comes a hoot and a 'hola' (hello) or a '¿a donde vas?' (where are you going?). After changing some 'pesos' I got going on the narrow 'carretera' (road), leading out of Sonoyta and I was out there alone again...not quite! loads of trucks passing by!!! a waving hand again and a hoot!!! It just keeps going on! I love it when the Mexicans are so friendly!
right: 'Chainfruit Cholla', a typical desert plant!
left: the Mex 2, a rather narrow and dangerous road to travel on. Hundreds of trucks driving from the south up to the border towns to deliver goods passed me each day! Other encounters were scorpions, a western diamondback rattlesnake and hundreds of dead animals lying next to the road. The many dead dogs smelt awefull in the midday desert heat! Really disgusting..no one cleans up any mess next to the road! I was glad to get off the Mex 2 after 260 km!
Over 90 % of the Mexicans are catholic. One realizes this when seeing all the little roadside praying altars with statues of the virgin inside!
The first night in Mexico was spent in a dried out river bed near the road! I was so glad when the sun went down!!The heat really gets to you!
right: on the 17.09.05, 240 km to the north west of Hermosillo, I realized that I desperately needed a break. I eventually 'pushed it' all the way to Hermosillo the next day to take a 2 day break after cycling 1000 km in 8 days through extreme heat, consuming close to 100 litres of water during this period. I had also met an interesting chap, Eduardo next to the road. We ended up talking for about 40 minutes (with the little Spanish that I speak, it gave me confidence that I can get myself through the country). Eduardo sells carved woodwork which he carves himself with some of the finest, heavy wood around. As a gift he gave me a beautiful carved wooden pen and holder. He did not want any money for it but he asked for one favour: a postcard with the swiss alps on it! (As soon as I get back to Switzerland I will certainly send him a postcard of our beautiful mountains!). I better send the woodcarved item back to Switzerland! It is heavy carrying it on my bike!! 
left: After eventually getting to Hermosillo at 7:30 pm, I just wanted to sleep! After sleeping for many hours I got up and looked at the city of Hermosillo! it is terribly hot and one of the worlds hottest cities. Temperatures of 46 to 50 degrees are not uncommon! Luckily it is not quite that hot now (only about 35 degrees but very humid!). I had a look at the 'Palacio de Gobierno' (Govenment Palace). Very beautiful on the inside. The courtyard is great and colourful, dramatic murals depict episodes in the history of Sonora (Sonora is the province).
Sunset behind the 'Palacio de Gobierno' and the 'Catedral de la Ascension' in Hermosillo! A fantastic time of the day....the time when everyone is out on the street. At last the temperature is somewhat more bearable!!! Time to eat 'tacos con carne' and drink a 'cerveza'. I am really enjoying the great mexican food. The food at the 'mercado' or at the street corners is really delicious! How long will it take until I get diarrhoea....? (I obviously hope not too soon).