Very interesting. Be anxious to hear what you find there. Bring back some nice ones! By the way, CONGRATULATIONS!

Chris

Thanx Chris

We visited a market in the old part of Cancun and there were many peppers on display.

ever get any?

If you want to see where chiles are grown, you're going to have to head west to Merida and Villahermosa and inland where there is farmland.

Cancun is not Mexico, it is a gringo enclave in Mexico.

Willard is correct about the tourist strip in Cancun but there is still an old city where regular folks live.

We will actually be closer to SW guatemala for most of our trip. Im well aware of the fact that Cancun wouldnt be the best place to get Habs. None the less, I will be on the Yucatan and I guess thats the point I was trying to make...lol

Try to find out in advance the market days for various towns so you can visit them when your schedule permits. I encourage you to rent a car for flexibility to explore, at least for part of the trip. Enjoy!

Jim

How did you assume that we would be getting around...mule?
LOL

Im sure it will be loads of fun. My biggest interest there will be the Mayan sites.

We took a local bus from Merida that stopped at 8 different Mayan sites for about $20. No tour -the bus would stop and the driver would say when to be back to the bus and you were on your own. The bus went through lots of small towns and picked up and dropped off locals all along the trip so you got a feel for how people lived there.

Most Americans would not consider traveling by but in Mexico. They are missing out on comfortable, efficient and inexpensive transportation. I haven't travelled by bus in the U.S. since my impoverished student days. But in Mexico it's different. There are various classes of bus. You buy a reserved seat. Seats are comfortable. Service is frequent and runs on time. Cost is low, even in first or second class. Most have air conditioning and some have "in flight" movies, restrooms and attendants. I've never felt the need to splurge on the premium class which runs Mercedes busses. And, as John said, travel to ruins by local bus is cheap and convenient.

It's pretty easy to go anywhere in Mexico by bus. But the freedom of car travel is nice sometimes. If you can find a safe place to park over night in the cities. And if you don't have to deal with police. It's usually easy enough.

Jim

Yes, we traveled from Cancun up along the coast by bus and from Cancun to Merida by bus which was one of the nicer type you describe. The local bus was a bit different-no reserved seating, people on the floor, no ac, restrooms, or other amenities ( people did sell stuff at various stops) but it was fine and got us where we wanted to go.

John,

I had similar bus travel experiences in other parts of Mexico. The more remote the destination, the smaller and simpler the bus. But those last legs of the journey are usually short, so lack of comforts isn't so important. I too enjoy a "flavor of the country" experience.

I have yet to visit the Yucatan, but expect to some time.

Jim