San Cristobal

I actually did almost hitch a ride to San Cristobal yesterday, until the driver confirmed that it was indeed a 15 hour ride.

As it turns out, it was the right choice. Guess where Papa Francesco is right now?

Timing is everything.

I killed out at Lerma today

But to give credit where credit is due, I stole the joke from Sammy at the front desk.

Talking about how one of the things that has kept Campeche from being overdeveloped is the complete absence of beaches, he laughed and said that they did have one, but that some people called it Las Dos Mentiras (the two lies). When I asked why, he said that "Se llama la Playa Bonita, pero no es playa y no es bonita." (It's called the Beautiful Beach, but it isn't beautiful and it isn't a beach.)

I used his line to get directions. It went over huge.

Big in Lerma.

Campeche ♡ bikes

The public health department here launched an initiative a couple of years ago to encourage people to be more active. There are a number of different running activities, but the most amazing thing is the free bikes.

Yes, free.

I had noticed a lot of people riding crummy bikes while decked out in some snazzy high visibility vests, and figured they must be renting the bikes from someplace nearby and that I should get myself there, stat.

When I stopped one gentleman to ask him where I could rent a bike, he made it clear, "You don't rent it. You borrow it!"

The bike borrow service is located a block off the Malecon, which stretches almost 6 km along the waterfront.

In case there was any doubt

About which peppers are preferred here in the peninsula. (Those are a small fraction of the habaneros at the market.)

Corners, Campeche style

Yup

Also somehow

The posted rate for this room is $590, the rate I was quoted was $500, and when I got here they dropped it to $450, with the promise that I could switch to another, cheaper room tomorrow, should I choose to stay on.

Oh, Campeche.

Goddamn

Do I ever love me a malecón.

Hello Campeche.