So, today we left for our long summer trip to Mexico and we started with the attitude that we would not drive for the typical 12 hour periods like we have in the past. We got on the road by 7am, lousy breakfast in Pearsall around 9, Laredo by 10:30. Then the ridiculously long wait to get our tourista sticker (required). On to the highway by noon, zooming towards Monterrey. Thanks to our recent rains, all is green and lush and smells like… green, wet, lush stuff.
Today we had a monumental achievement. For the first time ever we didn’t get lost in Monterrey! For some reason, we have never made it through this city without stressful confusion. It looks simple on a map. But our map must be pre-Cortez or something… A circle representing Monterrey and then a line through it representing our highway. Simple. Yet it was more like doing the Hokey Pokey without the verbal instructions. We did NOT get lost but it surly could have been better laid out. Eh… all the more reason to leave this town and do exactly what we said we would NOT do. Drive 12 hours.
Ciudad Victoria. Let’s go.
We snugged up to the mountains for most of the drive and really enjoyed it. The views were lovely and the roads surprisingly smooth. Only one search by the Mexican army as we mutually confused each other and were allowed to go on our way. We hit Victoria about 6pm, made a number of wrong turns but eventually found a hotel so as to not violate our “12 hour rule”, by about 15 minutes. The travel gods were blessing us with a very nice, clean hotel that featured an open bar, serve yourself happy hour. We got very happy. Very, very happy.
Then we realized we really should eat something, seeing as Pearsall breakfast didn’t really stick. Just down the street we found a second story taqueria that simply blew us away with recipes that we will unleash on our friends soon. In the middle of dinner a storm brewed up and capped off a wonderful day.
It’s gonna be a great trip.
Tacos anyone? Comments?