Fast Forward to Memphis

I have written a couple posts that I simply have not posted because the photos wouldn't load. Now it seems outdated to post them, so I'm going to fast forward to Memphis.

Briefly: San Miguel was beautiful, but I think I contracted the norovirus again. Yuck. Puke. Feeling better now... especially after taking some probiotics. Here's some pics from that.

super cool playground

chillin' in the hammocks

Billy and his '54 Chevy delivery that he would drive the the salt flats annually.

Billy's "gray market" BMW

cute bug.

tiny cobblestone streets we had to navigate in San Miguel de Allende

Then, we went to see the Maya exhibit at the Witte Museum in San Antonio, followed by a visit to Brian and Sherrie's in Bryan, TX.

TJ met an elephant friend outside the Witte Museum. She told him something about peanuts.

Testing out the saddles in the Texas exhibit.

Feeding the chickens with Sherrie and Lily.

Sherrie has art for the chickens.

Matt and Brian barbecuing.

Morning eggs, Daniel Tiger and Honey pillow.

Look at their nice new place!

TJ asked me to take about a million pictures with the golden monkey that greets all of Brian and Sherrie's guests.

Lilly is a year old rescue puppy, and she just adored playing with Tetra.

Okay, now were caught up to Memphis.

trying out the new schwin - lots of bells and whistles

playing frisbee with Maggie

she got a big kick out of B's rolling ball sculpture named Reflection.

She found Laura's shoes and walked around in them for about an hour.

Last night, she woke up at about 1 am and asked for peanut butter. Well, it turned into a bubble, laser light show, and glow in the dark scooter movie with Uncle B. There was lots of cuddling.

Puebla

We arrived in Puebla well before sunset. At the gated RV park, there were 2 empty swimming pools, one small slide and one big monkey bar structure. On the other side of the courtyard was a 2 story apartment complex.

When we arrived an Indian man came from the apartment side and offered to help us get ahold of the manager. He invited us into his small apartment (leaving the door open), and was very kind. After we made the connection, I chatted with him a bit more. He said he has been all over the US and studied at U of I Champaign Urbana.

We also met the other folks at the RV Park before the manager arrived to take our information and payment. Staying at the park was a couple from the Canary Islands, who were in town to visit some friends. On our other side was a lovely German couple, who told me that one of their adult kids and their grandchildren had just got back from a trip to the Canary Islands. Interesting. We’re going to have to learn more about these Canary Islands.

Tetra played with a young Indian boy from the apt. side. After he and his family left, I sent Matt to retrieve beverages and dinner. While he was gone, a sweet young couple came over with their 3 year old boy, Max. Max brought a book to play with and Tetra had a ball. They had a lot of fun together while I chatted in English and Spanish with the couple. The husband had learned English in one year of public school. I told him I had taken Spanish in High School, but most of what I retained was from our time in Belize.

Mostly, the people I encounter speak a more proper Spanish. Maybe they see that I am not a native speaker, and expect me to know formal Spanish. It caused for a bit of confusion at first, but after I convinced myself that I must be able to comprehend if I listen closely, and if I –well, then it started coming together.

I see that folks appreciate our attempts to speak Spanish, and it makes me feel good. After a nice evening watching the kids play, we lost the cat, then found him, then went to bed. The next morning we decided to get the a/c looked at since it had broke again, en route.

The folks at Zacaula auto-climas were so friendly and helpful. They diagnosed the problem and told us they had to order a new filter. Unfortunately it could be Wednesday before it arrived. We were eager to keep moving and the technicalities of taking taxis around, and picking up the RV each night were not particularly appealing. They charged us approximately $50 and were so kind to give us the phone numbers of some relatives in San Miguel de Allende, should we need any help or information of any kind while we were there.

I think this is a good example of how kindness is contagious. We showed respect by attempting to communicate in Spanish. Even though one of the employees was fluent in English, and was our main man throughout the communication process, in the end, I thanked the elder owner in Spanish, and showed much gratitude. It was then that he offered the phone numbers of their relatives, and it pleased me to know that we did the right thing.

So then we got back on the road, where I am typing this. The only other news to report is that Tetra was a very good girl this morning. She was a real trooper. She resisted booby, and didn’t even mention it. When she saw that we would be back on the big road, she quietly shut her eyes and drifted off to sleep without a peep. And there, she rests.

Villahermosa

This idea that we fear the unknown and take comfort in familiarity is so apparent to me today. As we start our second day on the road in Mexico, it’s easy to feel the difference in tension between this trip and our first ride down. Having only experienced kindness from Mexican authorities and residents, we feel more at ease. I think it helps also that we feel more familiar with the Spanish language. Lastly, and I am saddened to say this, the ration of apparent violent crime in the US has made it clear that no one place is safer than another. Yes. We still drive with caution, check our gauges, and keep well aware of our environment. But it is no more or less than as we do in Belize, or the US.

Now, the stressor is a wild child in the passenger seat. We are using this travel opportunity to help with weaning. Tetra doesn’t think it’s such a good idea though. After being very very good for about the first hour and half, she started to demand “take off seat belt” and “I want mommy.” Followed by, “I’m not a big girl. I’m a BABY!” Matt is surprisingly cool throughout this fit, and is gently trying to comfort her in different ways. He keeps brushing me off when I try to help. So, I will remain invisible here in the back. Poor thing. My heart cries for her, and I want to sweep her up into my lap. But, it’s not wise at this point. She must learn to roll with the punches and that we all must compromise at some time.

Ah… finally. It was Judas Priest that calmed her and put her in a deep slumber.

Many miles later, we arrived at Recreativo El Gordo y San Pancho Park. It was about 3:00pm, and the water park was still open. We had so much fun there with TJ! She loved the water slide, and just swimming around in all the different places. She’s been practicing putting her head under water, and she did some of that today too. Matt was able to drag us away from the water with some ice cream. Then he took a taxi to Home Depot to get a hose. He came back with a hose, a beer, and some tacos. Yum! TJ and I were fine without him. It gave us time to clean up the RV a bit and eat some spaghetti.

 

After dinner, Tetra and I decided to take a walk. Though the park was technically closed, we were permitted to wander around there. I couldn’t believe what we found! One surprise after another! Tire swings! A submarine! A kids play pool with slides and things! OH, and two super-duper giant slides! 

Oh, how I regret that we did not find these things earlier–especially the kids pool. Perhaps there will be another chance, sometime in her life, to experience a kids play pool, and for me to go on the big slide.

So tomorrow, we’re off to Puebla. Today we encountered 2 tolls and 2 check points. Although, the 2nd checkpoint was more of a border crossing. It was between Chiapas and Tabasco, and seriously was all concrete and arrows and signs and lanes and people wearing logo shirts. One of the people had a poor sense of estimation, and made us reverse and go all around some dumb maze to go through the big truck lanes…. Because our RV is soooo big. Ei. I expect it will be another day of adventure and discovery tomorrow.

Again, but in Reverse

As I write this, we are en route to Villahermosa, Mexico. We spent the last week preparing, day by day, to leave our home in Belize. After a year and a half, we had been conditioned for living in the country of Honey Camp.

The idea of leaving our orchard, friends, pets, and our little corner of the lagoon has plagued me. Of course I look forward to our journey, and to seeing all of our loved ones in the states. But I cannot help but lament over my little garden, playing on the sandy beach with TJ, and raking over the weeks’ happenings with Sandfly.

We got out of the country later than we hoped, at around 2:30. We had an unplanned stop in Corozal to get the brakes looked at. Luckily, the shop was right by the sea. Tetra and I went full monty (fully charged and fully clothed) in to the salty sea water one last time. We had time to change and make sandwiches before we pulled out of the service station.

The Belize deportation was no bother, and crossing at Mexico, while time consuming, was also easy as pie. The only trouble was Tetra. After all the excitement of leaving, and then the big swim, she was plum tuckered. She fussed and jumped and ran and made demands during all of the transit activities. I’m sure there were plenty of opinions flying about regarding her manners, or lack-there-of. Poor thing. She’s just a baby.

So, we are once again on the road. I admit, I love our small mobile home. Everything I need is at my fingertips. It creates space and time to focus. I hope to use this opportunity to help Tetra develop a travel schedule of eating, sleeping and toilet time; as well as to focus on upcoming creative endeavors.

As I know many of you are interested in our travels, I will do my best to update this site regularly, particularly through our time in Mexico. Much love to Belize, a warm embrace for Mexico, and a shout out to the good ol US of A.

PS. Due to our late departure, we decided to not push our way to Villahermosa. We are staying at a beautiful hotel in Calakmul, Mexico. There’s lovely landscaping, a super fun swimming pool, and a locked gate! Jack will sleep in the RV.