Hi, quick story, our ride from Villa Corona to Zacatecas was easy, we stayed at the other Del Bosque hotel in Zamora, bad choice, near 2 highway and a train track… we should have gone to the one we all went the first time. Anyway, we still had some sleep. At 7am or so we where on the road, easy ride to the border. The army post (3 0r 4) where easy and even a nice break! yea, they where all polite and almost funny!!! We took the same 54 up (thank Hans) and the quota around Saltillo and Monteray . Anyway, to cut that short: We took the Columbia crossing like suggested by Jerry (one note, there is 2 crossing name Columbia, the international/commercial one and the columbia, this one is more west and that is the one to take, about 15 more km). EASY!!! almost a joke! The shack to give back the hologram , or should i say the booth is just before the bridge, be careful here, it’s about 300 feet on your left before the toll (Mexican side in Pesos – 23), the booth is there by it self, easy !!! there is even a sign!!!! yea, a sign!!! It take about 2 minutes, drive 300 more feet, pay the toll and cross bridge… and you on the US border / custom. The guys at the border, or should i say the GANG where very polite and nice, something i don’t see often in NY state.

So, we kept driving hard and we are now past Houston! over 1300km today. Now, we have to watch that crazy “storm watch” that the midwest-eastern-center states are stuck in right now!!! we should be ok. They are tornado watch and crazy rain fall and stuff. We saw our first drop of rain an hour ago… hey hey… nothing like that in western Mexico!

Well, i don’t know when but we will return to Mexico, that is for sure… will it be in Baja or the eastern, center south and southern parts, i don’t know! For me, the western-north-mid part is to crowdy and to noisy, also, not enough culture and too many gringos. Don’t get me wrong, i loved my trip the whole time… i have learn a lot and i know more. The group trip was fantastic! What i have a problem with is the noise in Mexico (Rooster, dunky, train, church bell, firework, dogs barking, mexican people with there big radio on the beach… at first it’s funny but after 2 months, it’s not!), i felt nothing like that in Baja… but hey! that is ME! Baja felt for me like a very peaceful place compare to the mainland (western in that case). A lot of folks like it like that, and i understand why. Me, i’m different, i like to be alone in a remote beach or beautiful village with no electricity and nothing.

The Mexico i have seen is not what i had in my head or my dream… it’s more modern! And that is cool for the Mexican!!! STILL, i love that country, i just have to find the right spot that suit my needs. Another thing that will shock some… i don’t fell that the Mexican are very warm and welcoming people (in general!!!). Now, me and Sylvie and some discussion before on that subject and we fully agree. They will be nice if YOU are nice first! Even then… But again, we where mostly in between Mazatlan and Manzanillo…. GRINGO LAND, maybe they are tired of us???? I have seen way more smile and welcoming people in some US states and some eastern province in Canada. Again, it’s just a general feeling.

One last thing, driving in Mexico is NOT fun and NOT pleasant in general! the road are difficult, old, damage, un-mark, full of hole in someplace we went, enougt to simply kill your van if you are not careful. (but BEAUTIFUL scenery/view 80% of the time) and the number of topes get to you with time. No sign, no marking on the road.. you need to be careful! But hey, that is Mexico!!! but it is changing… fast! I was driving in Texas today and this is went i realise that!!! ouff, what a difference.

For those who know me enough, i’m like that! i’m honest and i say what i think and feel. There is a lot of different people in life, different needs… some may like stuff and some may not like it. We are all different. That is why i did that brief conclusion. A detail one will follow on my site. By the way, i have posted on my site the nice side of Mexico, the nice pictures… why, because i believe that you have to try it!!! so i gave you the good side.

One last thing…. me and Sylvie where suppose to get back home on the 15th of January… yes, we pushed it a lot, so we didn’t have the luxury of staying at one spot for a month +… and having a lot of time to visit (Like Frank, Jonathan, Ernst… ) other stuff for another 2 months… we had to move a bit and find a place so we could relax and have real vacation on our own… Villa Onac was one, i’m glad we find it because i now feel more relax before going to work hard for another year or so!

Ok, we have 2 or 3 big driving days in front of us, i should go to bed now.

Ben

Posted on February 6th, 2008 by Ben
Filed under: Ben and Sylvia