tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62297429456460895902024-03-05T18:22:51.988-06:00Wandering MexicoReflections on travel by bus, burro ... and a little RV.stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17137052519886949094noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6229742945646089590.post-51196255232233395652010-03-18T00:49:00.000-05:002010-04-10T13:32:26.900-05:00Wanderer's epilogue<div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ohTAvTji9BnT9r7cMh6LlCinKLoGmZljJ2Oo0TCgqrwlQXNPQHQ-nJ9BHnVbHYZgceBuPsQL8aE7zocrf6nVv_OD8dSFwogXatBJE3NeMCWwNTc5wDhuaBJ9lIk5Ski9PiIBQs5xsVc/s1600-h/DSCF7241.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ohTAvTji9BnT9r7cMh6LlCinKLoGmZljJ2Oo0TCgqrwlQXNPQHQ-nJ9BHnVbHYZgceBuPsQL8aE7zocrf6nVv_OD8dSFwogXatBJE3NeMCWwNTc5wDhuaBJ9lIk5Ski9PiIBQs5xsVc/s320/DSCF7241.jpg" width="320" height="280"></a></div><br> <div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAKkk6LsUaViL6-szOdh8EjR6SFVvYKF0K3LtqMLuV__7fhnuO0pgfmLY6i8IzwreWF9earvP5xBeNnka7sM-MkCa7lYrFKgpt0C52InRJn6_gm2OtWfo76qzWfW-xDK_6gEv6Gcg3x8/s1600-h/DSCF7239.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAKkk6LsUaViL6-szOdh8EjR6SFVvYKF0K3LtqMLuV__7fhnuO0pgfmLY6i8IzwreWF9earvP5xBeNnka7sM-MkCa7lYrFKgpt0C52InRJn6_gm2OtWfo76qzWfW-xDK_6gEv6Gcg3x8/s320/DSCF7239.jpg" width="320" height="280"></a></div><br> <div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4GGDjwEE1nDPsDrXlrsW-vxfUAIoEPcMJ5cjV-3dm980Rizri-CLDjrljOTtJHhjTfKAjmI1csT1CvW6XHA3JStfi3w8Hw2eQ5JEdvTzH6VsulFagXL4ix5EwzyNE6Lpi0TAa08JFMhg/s1600-h/DSCF7222.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4GGDjwEE1nDPsDrXlrsW-vxfUAIoEPcMJ5cjV-3dm980Rizri-CLDjrljOTtJHhjTfKAjmI1csT1CvW6XHA3JStfi3w8Hw2eQ5JEdvTzH6VsulFagXL4ix5EwzyNE6Lpi0TAa08JFMhg/s320/DSCF7222.jpg" width="320" height="280"></a></div><br> <div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxBQK0PR-IrqEBE3I49xJiSrXYWEz8clXz0UqThhkqiDI-DSVI1IdGTk2EAq_OUa5Ab0WOOcQHC4iRMP2qKo-6hInJU50k39XND7bVFuymVIo5DSAFapewJ16CYw0mHEWci-oitiDp8A/s1600-h/DSCF7213.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxBQK0PR-IrqEBE3I49xJiSrXYWEz8clXz0UqThhkqiDI-DSVI1IdGTk2EAq_OUa5Ab0WOOcQHC4iRMP2qKo-6hInJU50k39XND7bVFuymVIo5DSAFapewJ16CYw0mHEWci-oitiDp8A/s320/DSCF7213.jpg" width="320" height="228"></a></div><br> <div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0gBEhV8hfSBLwI7GZp5k1eDSjzW58VlbHOMer6kEuKF8mfOYHQTLzwiGQkU8xEcLAGF0cpXhaawe8Jvpp4-ukwiotSKFH-kKDNAwVBief_pgZf6nZhf0z5TcjjmmoHuo_ZzLfcyKaq7o/s1600-h/DSCF7251.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0gBEhV8hfSBLwI7GZp5k1eDSjzW58VlbHOMer6kEuKF8mfOYHQTLzwiGQkU8xEcLAGF0cpXhaawe8Jvpp4-ukwiotSKFH-kKDNAwVBief_pgZf6nZhf0z5TcjjmmoHuo_ZzLfcyKaq7o/s320/DSCF7251.jpg" width="320" height="280"></a></div><span style="line-height: 15px; font-family: monospace; white-space: pre-wrap; font-size: 12px" class="Apple-style-span">We came to New Orleans to pick up the dogs at daughter Kate's house. It was Pat's birthday when we arrived. Today a Saint Patrick's Day block party in Kate's Irish Channel neighborhood took place. A few shots to express the love of the Irish, and the effects of Green beer on tired travelers...</span> stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17137052519886949094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6229742945646089590.post-56860365435209640102010-03-13T12:48:00.000-06:002010-03-17T12:29:02.985-05:00Crossing Over<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8IzVF2ltYOt-8EfZD_1Ommjh1Eo9opTsOAclkHYGolUynK6IAMMYwfrAze6mgksp3NqcHTBhyphenhyphenC231RNPYivGmgXl8wgwi5LQp3XN8qkW-Vxao4FIAF30mHzuApY21oNlv-Ac_05Z5cVw/s1600-h/DSCF7089.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8IzVF2ltYOt-8EfZD_1Ommjh1Eo9opTsOAclkHYGolUynK6IAMMYwfrAze6mgksp3NqcHTBhyphenhyphenC231RNPYivGmgXl8wgwi5LQp3XN8qkW-Vxao4FIAF30mHzuApY21oNlv-Ac_05Z5cVw/s400/DSCF7089.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448195767906673346" /></a><br />
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Ciudad Mante was the spot to put things together for our sprint to a border and crossing over. We took in some shopping for our friends and family back home and had our last meal at Marsiscos Mante. I had shrimp & rice with a side of ceviche and a pitcher of lemonade. Pat had a fried freshwater fish filet. It was a pleasant meal, with exceptional people serving it in crisp white blouses ... and what does this have to do with the border? Going home is complicated. There are memories of what you taste.<br />
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Yesterday we left Mante and drove Hwy 85 north toward Ciudad Victoria I was reminded of my home many times. The roadside stands selling sugar cane syrup and oranges began to look like ones of my youth along old Hwy 41 to visit family in Tennessee, or along Hwy 60 thru Hawesville, Kentucky at sorguhm time. Everything kept increasing in size. The orange groves and the corn fields got bigger and bigger resembeling our agricultural practices. The signs in English increased. The size of cars and trucks also increased.<br />
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Gloria Kerouac traversed Mexico from one end to the other and back again. She is fearful of no borders. We were stopped by members of the Mexican military nearly every day we traveled at makeshift roadblocks where they were searching for weapons. The soldiers with the big guns were for the most part just kids. It was not intimidating. It was annoying on occasion. They enjoyed getting a look at the inside of Gloria with her bells & Whistles and they treated our property with respect and were courteous. With our experience, intimidation was not a part of the process. <br />
If intimidation is the effect you desire, then wait for the crossing. Today, America’s communal psyche is visable at our front door and it is one driven by fear. Poor Gloria was X-rayed last night and searched from one end to the other. <br />
Awoke at a Holiday Inn Express in Harlingen, Texas to the sound of Spanish voices in the hall ... busy housekeepers. I slept under sheets that had been washed and tucked over my bed by folks recently residing somewhere the other side of this border ... Is the border under that bridge with the big fence? ... or is the border an illusion? I don’t think I have crossed over ... maybe I will tomorrow.stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17137052519886949094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6229742945646089590.post-75563227065348797012010-03-11T22:44:00.000-06:002010-04-10T14:20:31.277-05:00The Drop<p>Today we drove off the Mexican Plateau. Our starting point was San Luis Potosi. Pats interests of the day was getting a photo of a "pretty" cow. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrd4jY1U3b4zB5l1mE4zgQU-eqB-JaZuetReQepg27nLoPEMvQKrsnNow5LWVIBCfvLH135QRAKXI-H_MiyGRqp4BJDDOV-iRxNUWR3gijvdHogyBbF-IUcpOStfsPsLI77OVofxagi3I/s1600-h/DSCF7103.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; width: 261px; display: inline; height: 175px; cursor: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447611858330299090" border="0" alt="" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrd4jY1U3b4zB5l1mE4zgQU-eqB-JaZuetReQepg27nLoPEMvQKrsnNow5LWVIBCfvLH135QRAKXI-H_MiyGRqp4BJDDOV-iRxNUWR3gijvdHogyBbF-IUcpOStfsPsLI77OVofxagi3I/s400/DSCF7103.jpg" width="263" height="176"></a>Maybe you can see some resemblance to Elsie Borden when you look at her photo. I wanted to get off the beaten path. I was very successful in achieving that. It took many hours to get down the mountains to Mante on the edge of the state of Tamaulipas. </p> <p>We drove thru a few remote colonial towns that would have made a nice backdrop for early Eastwood westerns. One was named <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Alaquines&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&rlz=1R1GGGL_en___US372&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wl" target="_blank">Alaquines</a>. We had a great time walking about <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkC_BCJk-uRFIOv46qsrM_0-Khem1UXjQTMFnLuruqNbP4K08YKnGVF_vf6Z9DnXfvPpQseEQDvjo7yGDVv5rbqqEtPMuvOKZUTFDPz25yzEIZ2wVYJCXjHWhT4GAqhUyufYk0CWPxrQ/s1600-h/DSCF7086.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; width: 204px; display: inline; height: 135px; cursor: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447611853735557954" border="0" alt="" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkC_BCJk-uRFIOv46qsrM_0-Khem1UXjQTMFnLuruqNbP4K08YKnGVF_vf6Z9DnXfvPpQseEQDvjo7yGDVv5rbqqEtPMuvOKZUTFDPz25yzEIZ2wVYJCXjHWhT4GAqhUyufYk0CWPxrQ/s400/DSCF7086.jpg" width="206" height="136"></a>the square enjoying a dry breeze, and the crumbling texture of the facades. The land around this place was so remote and desolate that it was hard to imagine people would be there as we drove down a steep narrow entry. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF4D2jOxW_n9_NT-IfqEbH9DEi5fBnyv5VszpPLNHsa9KAknaK4pzPsZvOGCN08azYLOG5I5Ka8eSIaxPrCRalfJwCruoxhJEG92a_rXS4-bjN_S2z-635fyIkVSQHvxdrhC5F2RRFps8/s1600-h/DSCF7092.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 221px; float: right; height: 184px; cursor: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447611815326049602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF4D2jOxW_n9_NT-IfqEbH9DEi5fBnyv5VszpPLNHsa9KAknaK4pzPsZvOGCN08azYLOG5I5Ka8eSIaxPrCRalfJwCruoxhJEG92a_rXS4-bjN_S2z-635fyIkVSQHvxdrhC5F2RRFps8/s400/DSCF7092.jpg"></a></p> <p>Gloria Kerouac did just fine and was passed by a few surly looking compadres without incident. I have included one shot of "Senor Dodge" who smoked and barely missed touching her backside!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl5lGk__rWIpDHQkYQO8ZeJJYFLmalxjlYGSUsfl06waUKRZTgF9c34hkqcRMuic3IvZQ__0384PABOaly6T2lVDGGTEtr4QabYnbDyf4HmOgzb16XNtx3AjL00xZ0jkMmLfJvylEyUgU/s1600-h/DSCF7034.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; width: 165px; display: inline; height: 220px; cursor: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447611843222809586" border="0" alt="" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl5lGk__rWIpDHQkYQO8ZeJJYFLmalxjlYGSUsfl06waUKRZTgF9c34hkqcRMuic3IvZQ__0384PABOaly6T2lVDGGTEtr4QabYnbDyf4HmOgzb16XNtx3AjL00xZ0jkMmLfJvylEyUgU/s400/DSCF7034.jpg"></a><br>Tonight we are in the tropics again. On our way down the mountains the temperature changed. </p> <p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaTWpjRQt1h6ITCegaDfj_hHbeATarJ8jyfaA6JBRfbR4adLVqrzUEHiLab_6E64_1IE6ifP-qSKUuFzym95Az6PBU2eiayyePP1h9w6fSuuRJiHBd5IiXH0EJIU2h38VFwLn5JfslV1Q/s1600-h/DSCF7140.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 251px; float: right; height: 145px; cursor: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447611806623253106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaTWpjRQt1h6ITCegaDfj_hHbeATarJ8jyfaA6JBRfbR4adLVqrzUEHiLab_6E64_1IE6ifP-qSKUuFzym95Az6PBU2eiayyePP1h9w6fSuuRJiHBd5IiXH0EJIU2h38VFwLn5JfslV1Q/s400/DSCF7140.jpg" width="253" height="146"></a></p> <p>The air was filled with smoke as the sugarcane fields burned in the distance. The huge truck loads of cane kept rolling past us as we snaked down the narrow road. Tonight black dust and cane particles cover Gloria and the ground around her.</p> stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17137052519886949094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6229742945646089590.post-2906735265735523792010-03-11T22:33:00.000-06:002010-04-10T14:10:50.102-05:00Dulces, Dulces, Dulces<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdgc8Ef_sOJzfIxjibOdKaWqCMEUL9EjEsxKAPbqeeE8G2On8p07vNAAFesbAzD2sAne1pm-3BgOOuOBsZI8XSo8MH6aUg3DQK14zoiYcGXaBxfipzYnBnpJ2Q2EFMSkGJ1Tuy8p3VPkA/s1600-h/DSCF6967.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447602571433177922" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdgc8Ef_sOJzfIxjibOdKaWqCMEUL9EjEsxKAPbqeeE8G2On8p07vNAAFesbAzD2sAne1pm-3BgOOuOBsZI8XSo8MH6aUg3DQK14zoiYcGXaBxfipzYnBnpJ2Q2EFMSkGJ1Tuy8p3VPkA/s400/DSCF6967.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 400px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 250px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu7Ken30MfAKUjmCjf1qrhdu5oDvacnaOyQEh7Gw_eatflMiI3OWi7DYvLBubZPpkZo8NxCozPOU64BW176iiY2pqflUT-SjSaWEhyphenhyphenV6VG8ArVPweeAVPdbUzmnfFX1th_hrjqwGz5ii4/s1600-h/DSCF6972.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447602570965358930" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu7Ken30MfAKUjmCjf1qrhdu5oDvacnaOyQEh7Gw_eatflMiI3OWi7DYvLBubZPpkZo8NxCozPOU64BW176iiY2pqflUT-SjSaWEhyphenhyphenV6VG8ArVPweeAVPdbUzmnfFX1th_hrjqwGz5ii4/s400/DSCF6972.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 400px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 250px;" /></a><br />
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We took a stroll down the Avienda of Dulces in Puebla this morning, and stopped at the convent to pay homage to Santa Clara. She is credited with bringing sweets to the people of Mexico. The street next to the Convent is filled with candy shops. Our box of goodies will keep us happy along the road.stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17137052519886949094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6229742945646089590.post-33908826621515366512010-03-09T20:57:00.000-06:002010-03-09T21:10:58.265-06:00Paying attention to the signs of the Road.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDL1vR39aIt1Ne1FvwKABfSov3HKaHLRLQidc_Axw-blwo5jHEL7c_dI9IjX9Y3itV23PruHqxhGhZ-yZ9YxHfCk-T29eqRdjdYPu4kyYT-JkOEYYWfIE8eBOx-e3Bo-d7eoc5uU-LHJc/s1600-h/DSCF6808.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDL1vR39aIt1Ne1FvwKABfSov3HKaHLRLQidc_Axw-blwo5jHEL7c_dI9IjX9Y3itV23PruHqxhGhZ-yZ9YxHfCk-T29eqRdjdYPu4kyYT-JkOEYYWfIE8eBOx-e3Bo-d7eoc5uU-LHJc/s400/DSCF6808.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446836360250060594" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhZlPJpmHGvw4kAiQH0NFQ4PI6U5Y2GB7Ap2I4uzjJAY5VOCazF4kztbDB6J9H-MiD16VnU1xHrNAzxQdxeRx6fnUklt5cb0UHpFE4Ho9lU5MSUdOBCwHwk3H1nDE79BdgH8sa3zOylk/s1600-h/DSCF6797.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhZlPJpmHGvw4kAiQH0NFQ4PI6U5Y2GB7Ap2I4uzjJAY5VOCazF4kztbDB6J9H-MiD16VnU1xHrNAzxQdxeRx6fnUklt5cb0UHpFE4Ho9lU5MSUdOBCwHwk3H1nDE79BdgH8sa3zOylk/s400/DSCF6797.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446836347560022706" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJL1yOiWvLskauT976GbtVZVCDFmWPKgz7N72AKixechJ_r5bh4cpCMi-vnujo27hqhNIUVuk7LIDlJjElAoMhCu4MJXIishkoXpeFQ5VpbO_1qvGvWfpy0u1_ZrP_zrn42fao4FLlFGA/s1600-h/DSCF6806.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJL1yOiWvLskauT976GbtVZVCDFmWPKgz7N72AKixechJ_r5bh4cpCMi-vnujo27hqhNIUVuk7LIDlJjElAoMhCu4MJXIishkoXpeFQ5VpbO_1qvGvWfpy0u1_ZrP_zrn42fao4FLlFGA/s400/DSCF6806.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446836339510818514" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivnwBAPT_EKCO0Zccri87S3DANKtGuHxxEX2mTtja59m5SIKi6kIZfw5DBywbK902V0VL4NU1odPN7vdX7_m5tZ9krRvPNdBf3llwPIOkwj7wBklCh6H9tUNxrbSmtZ_-GwUBhPeP8E8s/s1600-h/DSCF6823.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivnwBAPT_EKCO0Zccri87S3DANKtGuHxxEX2mTtja59m5SIKi6kIZfw5DBywbK902V0VL4NU1odPN7vdX7_m5tZ9krRvPNdBf3llwPIOkwj7wBklCh6H9tUNxrbSmtZ_-GwUBhPeP8E8s/s400/DSCF6823.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446836326079092098" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCla7Xp-Tr_qoPG2N9vutBOL42fxJj9KHJGGr-F_iy6Wj9Ody4scyrJK5You6Oa8FZVH7JqGAOP9q_EPCjeRISOMs0sUMXI0HgjrekEw_GmuCzaXkDuBNLKAI-Xr-WRFjJlvcQwk_LOUA/s1600-h/Untitled-4.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 118px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCla7Xp-Tr_qoPG2N9vutBOL42fxJj9KHJGGr-F_iy6Wj9Ody4scyrJK5You6Oa8FZVH7JqGAOP9q_EPCjeRISOMs0sUMXI0HgjrekEw_GmuCzaXkDuBNLKAI-Xr-WRFjJlvcQwk_LOUA/s400/Untitled-4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446836319728441234" /></a><br /><br />Paying attention to the signs of the Road.<br /><br />The road from Tehuantepec to Oaxaca travels up the Sierra Madre. It is not a bad road. In fact we drove 2.5 hours south to get on this road going north. The mountains yield little and demand much attention. If you are a driver, you find the wheel becomes an extension of your arms and shoulders as you move back and forth with the continuous turns and your feet skip to rest on different pedals. <br />You must give attention to the road--pay attention to the signs. <br />The road is the primary concern. The beautiful mountain vistas are a peripheral element. No time for eyes to wander. No time to research the many bible verses painted on boulders. No time to drink the Mezcal at roadside stills that line the way. <br />We send these photos of the signs from a mountainous Mexican road ...stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17137052519886949094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6229742945646089590.post-71354206990438543812010-03-06T23:58:00.000-06:002010-03-09T21:23:15.147-06:00On the road to Shambhala<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJva9-4PdVlttoUr9eLR_fXE-gU5QYKm1YppzZUv02wbw3Df5YSUXIWhS1E176UsmzUfry-WswnkGLo95pRBYnibHf2d7uh9yy3jd_vEZUNAl4d-tJeLh6Nc-GHwcHPgsmY3UFHKf7Po/s1600-h/DSCF6565.jpg"><img style="text-align: left;float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 222px; height: 400px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJva9-4PdVlttoUr9eLR_fXE-gU5QYKm1YppzZUv02wbw3Df5YSUXIWhS1E176UsmzUfry-WswnkGLo95pRBYnibHf2d7uh9yy3jd_vEZUNAl4d-tJeLh6Nc-GHwcHPgsmY3UFHKf7Po/s400/DSCF6565.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446163443221842994" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBF01UOXVb623UYmJ7ikhunFlIvPwansmtPlNbZPA1wEDzpLPtsthHYmUs36MBrWxOXUPXXDkFXKNBJDY27O_CXQJuUmKKWawR9CD6VUtz4c5h_vSV-wnx72C-Mu7IhZ84aUla1-FCzg/s1600-h/DSCF6627.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBF01UOXVb623UYmJ7ikhunFlIvPwansmtPlNbZPA1wEDzpLPtsthHYmUs36MBrWxOXUPXXDkFXKNBJDY27O_CXQJuUmKKWawR9CD6VUtz4c5h_vSV-wnx72C-Mu7IhZ84aUla1-FCzg/s400/DSCF6627.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446159423009547010" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXfEy20cAemSc-u4iObCLe93NcBBso5jWRYJNxuexIvxuvu7eP0wPLFRXbDGx6mizgRnRwZsqgVuuibMbcPYd6fUNYvw6f4bofQTtJT7GK1gmWTyNWlDnFqBviUJi0MBb5HxaEddx1UVo/s1600-h/DSCF6583.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXfEy20cAemSc-u4iObCLe93NcBBso5jWRYJNxuexIvxuvu7eP0wPLFRXbDGx6mizgRnRwZsqgVuuibMbcPYd6fUNYvw6f4bofQTtJT7GK1gmWTyNWlDnFqBviUJi0MBb5HxaEddx1UVo/s400/DSCF6583.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446159413165386498" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj200uSrMZBK_pBmWVzJIuaRS9aAqajylDaflYCHg7Fl8m8-wiu4uvSOVixwBw-WVpOvNkVXw-3WyQNp_U-geoFoGZlnX5X6sTllwasSXiuLGeGPwN17wlud_lKbQDI1aw9UM47ABBuzCQ/s1600-h/DSCF6531.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 311px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj200uSrMZBK_pBmWVzJIuaRS9aAqajylDaflYCHg7Fl8m8-wiu4uvSOVixwBw-WVpOvNkVXw-3WyQNp_U-geoFoGZlnX5X6sTllwasSXiuLGeGPwN17wlud_lKbQDI1aw9UM47ABBuzCQ/s400/DSCF6531.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446159403190643490" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZ2GjUQAf14l0d8Uqg1og9iQixFJwFw-RolG8HuG2B9U4-njyVHz6L8X2QuEVmZbriMeMSaf7bLd9kkD1A-5O8GTsVd0o0oRjWQgiDvocnCeMeGJcmHPF4__D-I0151vpMeTPnpcZl6c/s1600-h/DSCF6684.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZ2GjUQAf14l0d8Uqg1og9iQixFJwFw-RolG8HuG2B9U4-njyVHz6L8X2QuEVmZbriMeMSaf7bLd9kkD1A-5O8GTsVd0o0oRjWQgiDvocnCeMeGJcmHPF4__D-I0151vpMeTPnpcZl6c/s400/DSCF6684.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446159390910914626" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiphl7LD9GgJ2Uzx-pJgSZsCTYKh7LJPyMCr1cMAkPMIsVcX0XtQbgCa1RKHXBuBk7nXAHH_jocAjiLxhmWXbu0Hi1mbDY9bre3GNYlNsP2mrUH4f95gYf7mHm1HqDQvuuOTLg6aRCe1Vs/s1600-h/DSCF6595.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 222px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiphl7LD9GgJ2Uzx-pJgSZsCTYKh7LJPyMCr1cMAkPMIsVcX0XtQbgCa1RKHXBuBk7nXAHH_jocAjiLxhmWXbu0Hi1mbDY9bre3GNYlNsP2mrUH4f95gYf7mHm1HqDQvuuOTLg6aRCe1Vs/s400/DSCF6595.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446159375176648210" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Zipolite Beach, Oaxaca<br />><br />This location boils, and memories seep out of me in the heat of the sun. Zipolite is the spot I trekked furthest to on my first sojourn to Mexico 32 years ago. I was 23 and Zipolite was a destination for those seeking a perfect beach at the end of a mexican road ... a place to hang a hammock, and maybe something more. As best as I can recall, John and I on our limited budget, spent $6 bucks a day for a place with a shower in the hamlet of Puerto Angel. We walked a sand road out of town and across a rocky point. Zipolite lay before us. It seemed a long expanse for the walker, but I doubt it is quite a mile in length. At the end of the beach you had another rocky point. Along the beach you had a few dilapidated palapas that seemed public property of a sort. Just off the beach was a woman with an adobe oven that made small breads filled with pina. One could not forget them. At the far end of the beach carved out of the rocky point was a magical village of open Palapas. It was a final destination... A place called Shambhala. This was a haven of wanderers from all corners of the globe who had also heard of Zipolite.<br /> I have lived, and traveled widely to discover that the journey has as much to do with what resides inside, as what physically lies in front of me. This is the only reason to sojourn. On occasion a moment comes when the place delivers you to a feeling of what it means to be human in the fullest sense.<br />So, 32 years later I return. The beach has seen change... and so have I. Many places to eat, sleep and buy things line Zipolite from one end to another. Still it is comforting to see Shambhala still there and filled with sojourners now both young, and old. <br /><br /> I had to Wiki Shambhala for a clearer understanding.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Shambhala (Tib. bde 'byung) is a Sanskrit term meaning "place of peace/tranquility/happiness".... Shambhala is believed to be a society where all the inhabitants are enlightened, actually a Buddhist "Pure Land" </span><br /><br />The Dali Lama says; <blockquote>Shambhala is not an ordinary country:<br />Although those with special affiliation may actually be able to go there through their karmic connection, nevertheless it is not a physical place that we can actually find. We can only say that it is a pure land, a pure land in the human realm. And unless one has the merit and the actual karmic association, one cannot actually arrive there.<br /></blockquote><br />And last but by no means least ... Three Dog Night said: <blockquote>Everyone is helpful, everyone is kind<br />On the road to Shambala<br />Everyone is lucky, everyone is so kind<br />On the road to Shambala<br /></blockquote>stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17137052519886949094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6229742945646089590.post-46740548981620172432010-03-05T17:13:00.000-06:002010-04-10T14:03:05.118-05:00Turning a Pemex gas Station into Heaven on Earth.<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0k3ZGDNq8oiVbSTA1uqQAltAeVe0tIHvG57zDvtdFPcSl52UBnINon-_8xTJoBF-QsPwozmht3dpakhdTgNcUtNCMI0_7x1HkUxsJwU9Q3qusEgYo7FsV9ZeeD_kgu8JBhaj1-F2KqOI/s1600-h/DSCF6427.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; display: block; height: 222px; cursor: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445292598908326482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0k3ZGDNq8oiVbSTA1uqQAltAeVe0tIHvG57zDvtdFPcSl52UBnINon-_8xTJoBF-QsPwozmht3dpakhdTgNcUtNCMI0_7x1HkUxsJwU9Q3qusEgYo7FsV9ZeeD_kgu8JBhaj1-F2KqOI/s400/DSCF6427.jpg"></a><br>How, you may ask? Drive all day. Make sure the roads are full of trucks, pot holes, and Topes. (a mound across the road to reduce speed) When you fall 2 hours behind schedule with every glimmer of daylight gone, and the road ceases to have shoulder or center line. Then snake down a steep incline from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec toward the Pacific Coast with winds gusting 60+ mph. You see a green and white glow and concrete gleaming in the distance You know their will be a lit parking space for Gloria Kerouac and her passengers to seek shelter. We buy gas, eat in the little restaurant and bunker down in Ms. Gloria. The winds rock us back and forth like being at sea. At first light when the famous winds of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec die down we will make a run to <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&q=Puerto+Angel,+Oaxaca&fb=1&gl=us&ei=68nAS_vOBYf6M8bP3Z8M&ved=0CBIQpQY&view=map&geocode=FXMh7wAdJ5c_-g&split=0&iwloc=A&sa=X" target="_blank">Puerto Angel, Oaxaca</a>.</p> <p>Need to sign off ... feeling a bit seasick at the keyboard.<br>Good night from the finest Pemex in all of Mexico!</p> <p>Steve</p> stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17137052519886949094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6229742945646089590.post-28988899403982596122010-03-04T12:45:00.000-06:002010-03-04T13:07:01.806-06:00Maya Bell or Jurasic Park?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwugGZB4pSJ5q9AN-38fOhGwmDqI8d3Z3lwXO_FzVgtrjDINAQ25VuBx5QEYHObBnjkCSpiYOwVi5U-Q5nzqOruKh0XQkyyZCYb-fdI1OTDUNJ_WDTXwfqHFznGx0EE9aQ0GZ_nzOv904/s1600-h/DSCF6334.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwugGZB4pSJ5q9AN-38fOhGwmDqI8d3Z3lwXO_FzVgtrjDINAQ25VuBx5QEYHObBnjkCSpiYOwVi5U-Q5nzqOruKh0XQkyyZCYb-fdI1OTDUNJ_WDTXwfqHFznGx0EE9aQ0GZ_nzOv904/s400/DSCF6334.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444857003091397794" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_C3BnKfwltDR8YTFBHk68HHpqRTAGSJTXa0BuGkiJaI7yWD-yPQ6rAMFMuGjcU__z3yPweSbHZQE1aGnIA0qBBBMT-dxbC4viwj2gqHk4cOP4cqIQu4j8c0-fYLW7151NsiOyXiLkEY/s1600-h/DSCF6394.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_C3BnKfwltDR8YTFBHk68HHpqRTAGSJTXa0BuGkiJaI7yWD-yPQ6rAMFMuGjcU__z3yPweSbHZQE1aGnIA0qBBBMT-dxbC4viwj2gqHk4cOP4cqIQu4j8c0-fYLW7151NsiOyXiLkEY/s400/DSCF6394.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444856995504167330" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0z1thTzIFHgKyvshWi7MrqV9qLMoBAMo1umPGNDhaq-UQoUdIq7jIEi2qIr4CKa-zojUnEVPLC9UU7k_E8KTTDFqZFOBazNXbm1GzoMRePlXCsbceZRHAF8xWg69iNLFiVXbrb8xHcU/s1600-h/DSCF6368.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0z1thTzIFHgKyvshWi7MrqV9qLMoBAMo1umPGNDhaq-UQoUdIq7jIEi2qIr4CKa-zojUnEVPLC9UU7k_E8KTTDFqZFOBazNXbm1GzoMRePlXCsbceZRHAF8xWg69iNLFiVXbrb8xHcU/s400/DSCF6368.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444856986626876978" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn4XfE22ih0j3dl-drKDx0DxR8A52GQSIbM5xBLoQCxCe_Ot7UJ-8FoSHHlflv3v8uG4mrLe1mvLnXhu4R0JsMEBY4M_cEgrXymQ3xceBH_CX2rS7oIs0GAeBsDJ2fKx4GXLFWSTV5Qvc/s1600-h/DSCF6373.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn4XfE22ih0j3dl-drKDx0DxR8A52GQSIbM5xBLoQCxCe_Ot7UJ-8FoSHHlflv3v8uG4mrLe1mvLnXhu4R0JsMEBY4M_cEgrXymQ3xceBH_CX2rS7oIs0GAeBsDJ2fKx4GXLFWSTV5Qvc/s400/DSCF6373.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444856977703743906" /></a><br /><br />Maya bell campground next to the Palenque ruins is rather famous in its own right. There are aging Hippies and a gathering of wanderers from all over the world to see Palenque... tent campers under palapa roofs and 36 ft diesel pushers sharing the same campground. Music plays every night at a small open air cafe with tropical plants & trees growing thru the roof. However, the thing that is most memorable is the sound from the jungle surrounding the park. It is the sound of Howler monkeys. I had no idea how otherworldly this sound would be. It was suggested that the soundtrack to Jurasic Park could have been a recording of these fellow primates. I wish I had a photo but I wasn't going out in the jungle to get it ...<br />Palenque was cloudy and raining but awesome just the same. The jungle setting was beautiful.stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17137052519886949094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6229742945646089590.post-64968507576305616682010-03-04T12:28:00.000-06:002010-03-04T12:43:13.786-06:00More Beach photos<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFfp7B60QzWi6-_l06wl3F8jNpzvtbsidBJi8HamMGKnuEsOw5umcPpn_jqJBhdz_BKXJohgbRzpMVae08c4BcR1gH9P1_4STOTe-gZS4TIkr6zYFKCIbO_uRBtfZbTELGJnPq-9EF7IM/s1600-h/DSCF6317.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFfp7B60QzWi6-_l06wl3F8jNpzvtbsidBJi8HamMGKnuEsOw5umcPpn_jqJBhdz_BKXJohgbRzpMVae08c4BcR1gH9P1_4STOTe-gZS4TIkr6zYFKCIbO_uRBtfZbTELGJnPq-9EF7IM/s400/DSCF6317.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444849624955622978" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3BFEB6ZR8QYg2SFst6Tjhi1lw6tFx03k-9ov5JvLv0h2hdHfKIKFLZH0vN9t8jdHsAS0Wv7rmgkv-WiYS4XjwtIsZkrnyVCVm3JZ9nDmGimAexq2Dzfzm7nCLuxiwjF-NAGAi8WL2mE4/s1600-h/DSCF6311.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 343px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3BFEB6ZR8QYg2SFst6Tjhi1lw6tFx03k-9ov5JvLv0h2hdHfKIKFLZH0vN9t8jdHsAS0Wv7rmgkv-WiYS4XjwtIsZkrnyVCVm3JZ9nDmGimAexq2Dzfzm7nCLuxiwjF-NAGAi8WL2mE4/s400/DSCF6311.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444849607931793282" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Iep5IpGmo2AxrDKTMor-398z5UYXmJoUPFDALLm3PTU_VR6C0iaXRpL63QdqN5oAeGdz2fQeENMNoO6PzWgvsWsr-uBiHkwieHP0F5PDot9UF8DKg9qri6mTILo_5Gk5HjfzE2Q_iz4/s1600-h/DSCF6305.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Iep5IpGmo2AxrDKTMor-398z5UYXmJoUPFDALLm3PTU_VR6C0iaXRpL63QdqN5oAeGdz2fQeENMNoO6PzWgvsWsr-uBiHkwieHP0F5PDot9UF8DKg9qri6mTILo_5Gk5HjfzE2Q_iz4/s400/DSCF6305.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444849587420985586" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiav-4u8rpS9wBvXeYK2rSqodmq94ToXk9Cf2Fz2lrhYErT1Y4xQLZrpEMMxHsbhU5tOyvAHPBEtHTbP46jzS0s2G1UCKfGzhR0VAu3iiK4PCoSGZmluQ58ea7TOZVTi8N9j1BOAKNfz-g/s1600-h/DSCF6298.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiav-4u8rpS9wBvXeYK2rSqodmq94ToXk9Cf2Fz2lrhYErT1Y4xQLZrpEMMxHsbhU5tOyvAHPBEtHTbP46jzS0s2G1UCKfGzhR0VAu3iiK4PCoSGZmluQ58ea7TOZVTi8N9j1BOAKNfz-g/s400/DSCF6298.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444849575402111010" /></a>stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17137052519886949094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6229742945646089590.post-84879954521477758072010-03-04T11:48:00.000-06:002010-03-04T12:27:37.184-06:00A Postcard Beach<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi06Jt60nlFxAL1URC7119py4-PAydE-LtO4OL8QlDr_JT3mPUgeqZwq8uWZf-lmvqLuEM__jqeDBbR8EsVR_1X9hqk57GoHdR6NPoroETul4ylKu-6hk93PvsyYGEwruDIk48TfiRYzfo/s1600-h/DSCF6307.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi06Jt60nlFxAL1URC7119py4-PAydE-LtO4OL8QlDr_JT3mPUgeqZwq8uWZf-lmvqLuEM__jqeDBbR8EsVR_1X9hqk57GoHdR6NPoroETul4ylKu-6hk93PvsyYGEwruDIk48TfiRYzfo/s400/DSCF6307.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444843871941931474" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigX-O1gamnpe62J-cw2_rSktmbnIvl-fUuCdk2nf6W04KXG5sMghUQ70LNXvGyej4Kl6a1ZjPcByu3BdzZe_RHC2MsF5V40zAIcLamd1g2NXK3VI3HxtRecTlIpcP2dpDQzXDzZ0OgWjY/s1600-h/DSCF6199.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigX-O1gamnpe62J-cw2_rSktmbnIvl-fUuCdk2nf6W04KXG5sMghUQ70LNXvGyej4Kl6a1ZjPcByu3BdzZe_RHC2MsF5V40zAIcLamd1g2NXK3VI3HxtRecTlIpcP2dpDQzXDzZ0OgWjY/s400/DSCF6199.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444843861664421170" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNdZKXG7CXDQQjEKXD9FAhLv_CKAbxyVT1Gb0OZKF2UnaVDeRpOSx8wlIKxWe1297dzVH0w9b2kE8ccaySpYazGqGJHCXPIoRIfk9GhuchPXGjp91eSuj0IdDS96kcVRepMxhq9CUB-tY/s1600-h/DSCF6303.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNdZKXG7CXDQQjEKXD9FAhLv_CKAbxyVT1Gb0OZKF2UnaVDeRpOSx8wlIKxWe1297dzVH0w9b2kE8ccaySpYazGqGJHCXPIoRIfk9GhuchPXGjp91eSuj0IdDS96kcVRepMxhq9CUB-tY/s400/DSCF6303.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444843847156353970" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisyTfyL9bsMiTFvo7faI7oSA1xE1kY6Jj4ZeW06NhSVs2yy_xYpRsz3oh0BdvnDyaf1EFFr4YCj49RpU0Vyxcp3Dq6HUfAryIiyJ6NEXqhsIceoo7HUnD1Ck92lcKPJ7aD3UncOqbY9V0/s1600-h/DSCF6251.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisyTfyL9bsMiTFvo7faI7oSA1xE1kY6Jj4ZeW06NhSVs2yy_xYpRsz3oh0BdvnDyaf1EFFr4YCj49RpU0Vyxcp3Dq6HUfAryIiyJ6NEXqhsIceoo7HUnD1Ck92lcKPJ7aD3UncOqbY9V0/s400/DSCF6251.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444843827267080210" /></a><br /><br />I took an early morning walk east along the beach to the Isla Aguada Malecon. It is lined with small fishing boats, processing facilities (huts), two small ice plants, and a few mechanic shops. This is not a pristine ‘postcard’ beach. In the morning the boats with their small crews bring in the catch. I can not give you a informed accounting of the fish taken... my knowledge of the sea and its bounty are limited. I did recognize a few varieties of shark, and there were Red Snapper & Pompano on occasion. A few men were taking small pieces of palm leaf to tie up Blue Crabs. They had a small mountain of them. This was one ‘detail’ job I saw. Another was the painstaking bringing in of their nets. <br />I was witness to a complete system. Men harvesting from the sea, others to weigh and pay, to produce ice, to haul fish to market, and leaving any scraps remaining to the birds overhead and the prowling dogs of the malecon. There is little time or need in a fishermans life here in Isla Aguada for a wandering gringo. It is a home to working men and women on the edge, the edge of a sea & the edge of what the sea may offer. What is a postcard beach? Here in Isla Aguata It is the place where land meets sea and man engages a livlihood... It is rewarding to find an image you are not looking for.stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17137052519886949094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6229742945646089590.post-80957498105203704322010-03-01T11:58:00.000-06:002010-03-01T12:25:49.887-06:00A Day Of Rest<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgboEpUojKbNaNClMLX3dMOmHjzcxh8O1POmyaAh75jj3M2tE4Gk4jKTMgU3zmgYlDeXRPf1wRuMVVTuyb7d5kHOHHyaxYmDPb0YAnAwx6nGDmZb5nKoHhlOXIpJRZtdL14wCd_0vjDYqI/s1600-h/DSCF6006.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 222px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgboEpUojKbNaNClMLX3dMOmHjzcxh8O1POmyaAh75jj3M2tE4Gk4jKTMgU3zmgYlDeXRPf1wRuMVVTuyb7d5kHOHHyaxYmDPb0YAnAwx6nGDmZb5nKoHhlOXIpJRZtdL14wCd_0vjDYqI/s400/DSCF6006.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443729992712449026" /></a><br />Today we are in a fishing town called Isla Aguada on the gulf coast of Campeche. It seemed as if the gulf waves would lap across our road as we met the coast line at Champoton We are tired today and have made a trip up the road to post this entry at the town's cyber cafe, and go back to the trailer park to relax at the beach. More later!stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17137052519886949094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6229742945646089590.post-44003544475130523482010-02-28T12:39:00.000-06:002010-02-28T12:42:30.676-06:00An evening on the Zocolo in Merida<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsS1Ye0WuLEJWc5GOZaZ1NWNE02BXjm4GwNqi2lJcT82sL33rJOzjMNfvKabZ01_JSuDcCfUjuFD07iPDKFpgAGEl0xJpD9gLFrR5KYV6LXM3QuUAlTJQjCU6c4_RdPKyR_bi5xjdwkpU/s1600-h/DSCF6156.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsS1Ye0WuLEJWc5GOZaZ1NWNE02BXjm4GwNqi2lJcT82sL33rJOzjMNfvKabZ01_JSuDcCfUjuFD07iPDKFpgAGEl0xJpD9gLFrR5KYV6LXM3QuUAlTJQjCU6c4_RdPKyR_bi5xjdwkpU/s400/DSCF6156.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443366549568532290" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKwXZnEh710kqW9ksEPXvhivGlIfOoskscJqGxG14vP-H3DLfzHxpU_G2sX9eRZLxlJUSdK_TQJ1f94Y7vLdl7_Z5Exrn7JWAOph8ppstVhcCOoXGo-LRO9_rPKqYe_onxMYyxwIP2UU/s1600-h/DSCF6142.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKwXZnEh710kqW9ksEPXvhivGlIfOoskscJqGxG14vP-H3DLfzHxpU_G2sX9eRZLxlJUSdK_TQJ1f94Y7vLdl7_Z5Exrn7JWAOph8ppstVhcCOoXGo-LRO9_rPKqYe_onxMYyxwIP2UU/s400/DSCF6142.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443366539024259042" /></a><br /><br />The Cuban National Ballet performed in front of the Cathedral as a near full moon lit the sky. There were thousands of people out to enjoy the free performances. Here are a few photos.stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17137052519886949094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6229742945646089590.post-59514452425200372732010-02-28T11:35:00.000-06:002010-02-28T12:39:08.749-06:00Steve and his sweets<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3bHyMEk_XE8JewIyPyibACxOsljKCazLqcG6JF11iY3L8_vHNS3YhWbXv__k-uugk-mrGb4QI6BY2tI1qe_vshAxgnh6TIkYLGA0H2BW1OS7nStEMgo99G-dtNSpyp86lS1uUqWcXUkM/s1600-h/DSCF6082.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3bHyMEk_XE8JewIyPyibACxOsljKCazLqcG6JF11iY3L8_vHNS3YhWbXv__k-uugk-mrGb4QI6BY2tI1qe_vshAxgnh6TIkYLGA0H2BW1OS7nStEMgo99G-dtNSpyp86lS1uUqWcXUkM/s400/DSCF6082.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443365663667249826" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIjCRC5Tn7Q8VB6EAuOjZhBODTD_RLPqGTE7645tuhynmuyR2sBcgOgw9IPzdMfsJ9Fk6qnDKnqALvYJPPIg2TOHMTK_aM02ulot3q58MKn0Id8lbuAJ8UlJ6eYmdQ4PYLj1t1p91lQok/s1600-h/DSCF6017.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 343px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIjCRC5Tn7Q8VB6EAuOjZhBODTD_RLPqGTE7645tuhynmuyR2sBcgOgw9IPzdMfsJ9Fk6qnDKnqALvYJPPIg2TOHMTK_aM02ulot3q58MKn0Id8lbuAJ8UlJ6eYmdQ4PYLj1t1p91lQok/s400/DSCF6017.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443365654903269954" /></a><br />The title is all Pat’s. The young lady at the cell phone kiosk was very kind to have her picture made with an old Gringo. We had just purchased a phone from her with 300 pesos of time for $30, and $11 pesos a minute for calls to U.S. Now we have a way to call home without skype, or worrying about a phone card. We made time for having ice cream and Meringues at the El Colon ice cream shop. Pat had Coco and I had Elote (Corn) sorbet. Yep, you heard it right. Corn sorbet, and it is darn good stuff. This is my favorite ice cream place in all of Mexico and I have tried a lot of them over the years. What a nice day in Merida!stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17137052519886949094noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6229742945646089590.post-55617665594926511012010-02-27T10:27:00.000-06:002010-02-27T11:01:45.150-06:00A Confused Rooster<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIlkS0u5QQA9QWpiwjaHLBrGq5paak-g05st0SSZsOvL2-W5jUIJs51Gh0qCXymRIcmLV7-JwNHy9ujz5u46ik1RpXhUUQtlgyTEOPtzK_gPN6_bH-7UePC3T2dvIcSsqAj6MQceM8fM/s1600-h/DSCF5922.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIlkS0u5QQA9QWpiwjaHLBrGq5paak-g05st0SSZsOvL2-W5jUIJs51Gh0qCXymRIcmLV7-JwNHy9ujz5u46ik1RpXhUUQtlgyTEOPtzK_gPN6_bH-7UePC3T2dvIcSsqAj6MQceM8fM/s400/DSCF5922.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442965021927892898" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl-95BuSZ7lYke3XSZEDGJwI_47dxlnqyLyTu13G7BXE6aW2MMo5LYUUJUFOsEaCgU7zYbUus72T0xfeS-hA7EixjJlqE22OY1p5-TyoRNEhL78Q0-zAijOOtcvfWhz3ujxzDsNriRO0s/s1600-h/DSCF5968.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl-95BuSZ7lYke3XSZEDGJwI_47dxlnqyLyTu13G7BXE6aW2MMo5LYUUJUFOsEaCgU7zYbUus72T0xfeS-hA7EixjJlqE22OY1p5-TyoRNEhL78Q0-zAijOOtcvfWhz3ujxzDsNriRO0s/s400/DSCF5968.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442965004305234690" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_dOF9DJU4SgR83YOltQj2tO9puHMNeVaD6PF-qFtDoXlnWOJxNu6J45t284icxqq4HAPPjDPHdScvj1z6zaWaVqivHkEIn8HQH3tvGi1t7M6ByY8Ac1-9VJy62srSZbTjGp_OkDNhS8/s1600-h/DSCF5990.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_dOF9DJU4SgR83YOltQj2tO9puHMNeVaD6PF-qFtDoXlnWOJxNu6J45t284icxqq4HAPPjDPHdScvj1z6zaWaVqivHkEIn8HQH3tvGi1t7M6ByY8Ac1-9VJy62srSZbTjGp_OkDNhS8/s400/DSCF5990.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442964992613778802" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjafGBVHghOI4pYEGhv2g3CSjitWL_hljexzGx3pBue15qWKJALViXddsgiDXHKLrlVcCkkdBLL3A9cX3miUeivTb-cR_zVhTl5bCtA-_aH-BgfsMxVDBK-xU2KO2cr0eLzmOG5WSaAEZM/s1600-h/DSCF5974.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjafGBVHghOI4pYEGhv2g3CSjitWL_hljexzGx3pBue15qWKJALViXddsgiDXHKLrlVcCkkdBLL3A9cX3miUeivTb-cR_zVhTl5bCtA-_aH-BgfsMxVDBK-xU2KO2cr0eLzmOG5WSaAEZM/s400/DSCF5974.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442964981407195090" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVc3j_leIjfC4VONX8JJUQvm_zUPjNxq8tkdqNrOOn_XH4U8y3O1GgRt-RWFLEfIlGh57aOEw80kwiTvJZH2jL_5Qoud_WVoUBwvtq_flhIG2MH8ENPhjAVFGSBEZtL75_mSJAOWU2wto/s1600-h/DSCF5898.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVc3j_leIjfC4VONX8JJUQvm_zUPjNxq8tkdqNrOOn_XH4U8y3O1GgRt-RWFLEfIlGh57aOEw80kwiTvJZH2jL_5Qoud_WVoUBwvtq_flhIG2MH8ENPhjAVFGSBEZtL75_mSJAOWU2wto/s400/DSCF5898.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442964971575334162" /></a><br />The rooster out our bedroom window crowed most of the night away joining in with the occasional pack of barking dogs. We were hopeful that the rooster photographed at the market the next morning might have been one and the same as our compadre.<br /> Gloria found herself up close & personal with an orange grove as we found ourselves on a narrowing single lane ruta in the middle of Maya land. The agriculture was extensive. There were citrus groves, tomatoes, and corn at least 6 ft. tall. It is easy to imagine the rich agricultural heritage of the Maya in this lush valley. Eventually we found ourselves back on our designated “Ruta Puuc” a road that leads thru many archeological sites of the Maya before ending in Uxmal. At the moment we are taking Siesta at the hilltop Iglesia of Santa Elena. It sits atop another Pre-Columbian site and was built from its ruins. <br />Uxmal was a bust. They have closed it to the public for 2 days... who could know. We made a run into Merida for an RV Park. Tucking in soon but want to find wifi first to get you some views of the day.<br />Adiosstevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17137052519886949094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6229742945646089590.post-7841454729062925012010-02-26T08:06:00.000-06:002010-02-26T08:43:56.678-06:00Wandering After Dark<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOmXV7vjeUChACWrW3YPBxLNRRx42ZqmDH8zsom6t5mhswNsQkhBgPLOixshyphenhyphenUzA-mHhcMcpZYddiWGwXbFMNfqnuPrkfzS4xPB3wFhqArfQDmYOfYJKIqmE8X8LSwvNmWbzjJbcX9FQY/s1600-h/DSCF5884.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOmXV7vjeUChACWrW3YPBxLNRRx42ZqmDH8zsom6t5mhswNsQkhBgPLOixshyphenhyphenUzA-mHhcMcpZYddiWGwXbFMNfqnuPrkfzS4xPB3wFhqArfQDmYOfYJKIqmE8X8LSwvNmWbzjJbcX9FQY/s400/DSCF5884.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442556392018748450" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4-tS4Ti3NF8cY4Njdaru1qu3WW42LQTQSywYM2xTpu_6jtQk7k7dulCfYtborIrdbSHOb9-Qy754z_xiilw5RDIjxvXk64sUj7eXuEMQVkHys-VQCynBKe1LCPn6TYbBrffXFvc1xtFw/s1600-h/DSCF5816.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4-tS4Ti3NF8cY4Njdaru1qu3WW42LQTQSywYM2xTpu_6jtQk7k7dulCfYtborIrdbSHOb9-Qy754z_xiilw5RDIjxvXk64sUj7eXuEMQVkHys-VQCynBKe1LCPn6TYbBrffXFvc1xtFw/s400/DSCF5816.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442556375861054914" /></a><br />Started the day with exploration of The older area of Xcalak. Not much old left - hurricane Jeanette took it out in 1956. A cool breeze put a wrap on our beach scene and Gloria was put on a course inland, with no planned point for arrival. We moved thru beautiful hills that were unexpected ... so much of Yucatan has been flat with very straight roads, then the light of day faded and the narrow road took on a feeling of a tunnel thru lush green . Whenever a truck passed, we were bathed in a the ever present vegatation that seemed as if it would swallow what was left of the road at any moment. Then the Topes would slow us and we would creep thru dimly lit villages and towns on narrow one way streets that were filled with human traffic and sounds of life that seemed all the more foreign in darkness. At a town called Oxkutzcab we found a place to put Gloria away, take time to rest, and write a few words for the blog. The darkness is not a setting that yields good photos... but creates good memories.stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17137052519886949094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6229742945646089590.post-72106125603939436862010-02-25T22:20:00.000-06:002010-02-25T22:45:49.964-06:00No chicken Tonight<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvEJsCxOXut5k9DWbQqT5MP0D_sT8ht1d2B3sqAs1qhuwCXpzLNsBov9-bUAXHMcLu4pPkUGr9l5e4iEjvqOwvzc23LrmM5ncA08linPsMnA01bMOon3qM7zdf4PEwwKbcJzYeDdTu2Dk/s1600-h/DSCF5759.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvEJsCxOXut5k9DWbQqT5MP0D_sT8ht1d2B3sqAs1qhuwCXpzLNsBov9-bUAXHMcLu4pPkUGr9l5e4iEjvqOwvzc23LrmM5ncA08linPsMnA01bMOon3qM7zdf4PEwwKbcJzYeDdTu2Dk/s400/DSCF5759.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442407318040598178" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKFo9hsXRji_ftbLi9q6HVnJ791nSiV4nNsd1nxfjjywxSd9OjBU1Y3cIbz1Vs8v0Ev2xxOEIPswk0fxRramj15e6anOlQ-qkC_t_1JbhsxJAWqNITYG3bMwZBicWKgKk-4hTL5SK4-H4/s1600-h/DSCF5790.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKFo9hsXRji_ftbLi9q6HVnJ791nSiV4nNsd1nxfjjywxSd9OjBU1Y3cIbz1Vs8v0Ev2xxOEIPswk0fxRramj15e6anOlQ-qkC_t_1JbhsxJAWqNITYG3bMwZBicWKgKk-4hTL5SK4-H4/s400/DSCF5790.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442405472649246370" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK52pDe-U6DyyFWd_DIhDs9ECeSSW7jMkPu0kTNIbtHlrHh0HWrzTUiysfinFPmX_LrmoU1q-rKGB81G3nEaepSGsuAb8xjDOufChPmGl0kQzioqOtEEDCK-CPHx55J0kgapammIVlJyg/s1600-h/DSCF5800.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK52pDe-U6DyyFWd_DIhDs9ECeSSW7jMkPu0kTNIbtHlrHh0HWrzTUiysfinFPmX_LrmoU1q-rKGB81G3nEaepSGsuAb8xjDOufChPmGl0kQzioqOtEEDCK-CPHx55J0kgapammIVlJyg/s400/DSCF5800.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442405461751634786" /></a><br /><br />It was easy day with a late start. The only glitch was our dump station activities. I am the hands on poop shoot expert... only Pat has been reading the Gloria Bible and she is getting very legalistic and calling into question my technique. Without going into all the poop shoot details, we have managed to survive raised feathers at the dump station. We headed north from Chetumal and drove the length of Laguna Bacalar. It is a fresh water lake possessing an other worldly color of blue. I took a few photos but it will be impossible for a photo to capture that color. You will simply have to accept my word on the matter. After the 50 kilometer run north, we cut back 58 kilometers east to a spit of sand barrier and drove to it’s end (60 kilometers) at Xcalac. There is no campground here but there are a few restaurants and tent camping spots that will let you park for a small fee if they have room. Everyplace looked empty so we stopped at a little place with palm trees, Palapas, one fellow truck camper and a kid in a tent from BC here to bonefish for a few weeks. As we checked in with the proprieter, we couldn’t help but notice the smell of roasting chicken. The air was filled with this wonderful aroma. “Yes, I put the chickens on at 9am ... I ‘ve been cooking them all day. I am all sold out.” Tyler, the kid from BC, told us this guy cooks chicken once every week or so and all the gringos show up. Sure enough at 6pm all kinds of people came out of nowhere. They came by bicycle, and scooter, car, & truck. A few even walked. Pat & I held up making our dinner. Surely there will be enough left for us. Pat went to pay our bill and ask if there will any chicken left ... “No, sorry. All sold out ... Hasta Luego!”<br />So, here we sit at the chicken party and not a bite for us ...stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17137052519886949094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6229742945646089590.post-16284066902592853002010-02-23T18:24:00.000-06:002010-02-23T19:05:40.170-06:00Sitting Still<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBq6ao-EpRw0MabOyhQpeaYgRAw1WHfHxoCbJMDWhvpRNpN3lWvNDIS6OVFXTZsK8MIMkU68SaJgj13T2jptvN3jqTE7O13vS7sRFVD4cLewHG5NVostno7PrSP2fL1osEa2zRD9AxwTo/s1600-h/DSCF5747.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBq6ao-EpRw0MabOyhQpeaYgRAw1WHfHxoCbJMDWhvpRNpN3lWvNDIS6OVFXTZsK8MIMkU68SaJgj13T2jptvN3jqTE7O13vS7sRFVD4cLewHG5NVostno7PrSP2fL1osEa2zRD9AxwTo/s400/DSCF5747.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441609816697070642" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrN0BIXiiFSwU7F0dfnTLXrfKD9z8dJpEUQsRKivWn4HC1_ZrJB2LLgRU_ysZdJIkUPSTLQgijiVC6uuMFO-GOyk69xvwvGiFR8YhkwJF43DqNP5u_uhdZ9Wp4MnalvqB-NgCRX87KMsw/s1600-h/DSCF5748.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrN0BIXiiFSwU7F0dfnTLXrfKD9z8dJpEUQsRKivWn4HC1_ZrJB2LLgRU_ysZdJIkUPSTLQgijiVC6uuMFO-GOyk69xvwvGiFR8YhkwJF43DqNP5u_uhdZ9Wp4MnalvqB-NgCRX87KMsw/s400/DSCF5748.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441609803266420386" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_xcL_L8DjXJAuC7ds6WDHL3IPxzTxpVM_728xSG1Yn9Dt6eDlfg9J5WxYzN91zfoLYEGht20IZnIpzwksSEygzNkXOEKtgEQTxePFWsA6s-JJYe2kT5mvhWqsmWWr0DNPYb0aew6ObM/s1600-h/DSCF5730.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_xcL_L8DjXJAuC7ds6WDHL3IPxzTxpVM_728xSG1Yn9Dt6eDlfg9J5WxYzN91zfoLYEGht20IZnIpzwksSEygzNkXOEKtgEQTxePFWsA6s-JJYe2kT5mvhWqsmWWr0DNPYb0aew6ObM/s400/DSCF5730.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441609779637351970" /></a><br /><br /><br />Those of you who know me I guess would recognize that I might have a bit of a problem when it comes to just staying put. Still it suprises me that I have a difficult time in this manner. I see myself as completely in charge of my journey. Patience is another tool for me to exercise as easily as I use the gas pedal and a good Mexican map. After 4 days in Chetumal with a beautiful view from our window and a perfectly still aqua blue bay lapping softly behind us ... I am ready to roll. Pat has this really nice Carribean pink glow, and I have a nose as red as any lifelong patron of a neighborhood tavern... I expect the children in the market will begin making jokes about it soon.<br />To keep you up to date; yesterday was spent stocking up on some provisions we thought rolling-home Gloria needed. This took us to the newer shopping center on the edge of town for a special extension cord adapter (not found) and back to the typical Mercado downtown for general goods and hat shopping to save what’s left of my nose.<br />We found hats for both of us. Not the one’s we are pictured in. The store owner insisted on having her daughter photograph us with the big old fashioned hats of days gone by,( I hope days gone by) We finished off the shopping with a trip upstairs to the food stalls where the lady stall owners started the loudest racket about their food-- each tried to drag us into their seating area for our meal. If I had not aquired some knowledge with this dining experience at a couple of indian restaurants on the lower eastside of New York some years ago, I might not have had the wits to deal with the pressure, but I just said ”Si” to the loudest and the deal was done. The food was great. The drama didn’t seem to matter to any of the other ladies... all in a days work!<br />Today I gave Gloria a good scrub Mexican style. I used one bucket to get the heavy dirt off, and another bucket to rinse the light stuff. Follow that with a rag wipe and you are ready to go. Growing up on the Ohio river has given me some poor habits when it comes to using a hose and washing a car. <br />This afternoon we swam in the bay. Tomorrow we move somewhere else.stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17137052519886949094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6229742945646089590.post-16989165468206370032010-02-21T20:20:00.000-06:002010-02-21T20:52:09.438-06:00Twenty eight hundred and one ... miles to Chetumal<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi80UpUVvvgD5xQSFAecZQVB5-eT5cJlkCXfkyp3mH0fa6vgiMaFHRlLd60-0SEuWZkWk0xNn-tJa-u8uI5XgdRupIduYcFJfDmIIOGvJlnDsu8rYqDmlndBMjTqKKMfhdxOTfnttfnTOI/s1600-h/DSCF5672.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi80UpUVvvgD5xQSFAecZQVB5-eT5cJlkCXfkyp3mH0fa6vgiMaFHRlLd60-0SEuWZkWk0xNn-tJa-u8uI5XgdRupIduYcFJfDmIIOGvJlnDsu8rYqDmlndBMjTqKKMfhdxOTfnttfnTOI/s400/DSCF5672.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440890358350889842" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqYP5QeEXDv29Q0E56JHCx3ICJpihnjxgJ0ceOkBTp1AIp87k9E1Z3wlaZc2pkC5zQvJJN8CHuIVPgqatAi19HUkWoACoEcIfFoFjQuKGV59mjFjVW0hBT2-GEpBSY0BKmry8Ii_w0nM/s1600-h/DSCF5697.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqYP5QeEXDv29Q0E56JHCx3ICJpihnjxgJ0ceOkBTp1AIp87k9E1Z3wlaZc2pkC5zQvJJN8CHuIVPgqatAi19HUkWoACoEcIfFoFjQuKGV59mjFjVW0hBT2-GEpBSY0BKmry8Ii_w0nM/s400/DSCF5697.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440890343616095906" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq43MaRNQD6Y6ZnqtcGJC4mdEawLd5sFXgACXKBuZ54svmQyLqgSz-xynBUgx7iNZ4NAPFLA3OSIdmC1mXRXUkWZxmofKPZHRxOpqgvlpS5-Qxa8ceZEkRwiQGX1S41PMFOEV7xETGZEE/s1600-h/DSCF5687.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq43MaRNQD6Y6ZnqtcGJC4mdEawLd5sFXgACXKBuZ54svmQyLqgSz-xynBUgx7iNZ4NAPFLA3OSIdmC1mXRXUkWZxmofKPZHRxOpqgvlpS5-Qxa8ceZEkRwiQGX1S41PMFOEV7xETGZEE/s400/DSCF5687.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440890336036258818" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDl_quXXU4ydjqXA_rcvJD8vboQdNYQ_AvTlPxD3UsSs8pKo9bILzdVM5ubZM1m9_aRvDCaYvE8Qkh5D8JsA2E9sDVsswGScgcOm0uB1bukAIrO-d-5y1Jl4AflMqpbCOmnRPfruaAQFM/s1600-h/DSCF5661.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDl_quXXU4ydjqXA_rcvJD8vboQdNYQ_AvTlPxD3UsSs8pKo9bILzdVM5ubZM1m9_aRvDCaYvE8Qkh5D8JsA2E9sDVsswGScgcOm0uB1bukAIrO-d-5y1Jl4AflMqpbCOmnRPfruaAQFM/s400/DSCF5661.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440890320124796994" /></a><br />A goal is reached....2801 miles and no more road left in front of us, only Belize across the bay.<br />Yesterday's leg of the journey was a long one, but a much better road. The landscape was beautiful with many "ranchitos"--sugarcane and pineapple growing, cattle and horses grazing, and lakes and rivers stretching out before use. At our lunch stop in Escarcega, we purchased a small, wooden, hand-crafted table from a pretty little girl anxious to sell the wares made by her family. We were stopped three times by the military--sometimes to check inside of "Gloria" and other times just to check our paperwork. At about 6:30, we pulled in to Chetumal at the Yax Ha Campground. As I looked down the drive, I couldn't believe what I saw--another Lazy Daze motorhome! It is owned by Lynn and Dave; originally from California, now Mexican residents for the past 10 years in Guanajuato. Their LD is brown and white, 24 ft. long and new for them 4 years ago. Anyway, we quickly found a spot to park and then tried out the restaurant on site. It is a palapa style building, letting in the soft bay breeze as we enjoyed a delightful meal of shrimp and fish. I thought the Margaritias were the best part after our long travel day...<br />The view on Sunday from Gloria Kerouac is wonderful in every direction. To the back the bay and sea wall, to the left a beach/swimming area, to the right the cantina with plenty of shade and grass lawn, and to the front more roads to reach out on!stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17137052519886949094noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6229742945646089590.post-9362506772960910552010-02-19T21:47:00.000-06:002010-02-19T22:01:37.794-06:00Shake, Rattle & Roll<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVJE5EaTR1Dx9ML6HYlp00rnBCBLzS3dULR0pUdCa74OkzCEw0pJfzKTE6BzlAaJAmtVI7XB4p_C_G4kB1-GDbSMtuTxrNbrsZAiwTvZoGvED1o5Mbsn-VVomhJsclXaAAsuCFP6hfv8/s1600-h/DSCF5641.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVJE5EaTR1Dx9ML6HYlp00rnBCBLzS3dULR0pUdCa74OkzCEw0pJfzKTE6BzlAaJAmtVI7XB4p_C_G4kB1-GDbSMtuTxrNbrsZAiwTvZoGvED1o5Mbsn-VVomhJsclXaAAsuCFP6hfv8/s400/DSCF5641.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440170333119463954" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBmU54SUrivFNKbjhmemA426q_ac98ffikqsYmRZK9kod5lO3V_QlAhv98arlMH5jzStQ6SF8gpBXcJ0SCB82N5R6okjPggRDhZflZ7X8ZtVlJv0NqGWaZziQ75OtRXdHV6JoMkTeNtEg/s1600-h/DSCF5637.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBmU54SUrivFNKbjhmemA426q_ac98ffikqsYmRZK9kod5lO3V_QlAhv98arlMH5jzStQ6SF8gpBXcJ0SCB82N5R6okjPggRDhZflZ7X8ZtVlJv0NqGWaZziQ75OtRXdHV6JoMkTeNtEg/s400/DSCF5637.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440170326317957714" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6oLIpVYcpQIIy52stnZ_swvw4APBV2xwto72MPN-gsXXGarqQFz9n2hmO7zM7SNIFKJArA6Chkap3OhXbq-QofXF8uI1gS-Tj6uSG4XsBL8-cZIZVdWBC19o4h9xB6UJCdWXh1zGYCWw/s1600-h/DSCF5588.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6oLIpVYcpQIIy52stnZ_swvw4APBV2xwto72MPN-gsXXGarqQFz9n2hmO7zM7SNIFKJArA6Chkap3OhXbq-QofXF8uI1gS-Tj6uSG4XsBL8-cZIZVdWBC19o4h9xB6UJCdWXh1zGYCWw/s400/DSCF5588.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440170313838173570" /></a><br /><br />Everything is loose and thrown about our RV after stopping at a Pemex just outside Villahermosa. We had a bumpy ride down to the coast ... ‘bumpy’ is not adequate ... my teeth hurt after that ride. To add insult to injury, we paid for the beating. Yep, we were on the Quota (Toll road) all day long. There were holes big enough to bury two gringos, and i thought a couple just might. As we check things over it appears Gloria Kerouac will live to journey another day. Many thanks to Ford Motor Company and Lazy Daze. I should also back up a bit to say the road from 7000+ ft. to sea level is amazing achievment ... pot holes or not.<br />We decided to dry camp in the parking lot of the Pemex station. The Military and the Federales keep buzzing in and out. (They must know we are here) Four dollars got us a receipt to put in the window so the night security gaurd won’t run us off. There is a little restaurant with a nice ‘Our Lady of Guadalupe’ shrine. The Sopa and Enchiladas were more than adequate and Pat found a marshmallow cookie at the convenience store that had a separate package of strawberry syrup for squezing on top of your little marshmallow ... what a treat.<br /> I need to bring this post to a close.The drone of deisel engines is begining to sound like a bedtime lullaby... Adiosstevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17137052519886949094noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6229742945646089590.post-45469931915404607772010-02-19T06:50:00.000-06:002010-02-19T08:55:12.922-06:00Mastering 190 Sq. ft.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDPb-mmkDn9v2yyrn_v8WvZPczH4KIaWdtKC0LmRw6vsYyCzoo6PQPcEF35A4Dn8YIGhWWBIT3Q92gzHp1VrnObEIZKSSGJIOw5schkWL_QC7yv0378Q4rSkyWxkCZdLEjSeFksIj-Mks/s1600-h/DSCF5563.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDPb-mmkDn9v2yyrn_v8WvZPczH4KIaWdtKC0LmRw6vsYyCzoo6PQPcEF35A4Dn8YIGhWWBIT3Q92gzHp1VrnObEIZKSSGJIOw5schkWL_QC7yv0378Q4rSkyWxkCZdLEjSeFksIj-Mks/s320/DSCF5563.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439967774148764786" /></a><br /><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Since buying our used Lazy Daze motorhome we have struggled with getting to know her. In the begining I saw her as something that would simply deliver accomodation on the road, and thus freedom. Now, one week into our maiden voyage, I can say; there is much more. We spent many hours this week with the operation manual. We call it “Glorias Bible”. Yeah, we named the LD ‘Gloria’ back in San Miguel. Pat liked the name. I had been pushing ‘Kerouac’ for the ‘On the Road’ connection.’ So, the motorhome’s full name is “Gloria Kerouac”... Gloria for practical purposes, and Gloria Kerouac for loftier moments. Anyway, this Gloria has demanded a great deal of attention all week. First there was the adventure of dewinterizing water lines, then there was the missing hot water heater shut off valve (missing to us) 30 amp vs 15 amp power supplies and where the hell is the adapter, and why is something called a pigtail in the house battery compartment? Is there a space shuttle named Gloria?</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Despite our inabilities, Gloria Kerouac sailed past 2000 miles this afternoon. All systems are go for her early launch to the coast in the morning.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> The pic is of Pat sliding into storage compartment to reach hot water tank shut off valve ... Big guy couldn’t get his shoulders thru the door. </span></p>stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17137052519886949094noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6229742945646089590.post-44428508894853367802010-02-17T21:15:00.000-06:002010-02-17T21:39:58.347-06:00Rainy Ash Wednesday in San Miguel De Allende<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5U1QPPkIkG-hrzH1xejf_8j-UWnNJ6T7ab4X1wDUVyejTrIy7Qxj5n4jIklTOzj4sSy-krHqOYg5L5QgsmpHQ5CtB2bivZjFVW25XIfu2IJKm5qjz0TF9Y8inPJdvayi-huuBxc_lUT8/s1600-h/DSCF5518.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5U1QPPkIkG-hrzH1xejf_8j-UWnNJ6T7ab4X1wDUVyejTrIy7Qxj5n4jIklTOzj4sSy-krHqOYg5L5QgsmpHQ5CtB2bivZjFVW25XIfu2IJKm5qjz0TF9Y8inPJdvayi-huuBxc_lUT8/s320/DSCF5518.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439421318887261842" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9FnbiI-x1iD4NrmIpVpSCok0g1MbmTc3DloLIDddsy_9qgWumwwl7W6SDyQhBX4Ol_5FQZFu7xJdnEbHyW4bGz33UXaYQyFmuLekJ0sjncszDjl8uNVhga4FU-E0LBx2akjFxl1haYA/s1600-h/DSCF5512.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9FnbiI-x1iD4NrmIpVpSCok0g1MbmTc3DloLIDddsy_9qgWumwwl7W6SDyQhBX4Ol_5FQZFu7xJdnEbHyW4bGz33UXaYQyFmuLekJ0sjncszDjl8uNVhga4FU-E0LBx2akjFxl1haYA/s320/DSCF5512.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439421305450431506" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1D4cd53WnItHJWc4GBt70_LxpeIPd1hJ7DJV6wr9gqM3Em1zmf4ZCyy3mda8ki7FwBJlxLe9wqg-qkkgDd4ZDF6SdJIicYRANuwiSEMInLzInBsd4W50zPXmAwiEFn4sMlGG6MX95H4/s1600-h/DSCF5524.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1D4cd53WnItHJWc4GBt70_LxpeIPd1hJ7DJV6wr9gqM3Em1zmf4ZCyy3mda8ki7FwBJlxLe9wqg-qkkgDd4ZDF6SdJIicYRANuwiSEMInLzInBsd4W50zPXmAwiEFn4sMlGG6MX95H4/s320/DSCF5524.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439421290678599970" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwTHndieQdg222cUkkkde9LglDNUjoRhR7HTu7diueQxLg8uOIeQYZJiCFVKE7RjJkzit3M9ikXqX-mu-NFnSgLHC8KFYWt_ALDpHIiCoSmRofmbV7c1F-s_h0ks6z6SGfp7IIJhPHptQ/s1600-h/DSCF5533.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwTHndieQdg222cUkkkde9LglDNUjoRhR7HTu7diueQxLg8uOIeQYZJiCFVKE7RjJkzit3M9ikXqX-mu-NFnSgLHC8KFYWt_ALDpHIiCoSmRofmbV7c1F-s_h0ks6z6SGfp7IIJhPHptQ/s320/DSCF5533.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439421283129172898" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip7-bASuIPCckaoJ9AAmwWcflK3OUBCA7RHll5VHkbg_jP64Uc-2Q71zKFgoJszCqf18pIny1O8eaysTuBs4HmRgN7foIzE_bQcUNC7Ap4TTqXhBbhrrInUBpwlwCH4dll6Zd-ZdtkxpU/s1600-h/DSCF5560.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip7-bASuIPCckaoJ9AAmwWcflK3OUBCA7RHll5VHkbg_jP64Uc-2Q71zKFgoJszCqf18pIny1O8eaysTuBs4HmRgN7foIzE_bQcUNC7Ap4TTqXhBbhrrInUBpwlwCH4dll6Zd-ZdtkxpU/s320/DSCF5560.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439421269879169682" /></a><br /><br />We are camped on the edge of town at the Siesta Motel. One camper here is from the states, four others are from Canada. I’m not sure this U.S. guy from South Dakota counts really because he’s been living here the past ten years. ‘Dakota’ tells us we are rare. Press reports of drug violence in Mexico have killed the RV caravan trade. Parks have fewer numbers, and many of those are from Canada. Why is that? Do brutal winters just outweigh the risk of banditos? Hard to imagine any trouble here in San Miguel. Americans by the busloads live here, and the place seems to be prospering.<br />It was a nice day for walking thru the markets since a soft rain kept falling. We had our only meal of the day in the market ... a big chicken torta for me and a Chorizo & queso torta for Pat. Both of us sat at different stalls convinced we had discovered the best money could buy and had to run over to the other’s stool to share our selections.<br />After wandering the market for hours we made our way to the Plaza Principal. There we entertained ourselves with watching people. Before leaving we took in the city’s beautiful Church. Ash crosses adorned many a forehead. There were disproportionate numbers of ancient souls coming and going... So much to see in their faces.stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17137052519886949094noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6229742945646089590.post-30509972288598117982010-02-15T21:16:00.000-06:002010-02-15T21:43:53.435-06:00Day one in Mexico<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_M8QtLxG6kcr-rYA4YnA0DxwJBshxDdo6DfIlyS6R3WVWRLPhlUGqeXIwYOnFbGvzxfOGb6p3aqHuC7AkS7AE8OtsD_qlEdh7JwEBHSvN2ToLvLfy7BwGMQlL9jNzGU69pYj_m-Beqs/s1600-h/DSCF5471.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_M8QtLxG6kcr-rYA4YnA0DxwJBshxDdo6DfIlyS6R3WVWRLPhlUGqeXIwYOnFbGvzxfOGb6p3aqHuC7AkS7AE8OtsD_qlEdh7JwEBHSvN2ToLvLfy7BwGMQlL9jNzGU69pYj_m-Beqs/s400/DSCF5471.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438681085988092818" /></a><br />Crossed the border just north of Laredo at 12:30 pm. It was a day of non stop driving as we punched thru the border area in haste. I drove many toll roads that were rather expensive, but moved us around Monterey, Saltillo, and a few big mountains. Tonight we are camped behind a roadside motel in the town of Matehuala. It is in the state of San Luis Potosi. No time for pics today but now we slow down as the border is past ... the time to enjoy is upon us!stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17137052519886949094noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6229742945646089590.post-6895287089068536612010-02-15T20:36:00.000-06:002010-02-15T21:11:18.273-06:00Valentines Day in New Braunfels<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlrGXlO1WEfpnU26obOg1NWEic91kga6eX6QBRNnkz2Gc2MbFr0u8RnkwZjla5-RXJ9yl6lExRI6y4VX_2JdNTPABe-XLbMZw947p88AKnhcqQnEIdIN0aYfwY5FuBh-r6regcWxO9dU/s1600-h/DSCF5461.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlrGXlO1WEfpnU26obOg1NWEic91kga6eX6QBRNnkz2Gc2MbFr0u8RnkwZjla5-RXJ9yl6lExRI6y4VX_2JdNTPABe-XLbMZw947p88AKnhcqQnEIdIN0aYfwY5FuBh-r6regcWxO9dU/s400/DSCF5461.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438673408584590306" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5WL2apywuqJi52f_A1vizgY46PiqbbzjB9nBco2ZtriAB9nVuHCpAj8Oib08CbAvvyYCkSwNVZgN5splvJoNNDlmTsrSGEqRQImEYxol4fbwdFhGJrCyyZ1sLzdwyZunexuMrUZXBNFo/s1600-h/DSCF5417.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5WL2apywuqJi52f_A1vizgY46PiqbbzjB9nBco2ZtriAB9nVuHCpAj8Oib08CbAvvyYCkSwNVZgN5splvJoNNDlmTsrSGEqRQImEYxol4fbwdFhGJrCyyZ1sLzdwyZunexuMrUZXBNFo/s400/DSCF5417.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438673401159935698" /></a><br />Stopped to see old friends, Dan & Rubi Hunter with grandbaby Nia. Dan made several early trips with me to Mexico and he was interested in seeing our home on wheels. We joined them for Contemporary sermon at the Gruen United Methodist Church. Sermon was on seventh deadly sin ... Lust. How apropo on Valentines day! Should I also mention that their new Minister is 29, female, and just a tad ... dare i say, pretty. Ok, so i am still working on that deadly sin...stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17137052519886949094noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6229742945646089590.post-59330754566513366672010-02-15T20:24:00.000-06:002010-02-15T21:16:41.150-06:00Departure and the usual melancholy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiftMb52xXuZNj9eCssr1bVU4ZWsN3NJiZcedLovr1_OsoUejkGJN9WFU0mkZbM-ERMEbf15GcbcjkLL9gY2eL8GEkfc26grmVNxd70jBBzmfvWS8U118hJk-YeHHycgH3z2pCWhBTZ63Q/s1600-h/DSCF5399.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiftMb52xXuZNj9eCssr1bVU4ZWsN3NJiZcedLovr1_OsoUejkGJN9WFU0mkZbM-ERMEbf15GcbcjkLL9gY2eL8GEkfc26grmVNxd70jBBzmfvWS8U118hJk-YeHHycgH3z2pCWhBTZ63Q/s400/DSCF5399.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438664033622498434" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXYeD5xU2WqSGr-mNVRGAxccaTeJ-sf2Hr6RMRk-k5jxg3XNbJyjE53MbHVcdq_cMDP_0D7vsxluVAS8cS4Cp85e8HqZujnd32Q0_u7Y30pKJo2B2C1hw350Zt4qlvio3yIDqwbb7BUak/s1600-h/DSCF5384.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXYeD5xU2WqSGr-mNVRGAxccaTeJ-sf2Hr6RMRk-k5jxg3XNbJyjE53MbHVcdq_cMDP_0D7vsxluVAS8cS4Cp85e8HqZujnd32Q0_u7Y30pKJo2B2C1hw350Zt4qlvio3yIDqwbb7BUak/s400/DSCF5384.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438664022059665602" /></a><br /> 2-12-10<br /><br />Finally! The loose ends and last minute details took most of the day, but we put Henderson in Ol Blue’s rearview mirror sometime after 3pm and started our drive south. As the road time passed I had my usual bout with Melancholy. What we leave behind tuggs hard. Us ‘experienced’ wanderer’s know this feeling will come. As you pull away from the world you know you sense all the gifts of place... especially difficult this day because of the wonderful gift my father & the business received with the Heart of Henderson Award. So, I call upon faith to part these waters. A wanderer knows to push ahead. Soon he will rise over the mountain that separates, and something new will dawn.stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17137052519886949094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6229742945646089590.post-76199249554893146382010-01-05T22:50:00.000-06:002010-01-06T16:15:19.874-06:00Crossing Boundaries<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8J2hghqOksU2lanxRzPqJF4ss2q78yYmuxbeJ-xa2StnjxbZ3DcLObxSWxMMUb0wlIsIipJ0kIh7mO7weblfSP8hdAog-o2AparYjWpOm7BBhaFkXt2s3MHJLT4OnBE23pvTtpIPVxvs/s1600-h/IMG_0340.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8J2hghqOksU2lanxRzPqJF4ss2q78yYmuxbeJ-xa2StnjxbZ3DcLObxSWxMMUb0wlIsIipJ0kIh7mO7weblfSP8hdAog-o2AparYjWpOm7BBhaFkXt2s3MHJLT4OnBE23pvTtpIPVxvs/s400/IMG_0340.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423517366579588914" /></a><br />I can't add up all my previous trips south. I know the first was more than 30 years ago. Mexico did not steal my heart away, but certainly it has played with it. Hermann Hesse said "The way to salvation leads into your heart, and there alone is God, and there alone is peace." Mexico provides a touch of clarity... It plays with my heart. Now I make preparations to leave home and cross the boundaries between this world and another. In a few weeks I will cross a manmade border, and my heart will miss this home. Still, we who wander know this price is a gift.<br /> The photo is a portion of Diego Rivera's Cuernavaca mural. Cortez scuttled ships on a shoreline to insure his Journey... crossing boundries?stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17137052519886949094noreply@blogger.com0