Travels to Chilapa

Caroline and I left on the plane at about midnight on Tuesday night. We arrived in Mexico City at 6am. Our flight to Acapulco wasn´t leaving until almost 10am so we had quite a bit of time to wander around and get some exercise.
I hear a horse walking down the street outside.
They actually have a Starbucks, Subway, MacDonalds, and Burger King in the airport domestic terminal. We splurged on $4 lattes. And slept, and ate a delicious torta (Mexican sandwich), and sat around people watching. We finally boarded the plane for Acapulco 4 hours later. It was an hour flight over beautiful mountains and past two snow capped volcanos. We arrived just as I was getting a little shut eye.
As soon as we touched down and the cabin door was open, you could instantly feel the hot muggy air. I couldn´t get my sweatshirt off soon enough.
A cab to the bus station was $25. When we arrived there, they told us the first bus for Chilpancingo (our first stop) was going to be at 1pm, in two hours. So, we hopped another taxi for $15 to the central bus station. Acapulco was teaming with activity and almost bumper to bumper traffic. Lining the beaches and the main streets are huge high rise hotels mixed in with smaller, ocean side restaurants and clubs. I was happy to be driving through and not stopping. I need to brace myself for that mess.
We arrived just in time for the 12:30pm bus to Chilpancingo with front row seats. Perfect for Caroline with her very long legs! The cuota - toll road - goes from Acapulco all the way to Mexico City actually. We were only going about an hour to Chilpancingo, however.

Chilpancingo is a fairly large city with a university and lots of businesses. It is also the capital of the state of Guerrero. We wanted to take a bus to Chilapa, a small town on the way to Olinala, but the next bus wasn´t leaving until 6pm. Obviously that was much too late. The bus station attendant directed us up the street to find a combi - a van - going to Chilapa. Sure enough, when we reached the aformentioned street, there were thousands of combis all going to various locations. We didn´t see any going to Chilapa. I was feeling very conspicuous with my long red hair, very tall friend, backpacks and rolly suitcases. There were men everywhere staring at us. I asked a couple of people about combis to Chilapa, but was unsuccessful. I am not sure if I didn´t understand, or was just getting too overwhelmed. It was loud, tons of cars, lots of people, men staring at us and I decided the best thing to do would be to find a taxi. So, we got one and he wanted $40! I talked another one down to $35. Actually that is a deal! It was about an hour and a half drive on a narrow winding road into and through the mountains.

The ride was gorgeous. The landscape is very green and lush. The terrain is mountainous, but not at a very high altitude. I think Chilapa is at about 4000 feet. When we arrived, the town was bustling, lots of activity particularly near the market on the main road into town. The hotel we had picked out was very easy to find, just off the main street and up a block or two.

The hotel room was very basic, but very clean. Two very hard double beds, an overhead light, a TV, and a shower in the bathroom. Hot water too. All for $25. That is $12.50 each! After getting settled in we headed out for some comida (food) and found a great restaurant a few blocks away, near the zocalo (town center). The restaurant was in a giant open building with brick walls, wooden beams and beautful wood and clay masks all over the walls. We both had cheese enchiladas served with cream and something like parmesan on top, black beans and salsa on the side with fresh tortillas. Excellent.

After a stroll around town, into the iglesia (church) and up the hill to see the vista, we were ready to chill in the zocalo. Everyone in the town comes out to sit in the square, eat popsicles of fresh fruit, sweet pancakes with fruit sauce, fresh potato chips, and corn on the cob with mayonaise and hot sauce. Caroline and I feasted on strawberry popsicles, mine chocolate covered, nut dipped.
On the way home we met two very cute, very attentive chiuauas. Their people, in one of the many shops were happy to share them with us. Such sweet boys! It really made me miss Ruby (and Charlie too)!

At 8:30pm we crawled into bed and fell asleep reading about our next adventure.