Hi guys!

If someone was trying to contact us at info@theamericasbycycle.org and we didn't answer, it's because this e-mail seems not to work, so please contact us at our 'regular' e-mails:
Marta marta.tajsiak@gmail.com
raul paraisoscondido@yahoo.es

Greetings from Granada!

Hi folk!

that's the lady you should look for!

If you find your self in Nahuala (its not a great place to visit but sometime we need to spent a night because is late to keep cycling) and you need to spent a night over don't go to any of the Motel or Hotel that you find in town it is a bit of a cheat!. We found this lovely women Manuela Cotiy who took us to her place for an expensive price and even fed us, we had a great eve chatting with Manuela and her family over the table while having dinner.
Her mobile number is (47867439)

Something we won't miss from Mexico...

Topes!
Topes are cyclist nightmare! Speed bumps, 'sleeping policeman', anything to force the drivers to obey 'stop' signs or speed limit. And since Mexican drivers are not too keen on obeying any sort of traffic rules, the creativity of officials as well as villagers (it's a common practice for a villagers to make their own topes) is endless in order to make a car to slow down.
That's a small collection we made on the way:

so-called 'vibradores', the worst ones for us

to pass this ones you have to get of the bike most of the time

a bit worn off

tire one

rope

small 'vibradores' spread over 50 m

a nice one

One year on the road
This 18th of May was a year on the road since we left Alaska, we could not celebrated it as We wanted because both of us got a gentle stomach bug which stopped us from having fun We had a everything planed dinner, cake... but  instead we were lying on the sofa alternating non stop visit to the toilet with movies :) It has been today when we felt totally bounced back, ready to face a big dinner, cake and anything we want to spoil ourselves with

20000 visits!
We've just hit 20000 visits on our blog a few days ago.
Thanks to all of you for checking from time to time how are we getting on and congratulations to our 20000th visitor! :)

Well, there won't be a miracle...
Marta got her first puncture. After 13000 km (exactly 13051km) and just over 11 months cycling, on the road to nowhere (we were on a dead end looking for Nizanda, an apparent paradise, natural pools formed by warm springs) the rear tire went flat. We found tiny hole in the inner tube, however we didn't find any cause of it;maybe it's just wear of the material... 

Party Time!
When we arrived to Taxco we found out that there is a fiesta. How did we find out? Well, at any time of day or night we were being scared by sudden 'BANGS!', so we asked people what's going on? And they told us that there is a party, so they let off fireworks all the time. 
And we were also informed where we can see the best shows.

Castillo de Munecos (Castle of Dolls) is a tall structure with different paper mache figures attached, that are moved by the power of fireworks. It is all so meticulously connected that they just light a wick on the bottom of the tower and the fire travels upwards putting figure by figure in  motion. Some of dolls are filled with sweets or other surprises and when they spin they open and the goodies fall down for children to catch.  

Castillo de Fuego (Castle of Fire) is based on the same principals as the previous one; it was an amazing show lasting 40 minutes, where the fire was just set once at the bottom of the tower and then by travelling up was creating different shapes and figures.
The video shows the final one.



Torritos is a tradition that cannot be explained. It has to be watched.



A! By the way, we shouldn't forget about the principals - The cause of the party was a religious celebration. It all happened on square just in front of a church.


We can hear fireworks everywhere and all the time. And very soon after this party we found an answer why; in a book about Natives of Mexico by Fernando Benitez Raul read that when Spaniards finished they "converting and civilizing" of Natives, they had lots of gunpowder left and didn't know what to do with it. So they showed locals how to make fireworks and the locals were bewildered and astonished as the cult of the fire is very strong in their culture. 
And since then onward they just love it!