Looking at the map, the Guatemalan border was still another 450klm away. I didn't at any stage think I would be able to reach it in one day. So with the heat streaming down yet again, I loaded up my bag, which at this point had become much lighter. Not due to the contents getting any less, but due to the simple fact that it had become such a part of my daily dress. Catching a cheap bus to the city limits I started noticing the surrounding scenery slowly also starting to take a new look. It had started taking on a much more lush attire. I was told that the more south you get, the more similar the surrounds get to that of the Caribbean. Getting to the city limits, waving down a ride proved an easier task than expected. I was on my way to Ariaga. Unfortunately my lift, who was an electrician, received another job, so dropped me off in another town with no name. Well, it probably has a name, but once again that detail could not be found. I was about 40klm from Ariaga. The sun was now having a real go at trying to suck out all the juices out of my body. So in response I decided to do some spontaneous push-ups at the side of some deserted road. 15min later and with the realisation hitting home that doing push-ups in the midday sun is not the smartest thing to do, the road looked as tired and empty as I was feeling. So as you do, I started dancing away to some U.2. Next thing you know.....
Another bumpy ride but my dancing must have been real good because these guys were heading even further than Ariaga. Tonala, which is well into the Chiapas District was know the next stop. The surrounds as promised, was having more and more Caribbean look about it. I was half expecting some rasta to come driving buy with some reggae wailing out the windows. We weren't that close though. Arriving at Tonala I even allowed myself an ice-cream break while watching some Barcelona v Arsenal. Sorry Gooners.
With ice-cream fetish met, I felt there was enough time in hand to try and push on to Tapachula. That proved a good choice. A few minutes after getting to a hitcher stop, another trucker with some space for this hitcher pulled up. With a shake, rattle and roll, we were off. As Tapachula drew closer and the sun got lower, it slowly started sinking in that I was about to complete the first step of many, hitchhiking across Mexico. It had been some crazy times thus far and with plenty more to come, the lasting memory will be of all the nameless faces & faceless names that has thus far played a bigger part than they will ever know.
'Hey there Tapachula. Que pasa?'
Until that day......
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