13 October 2010

I got lost trying to get out of Acayaucan. Went out of the city and hit a dead end. I turned around. Back in the city a taxi speed from behind and two cops jumped out and directed me to pull over. I had seen them on my first time through. After a lot of hassle (I basically asked if they were corrupt), I gave them my papers and they let me go. One cop even drew a map to the freeway. The road signage here is terrible.

The roads were all a mess. Construction. Washed out bridges. Potholes.  I hit a pothole I didn’t see and my rear driver-side strut pushed up into my car. It still runs but I’m going to have to get it fixed.

Coming out of the mountains there is a large wind farm. Huge, enormous windmills all across the horizon.  

I turned to follow the road but it was washed out and I had to drive through town to find the way around. I got lost and was pointed in the right direction.

The mountains are gorgeous. Sierra Madre de Chiapas. Bright green vegetation. Thick white fluffy clouds wrapped around the peaks. Part of the continental divide. It’s such a pity I have to look forward and miss the view. I can’t be sure but I think I did see a volcano. It appeared that way. Could’ve just been my vantage point. I passed two military checkpoints. We were lined up and a soldier walks by with a theremin-looking contraption. I guess it was a scanner. They let everyone go. I’m in Mapastepec. I stopped early tonight. I didn’t want to risk darkness this time.

Little fluffy clouds

Volcano?

12 October 2010

After visiting the ruins of Cempoala I considered getting a room in Vera Cruz and walking around the town but instead I drove around the city and ended up in Acayucan. I’m not sure if I’ll head to the Yucatan or continue south to Guatemala. I think I do not want to sight-see as much as I want to reach Tierra del Fuego. Visiting the Yucatan will take more time, gas, and money. Mostly I do not wish to wear out my car. I also do not wish to reach my goal too quickly.

Ruins of Cempoala

Driving at night is dangerous but I have done it each night. Acayucan is littered with rutted potholed streets. I didn’t want to stay in the city but I figured it was best since it was dark. There were no encounters with the police today but there was a long line of stalled traffic outside of Acayaucan due to construction. A bridge was washed out and there was only one temporary lane.

Long line of traffic

Mexican village

Mexico is a land of fertile green hills and mountains. Corn grows on the sides of the mountains. How do they plant and harvest on the side of a mountain? I can’t imagine they use a tractor. The land is very beautiful. I have met no Americans so far but I did see a truck with Mississippi plates. 

Mexican countryside

For dinner I had a hot dog especial (tomatoes, onions, bacon bits, and horseradish I think and rectangles of cheese slices). I went for a walk around the plaza then back to the hotel to use the internet. Very busy out there, lots of good smells. I went out a second time and ate two chicken tacos at a store front I saw earlier.

Hot Dog Especial

11 October 2010

Today I drove from Aldma to outside of Tecolutla. On the way I got stopped by the police four times.  Getting gas was a hassle because I had still not changed my dollars into pesos. They would not take my credit card. But in the store I was able to exchange $20 for 225 pesos and get a little more than half of what I needed.

Stop #1 - Driving into Tampico.  Headed towards downtown. There are cops at every place there are speed bumps. A police car flashed me over and told me ticket or dinero. I could not understand what was going on and fearing a ticket or arrest I gave him $100. Thinking about it I realized that this was a huge mistake. I was finally able to exchange my dollars so I decided to head out of Tampico towards Vera Cruz.

Stop #2 - I had to backtrack and I knew as I passed the cop on the other side of the freeway, I knew I was going to be stopped on the way back.  I had to drive out of Tampico and then back in to find the right exit. Sure enough the cop stood in my way and directed me to stop. I gave him a copy of my license and he demanded money or he would give me a ticket for not having my lights on. It was all complete lies. I told him I had no money but he persisted so I gave him a £1 british coin I had been holding onto since 2001.

Stop # 3 - After he let me go I drove past a stopped traffic police SUV and sure enough he started following me and directed me to pull over.  But he pointed me to the right exit for Vera Cruz. He even drew a map.

I think if I stay out of the cities and keep to the country I will have very little problems.

Stop #4 - On the way to Poza Rica Federales directed me to pull over and they searched my car but they did not ask for money. One of the cops asked if he could have my leather satchel but I declined and gave him a flavored toothpick instead. I felt bad at first but now I think it was the right option. Police don’t need to receive gifts. The same cop was interested in my Bible. Especially the Revelation of John. 

Entrance to a city

I wanted to see the ruins of Tajin but I lost my way.  Road signage in Mexico is not consistent at all. More than a few times I’ve wondered if I was on the right road. There are people and animals all over the highway and people drive terrible. They speed and pass on curves and hills and when traffic is coming and in the city when the lines disappear they make their own lanes.

At the hotel tonight I spoke with the owner in English. He used to work for Ford in Mexico City. He gave me some useful information about the roads around Vera Cruz.

Dinner at the hotel

10 October 2010

The last person I met in America was Phil Joel of The Newsboys. He was sitting outside Starbucks. I gave him a copy of Piper’s sermons on the doctrines of grace.

U.S. Customs did a thorough search of my car for drugs, weapons, money, and stolen goods but they did not brandish machine guns like the Mexican police. The place I crossed could not give me tourist or vehicle permits so I had to drive from Reynosa to Camargo. I was stopped by the police in Camargo for speeding and I didn’t understand a word the cop said. I understood a little. He had a machine gun at his side. There are military checkpoints everywhere at intervals but so far I have been waved through each time. 

The air smells of either freshly dunged fields or burning.  There are fields and tire piles and trash piles on fire. You can see the smoke from a distance and the smell lingers for miles. I was bummed about having to drive to Camargo but once I got my permits I felt a lot better.  I would have liked to have made it to Tampico but I only made it to Aldma.  I was not able to change my money at the border but thankfully this hotel took my American dollars. The attendant seemed quite pleased when I asked for a room.  I think I’m the only one here.