Anthropolgy Museum of Mexico

Mexico City is a massive city. No one is really sure how many people live here, but most estimates are between 25 and 30 million. Anything and everything exists here amongst the colonial Spanish architectural backdrop.

I went to the Anthropology Museum with my friend Juan who is working towards his PhD. in anthropology. Kind of like having my own tour guide to show me around. It was certainly better than the previous evening when the police decided to give me a personal tour of the inside of the station at 3 in the morning, but that's a different story...

Anthropology and cultural heritage is extremely strong here in Mexico. There are constant references to indigenous cultures ranging from the Mexica to the Aztecs to the Maya. It is this combination of new world and old world traditions that makes travel throughout Mexico such an interesting experience.

Mexican Street Food

"If you are what you eat, then I'd be cheap and easy." Anon

As the Latin American food feature writer for Suite101 I think it my duty to try all the different types of food available to me. Which is convenient, because I love street food.

Not only is it slimming, but it is a true taste of what the majority of Mexicans eat. I have had more conversations around the taco stand with locals than anywhere else. A willingness to eat what they eat makes you much more accessible and real in a lot of ways.

Aside from participating in the local culture, there is always the chance you will become violently ill. Not just a little case of indigestion, but a feverish cold sweaty condition that allows you to do little else than lay flat on cold tile so you're never more than three second from the toilet for days. (from experience)

It is this chance of this gut-wrenching-pain-to-the-point-of-contemplating-suicide side effect that makes eating street food a little dangerous, and that much more exciting. Every adventure needs to have a little danger, and culinary adventures are no different.

Click here for a gallery of food images including some not seen here. (You'll be seeing a lot of galleries from now on.)

Or here for more street food thoughts and recipes.

Photos from Mexico

Here's a set of my favorite photographs from my Mexican experiences. I've linked caption to relevant articles or blog entries I've written for those curious.

Also, click here for a sweet photo gallery of these images if you'd like.


A Zapatista woman and her child. The reason I came was to study current conflicts and how local indigenous people participate in reshaping their world.


Some Zapatista women presenting themselves for our research team.


Caving with some Zapatistas after interviews.


Your humble narrator checking out some local crafts near Oaxaca.


One of the last of the Lancandon indians surviving.


Subcomandante Insurgentes Marcos


Comandante David speaking at Tierradentro.
Suite101 article
Blog entry


Preparing for ceremonies in Santiago Atitlan.


Psychedelic Jesus on the cross on Easter in Santiago Atitlan.
Blog entry
Suite101 article


In the markets of San Cristobal.





Traditional back strap weaving. The folks in the background are the group I came with last year and were never forgotten this year.


Rice and beans on the boil. One of my favorite meals.


Typical landscape in the Maya communities of Chiapas.


Between serving beers, this guy was lighting fireworks off from his hand.


Mi peligrosita serving me my first cow brain.


Visiting a women's weaving co-op to teach a little English.


A Mac attack in a the community of Zinacantan .


Getting into the ring at a lucha libre match! Come get some!




Flame river snails in pox! A truly inspired recipe if ever there was one... Not all of my recipes have been quite so out there though.





Lago Tziscao is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been!

A young Chol fella cooling off in the Lagos de Montebello.
Suite101 article
Blog entry

Local indigenous gal from San Juan Chamula.

In a Zapatista community researching paramilitary activity.

Here's to the end. As with a bottle of mezcal, this trip too ended with a bit of a nasty surprise, but also a warm tingly feeling.

On Endings

Many things have ended recently. My six month work stay in Mexico, my three year relationship, and my ten year journey with Harry Potter.

I cannot yet see the beginnings these ends will reap. I expect they will come.

Each of these endings deserve due reflection.

On CAPISE, the organization I've been working for. I've learned a level of compassion and dedication I've never seen before. It has ignited my desire for the fight. Not for the reasons presented to me here, but towards the end of these reasons. The problems of poverty, oppression, destruction, and war are dwarfed by the fight for open communication and collaboration, the only way these problems will find endings.

On relationships. Nature's forces on a lone ship at sea cannot be denied nor buffered. Any attempt to do so smashed both the ship and the dock. The safest place during a tsunami is at sea. So too must this ship sail despite the weathering.

On Harry Potter. His continued resistance against all he sees wrong in the world should be an inspiration for all. Especially the next generation.

I hope my next entry will be on beginnings. I expect they will come.

A Touristical Weekend

Maya ruins in the jungle, all you can eat steak houses, Chamulan religious ceremonies, Latin American soccer cup, movies, drinks, friends. That was my weekend.

Anything particularly exciting? Not really. That's what made it so nice.

I wore the hat of the tourist which made me think about tourism and what I'm doing here.

A "tourist" is someone who "tours": to go through various places of interest for business, pleasure, or instruction.

A "traveler" is someone who "travels": to go through various places of interest for business, pleasure, or instruction. But it is also to proceed or advance in a way.

The differences are subtle but important. Traveling implies a transformation or evolution. This progress in traveling is the focus, rather than the place one visits in touring. That transformative experience is the elusive destination of all travelers. It cannot be planned fo. Transformative Experience is on no map I've seen.

The quest for the next experience is what drives travellers forever on to the next place. In the same way adrenaline junkies and xtreme sports enthusiasts look for the fastest speeds, the perfect waves, or the most dangerous stunts, so to are travellers compelled.

The travel bug bites hard and once again I've been injected with its intoxicating venom.


Am I a tourist? Obviously.

Rather than an ecotourist, or a sex tourist, or a health tourist, or an adventure tourist, I'd like to think I'm a investigative tourist. Investigative tourism focuses on learning, answering specific questions, and molding experiences to meet these goals.

Long Wait

It's been a while since I've written anything. I've received a few concerned emails as to my whereabouts. I'm still here.

June played with my head a bit. After spending a week in some remote communities, where I had to go to the bathroom in a hole smaller than my foot, I left almost immediately to Marin County in California, one of the wealthiest counties in the wide United States.

I dined with bluegrass superstar David Grisman, hung out with my girlfriend after months of not seeing her, went surfing, sunning, and ended my trip by seeing the Giants in San Fransisco.

Back in Mexico, my head spinned.

I enjoy the spinning. I'm going to induce it more.

I've decided to end my trip within the month. My last week is planned: remote jungle, remote desert, largest city in the world, home.

That aughta give me the spins.

Research Brigada: Parte Tres

The days starts with everyone just as excited as when we went to sleep.

We sit and wait after a quick breakfast to be "presented" to everyone before we begin the interviews.

The main lawn is empty besides our small group and no one is really sure what to expect.

Then, from our right, marches out a masked Zapatista followed by all of the children of the community wearing handkerchiefs and masks. They march around the lawn and stop in a line facing us.

The men come out next. The community leader who was wearing a grin and a "Vacation Club" ball cap yesterday, now looks rather intimidating in a mask and black leather cowboy hat. He directs the group through a few maneuvers and and then lines the group up facing us.

The women follow shortly afterwards, many with small children.

A color guard retrieves the Mexican flag and both the Mexican and Zapatista anthems are sung. After the anthems the groups disperse and food is served.

After interviews, I go caving with a small group of locals. What fun!

We go to three different spots and climb around through caves, check out huge cave spiders, and bang on stalactites which make sounds like a marimba.

Afterwards, more river, more food, more work. We finally go to sleep and are up again at 3:30AM to start trekking to the next spot.