A Soft Landing
We arrived at our Xico Casita at about 10 PM last Wednesday after a 13 hour drive; 850 kilometers or 528 miles. The tolls totaled nearly $30 U.S. dollars as we snaked up from Puerto by heading directly east to Salinas Cruz, then north to Acayucan on up to just west of Veracruz City through Cardel and Xalapa landing softly in Xico.
We did not even try for an Internet connection until Monday morning as Thursday through Sunday were spent cleaning and doing yard work – always the first order of business after being away 6 months. We did call a couple days ahead to have someone clear a path so we could get to the Casita without trudging through knee deep vegetation.
The trip was pretty much standard – no mordida, no road blocks or banditos were encountered.
We were stopped three times at military checkpoints: one was a wave through; the next required lifting the trunk lid and quick look see; the third was a fairly extensive inspection going through boxes, luggage and such. At each stop we were not asked to produce any papers. Questions about where we had come from and where we were going – the usual.
We did notice a change in the driving process. Apparently the left turn signal has yet another purpose. Of course the universal notice of making a left turn is here. Additionally here in Mexico one might turn on their left blinker to indicate that it is safe to pass – this is mostly used by commercial vehicles, large trucks etc. New is the left blinker appears to be used to notify a slower vehicle in the right lane that they are in the process of being passed on the left.
We saw this last explanation used quite a bit – never before. Since we have been hiding out in Puerto Escondido for six months sans any television, perhaps we missed the news bulletin about this new driving technique? Anyone?
Yesterday we began the task of getting connected to the Internet – but we came with new tools this time, and hopes of reuniting with friends down the road that shared their connection and costs with us whence last here. The offer remained.
We immediately set up a wifi unit, connected it to their Telmex Internet modem and set up an antenna at our casa where we get a small signal and a slow Internet connection. Running out of day light and energy we retired early from all the wires and settings to read email and see what was going on in the world according to several news sources.
Romney is apparently the candidate of choice by the Republican Party and Obama continues to flail away at a poor attempt at being the President of the United States (nothing new there).
Also noted in other political races that the PRI’s presidential candidate Enrique Peña Nieto is poised to be victorious in Mexico come July. It should be noted he has held this position of favorite for more than two years.
Moving on to things that actually matter we are readying conditions for the arrival of Anita’s brother and his lady come mid-May. We reunited with several friends here in the Hood drinking a bit too much tequila in the process.
Today we were able to connect to the Internet with radios that provide very positive connections from distances as far as 10 kilometers (six miles). All is working and well – more on this soon.
Feeling better today, we also did some dress up work (read gardening) on the vine wall at the top of our property along our street as May 3rd is the celebration of the Capilla (also just at the top of our property). Last night a few of the locals were sprucing up the little Capilla with some new paint and roof repairs. We covered this extensively in 2008 here
You folks north of the Rio Bravo might be surprised to know May 5th (Cinco de Mayo) is not a highly celebrated event in Mexico – nothing like the partying in the U.S. But here locally May 3rd is a real party for our Capilla.
Some interesting things happening in the Hood. Stay Tuned for all the chismes (gossip).
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ivan