Time Flies but Airplanes Crash

Revising our plans (yet again) to rent a car and drive to Oaxaca, we settled on a bus for economic reasons. We briefly considered a private jet, but a cost of $900 each way the consideration was indeed "brief." Although $900 didn't seem that expensive to cheap traveler inside me. I'm sure my insistence on finding a bus with a first class section could have been considered nagging, but after South America I consider myself learned in the art of Latin American Bus Travel. So "primera clase" is how we ll be journeying. While this might sound elitist, I assure you the few extra dollars spent make a big difference. Having a nice wide seat that fully reclines for a 12 hour excursion becomes priceless at about the 6 hour mark. Sadly the first leg of this trip, Mexico City to Oaxaca is only 6 hours.

Backing up a bit, here's a shot of AM and I at the Templo Mayor Ruins

This is a working trip for AM and ED and they have a lot meetings, and some sort of company here in Mexico that I really don't understand but they are the guys you call when you need connections or contacts so here's a pictorial representation of what the conversation looks like at meal time

A little "BlackBerry" for dessert sir?

 So off to Oaxaca I go...

Between movies I had time to reflect on whether Ed is my inspiration to keep fighting or my signal to call it a day. I'm still undecided and see-saw from fight to flight regularly, but I lean mostly towards fight. Auto Immune has to be one the worst disorders to have, although agreed, the disease you HAVE is always "the worst." Its like undergoing chemo for life. Too fatigued to do anything but the bare essentials, cant eat or little appetite. Difference is one way or the other you're done with chemo. Auto Immune is the gift that is little understood and keeps on giving.

I pondered fight or flight and other important questions between poorly dubbed movies of "The Spy Next Door" and "My Best Friends Girl" beamed directly to the seatback in front of me.

Not to complain, but I feel the need to complain. My stomach/Gi tract discomfort has returned and eating is no longer a stress less endeavor. I imagine it corresponds with my prescribed reduction of prednisone. I'm tempted to up the dose at least for the duration of the trip as traveling with a doctor has advantages like easy access to medication. Meanwhile skinny Paul tightens his belt and considers sewing his shirt sleeves to make his biceps look bigger.

On that note I would like to present for your viewing pleasure some food porn, which is like bike porn when you cant ride

Ceviche Peruano went down easily

Tlayudas Oaxaceñas (or something like that) not so easy...

and to wash it all down a little gusano swimming in Mescal

"Its sooo nice in here, Ill bet the other worms are jealous of me now!"

 and down the gullet...

Gluten Free Worm Goodness or Worm Thinks Pablo Needs a Shave

Ed forgot to tell me that for maximum effect the worm must be chewed. Drats! Next time.

Our hotel in Oaxaca is a converted Hacienda and is quite luxurious

Although the swimming pool could get a little crowded with about 2 people...

In a couple hours we board the bus again for the little village that the Shaman works out of. It should be quite a ride and ED describes it as a winding mountain ascent like driving up the road up to Big Bear only for 5 hours. Luckily for me only airplanes crash, buses not so much...