What a Difference A Day Makes!

To say I had a difficult night is an understatement!  I just don’t do “car stuff” at all well, to say the least, and while I did sleep a bit, I know I was just picturing a flat tire when we went out this morning.  At any rate, it wasn’t!  To try and save us time, we went to San Andreas Tuxtla, about half-hour’s drive from Santiago Tuxtla, and a larger town.  However, even though the internet says they have a Bridgestone tire dealership there that is open on Sunday – surprise!  They lied!  Not only was it not open, we couldn’t even find it!  Google Maps, the GPS, the Bridgestone website all gave different locations – and not of them were right.  So, at that point, we decided our only option was to drive back to Veracruz.

 I called the rental company and told them to call Veracruz and let them know we were on the way.  It took as about 3 hours, as I couldn’t drive at my normal maniacal speeds – they wanted me to keep the car at 60 km or below, which, for me was absolutely impossible.  However, I could keep it below 100, which I did, and watched carefully for topes and pot holes (some of which could swallow a small vehicle…) and we pulled into the Veracruz airport about 11 am.

 The folks were obviously warned about us, as they had another car (another Nissan Kicks, but with only 5,000 km on it, as opposed to the 16,000 on the last one!) and contract waiting for us, and we were able to quickly switch luggage, which was nice.  The one thing that R did insist on was to check and make sure that the spare tire in the trunk was the same SIZE as the tires currently on the car – and it was.  Who even knew that was something to check!  I remember renting cars in Switzerland in the winter, and needing to know how to open the gas tank, after one froze on me, and another’s didn’t open with the key that had been given to me … but to check the size of the spare tire?  Something more to add to the travel check-list, I guess!

 As it was already a bit past 11 am, and I didn’t really feel like driving another almost 6 hours today, we decided to head instead to the Hilton Garden Inn in Boca del Rio, which is on the beach just south of Veracruz, and head to Villahermosa tomorrow.  Thanks to the Hilton App, I was able to reserve a room, and within half-an-hour, we had arrived.  

 A very nice five-story hotel right on the beach.  And even better?  They had a room ready for us!  Yay!  (It’s a very nice room on the 4th floor, but the difficulty is, there is VERY little light!  Not windows – but lamps!  It’s REALLY dark in here!)  We dropped the luggage and headed downstairs to the restaurant, as by this time, thanks to no breakfast (which neither of us was hungry for) and the fact that the tire situation had been resolved and the stress was off, we were ravenous!  We both ordered bacon/cheeseburgers with fries – SO humdrum, I know, but sometimes the familiar is really important!  Especially today!  Truly, they were terrific!  Apparently, though, while the hotel has a bar and serves liquor and lots of beer, they don’t serve any wine!  Oh well!!  I’ve never heard of such a thing – especially in a resort location!  However, we’ll manage!  R did quite well with two Modelo’s!  

  

Room 426 -- with lounge chairs for our balcony against the wall!


Nice restaurant



Back upstairs to the room, where I did some hotel rearranging for the next few nights, while R took a well-deserved nap.  And, being the sports fan that I am, I was actually able to come up with the Patriot-Denver AFC game on TV – in Spanish, granted, but one takes what one can get!  Horrible snowstorm in Denver; we could barely see the field by the end of the game!  Now watching (this TV system is terrific!) the Sea Hawks vs. the Rams from a chilly Seattle!  Amazing that we could get the games at all!

As we had such a large lunch, and neither of us appear to be hungry for a second meal today, I made a quick run across the street to the local OXXO (the Mexican equivalent of 7/11).  The interesting thing, though, is that the wind has picked up here to almost hurricane standards!  I could barely make it across the street, it was blowing so hard!  From The Weather Channel, I’m assuming that a front is coming in, and our lovely hot weather is changing.  It’s only supposed to go up to about 72 tomorrow, a drop of about 20 degrees, with rain in the forecast.  

We’ll be out early and heading to Villahermosa and the famous La Venta park, where many of the artifacts from the Olmec site of La Venta were moved, when Pemex (biggest Mexican oil company) wanted to excavate at the actual site of La Venta.

 So … more later!

Much love,

m

xxx

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