Flights from Belize City to just about anywhere were pretty expensive, so we opted for a ferry ride from Caye Caulker to Chetumal ($55 each) followed by a five-hour taxi ride to Cancún ($35 each) where we had booked a cheap flight to Mexico City for the following day. Our flight was scheduled out around 6p and though we were able to stay until early afternoon at our AirBnB, we got to the airport about three hours before the flight ready for some airport lounge time.
Well, good thing we were early! The check-in line was quite long. After 45 minutes, we were second in line. My phone rings, and I answer. It’s the airline informing me that our flight has been cancelled and offering a 125% refund. Well, I tell them that we’re second in line and will handle it at the counter. We get the same offer at the counter – it’s just an offer of money and no other assistance – but don’t take it. They try to book us on an 8p flight and/or a noon flight the next day, but both are full. We find flights with other airlines leaving that night, but we’d need a 200% refund to break even. They won’t budge. So we wait it out. We’re at the counter for over an hour. We were one of the first parties attempting to check in for the flight (again, good thing we were early). Other customers have been taken off to a side area and I believe they were just offered refunds (no attempt to rebook). Finally, we’re somehow given seats on the 8p flight. We head through security and have some food at a lounge before the flight. (We have lounge access in most airports through a credit card offer, and it’s been really great on a number of occasions for free food and drink.) We finally make it to our AirBnB at midnight and thank our host for accommodating our very late check-in.
Mexico City has lots of dogs, and we even found a pig out for a walk.
We found a street market while walking around the first day and got some great aguacates (avocados). Our guacamole game is strong.
Our place was a few blocks from Bosque de Chapultepec, a huge park with avenues, monuments, lakes, and castles to climb.
We took a day trip to Cholula and Puebla. We were in a shared van with seven others. The guide referred to everyone by their home country – Costa Rica, Columbia, Brazil, Guatemala, and Los Estados Unidos. We stopped on the drive out for a break with a view of a volcano.
The guide asked what made Cholula famous, and nobody answered, so I made a guess: hot sauce! He chuckled. No, that’s not it. It’s famous for the largest pyramid in the world. Yes, bigger than Giza. But here’s the thing – it was entirely covered when the Spanish built a church on top of the “hill” in the 16th century. Sections have since been excavated including a massive network of tunnels. We got to go through some of the tunnels. I had to watch my head at all times.
It was 26 steps down to the base.
It was 126 steps to the top.
Here are three shots of the church on top of the pyramid including some of the excavation.
We climbed to the top for a closer look at the church and some great 360 degree views.
We drove from Cholula on to Pueblo for lunch and a tour of the city. It’s famous for its tiles and churches.
A storm moved in just as we departed. We drove home through heavy rain and hail.
