I've been getting in trouble from friends and family for not keeping my blog up to date. My normal (non road trip) pace is 1-2 entries a week. Mostly my life is just not that exciting!
We made it to Cozumel (after an cool trip to Chichen Itza which I will blog about), dad met and liked my friends, I have my work permit, I have a temporary, small one bedroom apartment and I'm now really looking forward to relaxing a little into the pace of things here. I could honestly sleep for a week! Will probably take the week off blogging and fill you in on the events following my arrival after the weekend.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Merida
Just writing a quick update from a lovely peaceful Hotel courtyard in Merida because the wireless internet does not seem to work in our room. It's very relaxing and still here - commodities which have been scarce so far in Mexico!
It took 7 hours to get here, but that was the last long drive of the trip. We were aiming for a Hotel in the main square but the square is closed on Sundays for a market. We ended up getting flustered driving round in circles. Just when we were about to give up we stopped to re-group. There, right where we pulled over, was an amazing hotel (I think it is called the Hotel Grand Real). Anyway it is beautiful and has only been open for two weeks so the room smells fresh and new. The staff speak English (I know I'm in Mexico and I promise I have really been trying with my Spanish but it is so nice to be able to ask questions in English). Anyway Dad is dying to see the Cathedral and while he was in the shower I checked mass times. We are in luck there is mass today at 6.30pm. Mass in Spanish, as tired as I am, may send me to sleep -but I'll take one for the team. I do actually intend to go to Church in Cozumel, but its something I prefer to have a clear head for.
We have only about a 4 hour drive to Playa del Carmen from here (this is where my friends Hans and Allie live and where we catch the car ferry to Cozumel). So our plan is to get up early again, drive to Chitzen Iza to see the Mayan ruins and have breakfast. Then we'll head to Playa, hopefully get there by lunch time, find the car ferry and get over to Cozumel. Tomorrow I hope to be sleeping in my (temporary) new bed!!!
Allie flies back from New Jersey on Tuesday so hopefully we'll be well rested and will be able to meet her in Cozumel for dinner.
It took 7 hours to get here, but that was the last long drive of the trip. We were aiming for a Hotel in the main square but the square is closed on Sundays for a market. We ended up getting flustered driving round in circles. Just when we were about to give up we stopped to re-group. There, right where we pulled over, was an amazing hotel (I think it is called the Hotel Grand Real). Anyway it is beautiful and has only been open for two weeks so the room smells fresh and new. The staff speak English (I know I'm in Mexico and I promise I have really been trying with my Spanish but it is so nice to be able to ask questions in English). Anyway Dad is dying to see the Cathedral and while he was in the shower I checked mass times. We are in luck there is mass today at 6.30pm. Mass in Spanish, as tired as I am, may send me to sleep -but I'll take one for the team. I do actually intend to go to Church in Cozumel, but its something I prefer to have a clear head for.
We have only about a 4 hour drive to Playa del Carmen from here (this is where my friends Hans and Allie live and where we catch the car ferry to Cozumel). So our plan is to get up early again, drive to Chitzen Iza to see the Mayan ruins and have breakfast. Then we'll head to Playa, hopefully get there by lunch time, find the car ferry and get over to Cozumel. Tomorrow I hope to be sleeping in my (temporary) new bed!!!
Allie flies back from New Jersey on Tuesday so hopefully we'll be well rested and will be able to meet her in Cozumel for dinner.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Villa Hermosa - Not so bad
10 stops down Aug 28- Sept 6
Baltimore; Asheville; Nashville; Memphis; Dallas; Austin; Brownsville; Tampico; Veracruz & Villa Hermosa
2 to go...
Sun Sept 7 - Campeche/ Merida
Mon Sept 8 - Valladolid
Tues Sept 9 - Cozumel!!!!!
The drive today was pretty nasty in the morning. Torrential rains covered us and the road. My little windshield/screen wipers could not keep up. I'm getting better at potholes and speed bumps. My car's wipers, suspension and four wheel drive have been tested to the full. My little car is doing well. I think the journey would have been very beautiful if we had been able to see anything other than rain and fog. My rain coat came into its own at the gas station.
We are getting closer. Tomorrow I want to drive to Merida (we could stop in Campeche if we're too tired and then we are almost in Cozumel). It should take around 7 hours and be the last really long drive of the trip. We are staying in one of the nicer hotels in Villa Hermosa - the Olmeca Palace. We had one of the nicest meals of the trip on our arrival. My back is killing me and, as we are coming into the home stretch and the bed feels pretty comfortable tonight, I have decided to splurge and get a massage (its only $40 for an hour and I think its worth it). I cannot wait! Think I'll watch a little bit of my ipod have a shower, a massage and then bed.
Dad did a great job of map reading on the way into town today and he's had a little explore. I'm told it was just too hot to hunt down a church for mass today though.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Veracruz - only three driving days left!!!
9 stops down
Thurs Aug 28 - Baltimore
Fri Aug 29- Asheville
Sat Aug 30 - Nashville
Sun Aug 31 - Memphis
Mon Sept 1 - Dallas
Tues Sept 2 - Austin
Wed Sept 3 - Brownsville
Thurs Sept 4 - Tampico
Fri Sept 5 - Veracruz
3 to go...
Sat Sept 6 - Villa Hermosa
Sun Sept 7 - Campeche/ Merida
Mon Sept 8 - Valladolid
Tues Sept 9 - Cozumel!!!!!
Phew it makes me feel better to see that!! Another long drive today. Little did I know that when I took this picture in the Blue Ridge Mountains, that this would be a common sight on 180 in Mexico:
Most of 180 is single lane - so you take your life in your hands when you over-take/pass someone. My car does not have its usual acceleration, as it is so overloaded, so I have to make absolutely sure I have room to pass the guy in front (lemon carrying trucks seem the slowest). So twice today, I'm tootling along in the right hand lane and I come over the crest of a hill to see two trucks side by side coming right at me - one in the left lane and one in my lane flashing his lights at me furiously. Well my options were limited. All I could do was grind to a halt avoiding a head on collision by inches and with the guy behind nearly ramming my ass. Yes the driving here is quite exciting. I will say that they do have better lane discipline than the yanks. No one 'drives' in the fast lane and if someone is not driving fast enough they are flashed over. The drive from Tampico to Tuxpan was nasty. It was through thick Congo like jungle (the cool part) - the roads were FULL of potholes. I made myself laugh because my Dad was sitting with his glasses on and all of his maps bundled on his knee while I tried to avoid potholes and head on collisions in torrential rain. Did you ever see the scene in Indiana Jones where Sean Connery is riding in Indie's side car? That was the expression on my Dad's face.
Anyway we made it to the hotel by 3 and I parked the car, deposited Dad and the bags and jumped into a cab to meet my immigration attorney - Rafael. This all went swimingly. He met me on the street just outside of his office and we went directly to the immigration department. I gave all of my documents over, was fingerprinted and photographed and my FM3 should be ready by next Tuesday. Rafael is then going to send it by courier to Cozumel. It will be an independent contractor's FM3 which is awesome, and means I can work anywhere. The bad thing was that I did not realize that I would have to be photographed. I had no make up on and was fresh out of a sleep deprived, 7 hour stressful drive. I look like an ex-con. The photos are also mug shot style. One face on and one sideways.
Anyway tomorrow is Villa Hermosa which I understand is not so Hermosa (beautiful)! After that we may skip Campeche and head on to Merida. I favor this idea because that would leave very little driving to Cozumel. We could even spend an extra night in Merida or Valladolid (my dad wants to see Chichen Itza - as do I). I don't like to fantasize or tempt fate but one could even imagine the possibility of a late lie in bed.
I didn't get much of a chance to take many pictures but here is a picture of the unexpected mountainous terrain:
And first glimpse of the ocean:
Thurs Aug 28 - Baltimore
Fri Aug 29- Asheville
Sat Aug 30 - Nashville
Sun Aug 31 - Memphis
Mon Sept 1 - Dallas
Tues Sept 2 - Austin
Wed Sept 3 - Brownsville
Thurs Sept 4 - Tampico
Fri Sept 5 - Veracruz
3 to go...
Sat Sept 6 - Villa Hermosa
Sun Sept 7 - Campeche/ Merida
Mon Sept 8 - Valladolid
Tues Sept 9 - Cozumel!!!!!
Phew it makes me feel better to see that!! Another long drive today. Little did I know that when I took this picture in the Blue Ridge Mountains, that this would be a common sight on 180 in Mexico:
Most of 180 is single lane - so you take your life in your hands when you over-take/pass someone. My car does not have its usual acceleration, as it is so overloaded, so I have to make absolutely sure I have room to pass the guy in front (lemon carrying trucks seem the slowest). So twice today, I'm tootling along in the right hand lane and I come over the crest of a hill to see two trucks side by side coming right at me - one in the left lane and one in my lane flashing his lights at me furiously. Well my options were limited. All I could do was grind to a halt avoiding a head on collision by inches and with the guy behind nearly ramming my ass. Yes the driving here is quite exciting. I will say that they do have better lane discipline than the yanks. No one 'drives' in the fast lane and if someone is not driving fast enough they are flashed over. The drive from Tampico to Tuxpan was nasty. It was through thick Congo like jungle (the cool part) - the roads were FULL of potholes. I made myself laugh because my Dad was sitting with his glasses on and all of his maps bundled on his knee while I tried to avoid potholes and head on collisions in torrential rain. Did you ever see the scene in Indiana Jones where Sean Connery is riding in Indie's side car? That was the expression on my Dad's face.
Anyway we made it to the hotel by 3 and I parked the car, deposited Dad and the bags and jumped into a cab to meet my immigration attorney - Rafael. This all went swimingly. He met me on the street just outside of his office and we went directly to the immigration department. I gave all of my documents over, was fingerprinted and photographed and my FM3 should be ready by next Tuesday. Rafael is then going to send it by courier to Cozumel. It will be an independent contractor's FM3 which is awesome, and means I can work anywhere. The bad thing was that I did not realize that I would have to be photographed. I had no make up on and was fresh out of a sleep deprived, 7 hour stressful drive. I look like an ex-con. The photos are also mug shot style. One face on and one sideways.
Anyway tomorrow is Villa Hermosa which I understand is not so Hermosa (beautiful)! After that we may skip Campeche and head on to Merida. I favor this idea because that would leave very little driving to Cozumel. We could even spend an extra night in Merida or Valladolid (my dad wants to see Chichen Itza - as do I). I don't like to fantasize or tempt fate but one could even imagine the possibility of a late lie in bed.
I didn't get much of a chance to take many pictures but here is a picture of the unexpected mountainous terrain:
And first glimpse of the ocean:
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Ups and downs
Well the border was pretty easy except that due to my lack of Spanish we drove right past the office where you get the temporary car permits and ended up heading back towards the USA. It is at times like this that it helps to be a girl. I flirted with the guys on the US gate and they moved cars so I could back up and then moved cones so I could drive back to the parking lot for the permit office. This all went pretty smoothly. I went into the office at 7.45 expecting to wait after Allie and Han's experiences. But no - the window was open and we were processed pretty quickly.
I HAVE A SIX MONTH TEMPORARY PERMIT FOR MY CAR (and me) - MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!!!!
Then a fairly hairy intro to Mexican driving through Matamoros. We had no real idea where we were going. My GPS basically has a few of the major roads and at least tells you which direction you are traveling in. After a few wrong turns we eventually got onto the road that leads to Tampico - I-180. the journey was OK. 180 is interesting. Mexicans seem to be fearless in the face of close passes. On a two lane stretch its not uncommon to see a huge truck heading right at you in the process of overtaking someone on his side. There were crosses all along the sides of the roads - clearly there have been many victims of this driving style. I hit a pothole which kind of bumped my trunk open a little. No lasting damage seems to have been done.
We arrived in Tampico at around 4.30 and spent the next 2 hours looking for this stupid hotel. My friends know me as a tinsy bit anal - and in true style I'd booked hotels in advance in Tampico and Veracruz. This is a very stupid thing to do, I have decided, as we passed possibly 30 perfectly decent hotels with on-site parking searching for this Best Western. The more we searched the more determined I became to find this stupid hotel. Eventually we paid a cab $5 to lead us to the hotel (which is ridiculous - but at that juncture I would have promised him my first born).
At last, almost 12 hours since we left our hotel in Brownsville we arrived at the illusive Best Western in Tampico.
Progress report:
So how are we progressing:
8 stops down
Thurs Aug 28 - Baltimore
Fri Aug 29- Asheville
Sat Aug 30 - Nashville
Sun Aug 31 - Memphis
Mon Sept 1 - Dallas
Tues Sept 2 - Austin
Wed Sept 3 - Brownsville
Thurs Sept 4 - Tampico
4 to go...
Fri Sept 5 - Veracruz
Sat Sept 6 - Villa Hermosa
Sun Sept 7 - Campeche
Mon Sept 8 - Valladolid
Tues Sept 9 - Cozumel!!!!!
Dad is sure that he can find the hotel I booked in Veracruz easily: "its right on the sea front - you cant miss it" he promises. So he has convinced me not to cancel that booking. My plan is to get to the hotel at around lunch time and take a cab to see my immigration lawyer. Tomorrow we get out of here early.
My Mexican cell phone seems to be working but when I try to make a call a recorded message in Spanish says: "Bla bla bla asterisco bla bla 4", having the benefit of Allie's blogging on the subject I know asterisco (sp) to mean *. The *4 thing seemed to work a few times but now does not want to work. My US cell phone minutes are finished and I don't have the energy today to work out how to use the Mex cell.
I HAVE A SIX MONTH TEMPORARY PERMIT FOR MY CAR (and me) - MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!!!!
Then a fairly hairy intro to Mexican driving through Matamoros. We had no real idea where we were going. My GPS basically has a few of the major roads and at least tells you which direction you are traveling in. After a few wrong turns we eventually got onto the road that leads to Tampico - I-180. the journey was OK. 180 is interesting. Mexicans seem to be fearless in the face of close passes. On a two lane stretch its not uncommon to see a huge truck heading right at you in the process of overtaking someone on his side. There were crosses all along the sides of the roads - clearly there have been many victims of this driving style. I hit a pothole which kind of bumped my trunk open a little. No lasting damage seems to have been done.
We arrived in Tampico at around 4.30 and spent the next 2 hours looking for this stupid hotel. My friends know me as a tinsy bit anal - and in true style I'd booked hotels in advance in Tampico and Veracruz. This is a very stupid thing to do, I have decided, as we passed possibly 30 perfectly decent hotels with on-site parking searching for this Best Western. The more we searched the more determined I became to find this stupid hotel. Eventually we paid a cab $5 to lead us to the hotel (which is ridiculous - but at that juncture I would have promised him my first born).
At last, almost 12 hours since we left our hotel in Brownsville we arrived at the illusive Best Western in Tampico.
Progress report:
So how are we progressing:
8 stops down
Thurs Aug 28 - Baltimore
Fri Aug 29- Asheville
Sat Aug 30 - Nashville
Sun Aug 31 - Memphis
Mon Sept 1 - Dallas
Tues Sept 2 - Austin
Wed Sept 3 - Brownsville
Thurs Sept 4 - Tampico
4 to go...
Fri Sept 5 - Veracruz
Sat Sept 6 - Villa Hermosa
Sun Sept 7 - Campeche
Mon Sept 8 - Valladolid
Tues Sept 9 - Cozumel!!!!!
Dad is sure that he can find the hotel I booked in Veracruz easily: "its right on the sea front - you cant miss it" he promises. So he has convinced me not to cancel that booking. My plan is to get to the hotel at around lunch time and take a cab to see my immigration lawyer. Tomorrow we get out of here early.
My Mexican cell phone seems to be working but when I try to make a call a recorded message in Spanish says: "Bla bla bla asterisco bla bla 4", having the benefit of Allie's blogging on the subject I know asterisco (sp) to mean *. The *4 thing seemed to work a few times but now does not want to work. My US cell phone minutes are finished and I don't have the energy today to work out how to use the Mex cell.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Last night in the USA (Brownsville)
This morning the drive to Brownsville was flat. Allie had warned me it was the most dull part of the journey and she was right. Although it seems that it is mating season down here for big red butterflies a particularly fat breed of dragonfly. These dragonflies are the size of humming birds and many of these poor love sick fools met their deaths on my windscreen. A bit disgusting to clean up too, I can tell you.
The start of the drive to Brownsville:
And 2 1/2 hours later on the same road:
I have to be fair though and say there were 2-3 very exciting 2 min stretches where I had to turn my steering wheel slightly. I actually kind of like this type of driving when I'm not too tired. I was pretty fresh today so it made for an easy trip. You could see drivers nodding off ahead and nearly veering off the road. We did actually witness the aftermath of a car having run off the road - I'm guessing because the driver fell asleep at the wheel. The car was pretty banged up.
Anyway we got to Brownsville - I flopped on the bed for a mini rest:
Had lunch and then jumped in the pool to stretch out my aching back:
So how are we progressing:
7 stops down
Thurs Aug 28 - Baltimore
Fri Aug 29- Asheville
Sat Aug 30 - Nashville
Sun Aug 31 - Memphis
Mon Sept 1 - Dallas
Tues Sept 2 - Austin
Wed Sept 3 - Brownsville
5 to go...
Thurs Sept 4 - Tampico
Fri Sept 5 - Veracruz
Sat Sept 6 - Villa Hermosa
Sun Sept 7 - Campeche
Mon Sept 8 - Valladolid
Tues Sept 9 - Cozumel!!!!!
The start of the drive to Brownsville:
And 2 1/2 hours later on the same road:
I have to be fair though and say there were 2-3 very exciting 2 min stretches where I had to turn my steering wheel slightly. I actually kind of like this type of driving when I'm not too tired. I was pretty fresh today so it made for an easy trip. You could see drivers nodding off ahead and nearly veering off the road. We did actually witness the aftermath of a car having run off the road - I'm guessing because the driver fell asleep at the wheel. The car was pretty banged up.Anyway we got to Brownsville - I flopped on the bed for a mini rest:
Had lunch and then jumped in the pool to stretch out my aching back:
So how are we progressing:7 stops down
Thurs Aug 28 - Baltimore
Fri Aug 29- Asheville
Sat Aug 30 - Nashville
Sun Aug 31 - Memphis
Mon Sept 1 - Dallas
Tues Sept 2 - Austin
Wed Sept 3 - Brownsville
5 to go...
Thurs Sept 4 - Tampico
Fri Sept 5 - Veracruz
Sat Sept 6 - Villa Hermosa
Sun Sept 7 - Campeche
Mon Sept 8 - Valladolid
Tues Sept 9 - Cozumel!!!!!
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Austin
Austin was a relatively short trip so I took my time. We arrived at around 10.30 am. The roads here are crazy (bit like a giant scaelectircs set):
Happily we were able to check right in to our room. This is a Candlewood Suites hotel, the rooms are pretty basic in decor but they have a kitchen, and a huge table which is great because I want to make sure that today that I have everything arranged for our crossing the border on Thursday (the journey to Brownsville is likely to be another hellish drive) . In addition I want to keep tomorrow night free because it is the 2 hour long season premier of my favorite TV show 'Bones'. I know its sad but it really is the only show I like to watch on TV. Hopefully I will be able to download this from Mexico. My new temporary home will have wireless internet.
The other great thing about this hotel is that it has a room called the 'Candlewood Kitchen' which has free washers and dryers and all manner of foodstuffs that you might want to buy - its all based on the honor system. Dad washed all of the clothes he'd worn so far and I washed a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. We had lunch at a restaurant on the South side of the city called the Congress Cafe. The area reminded me of Brooklyn Heights.
The Battery on my camera has decided to fail which is not great timing. I tried Radio Shack and this other battery shop but no luck. I guess I'll order one in NY and ask Allie or Charlie to bring it down. I know Allie loved Austin and I'm sorry I wont get time to see more of it.
Happily we were able to check right in to our room. This is a Candlewood Suites hotel, the rooms are pretty basic in decor but they have a kitchen, and a huge table which is great because I want to make sure that today that I have everything arranged for our crossing the border on Thursday (the journey to Brownsville is likely to be another hellish drive) . In addition I want to keep tomorrow night free because it is the 2 hour long season premier of my favorite TV show 'Bones'. I know its sad but it really is the only show I like to watch on TV. Hopefully I will be able to download this from Mexico. My new temporary home will have wireless internet.
The other great thing about this hotel is that it has a room called the 'Candlewood Kitchen' which has free washers and dryers and all manner of foodstuffs that you might want to buy - its all based on the honor system. Dad washed all of the clothes he'd worn so far and I washed a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. We had lunch at a restaurant on the South side of the city called the Congress Cafe. The area reminded me of Brooklyn Heights.
The Battery on my camera has decided to fail which is not great timing. I tried Radio Shack and this other battery shop but no luck. I guess I'll order one in NY and ask Allie or Charlie to bring it down. I know Allie loved Austin and I'm sorry I wont get time to see more of it.
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