Day 5 & 6 - Poza Rica

Day 5 Tampico to Poza Rica

Awoke to the rumble of thunder and the flash of lightning, just enough rain to make the parking lot sticky underfoot. As we were having breakfast had to pause to take a photo of the beautiful sunrise. Sun that’s what we’ve been waiting for. But it was to be illusive throughout the day fighting for time with the rain clouds. RV’ers don’t like rain in |Mexico –it makes their rigs dirty!

Set out in the final group and zigzagged down the road dodging the potholes while being on an ever viligant watch for topes. Think we prefer the topes to the potholes as they seem to be more predictable.

I thought yesterday was a juggling act for the navigator – manage the trip log, track the Streets and Trips, take pictures – add to that watch for potholes and topes. Talk about multi tasking! Not to belittle the responsibility of the driver – KEEP THE RIG ON THE ROAD, avoid all the local drivers, dodge the potholes, not too close to the edge, move over so the locals can pass, etc. But hey this is all part of the adventure and today it truly was an ‘adventure caravan’. We all kept a smile on our faces and had a new appreciation for our roads at home.

We wound our way through the mountainous hills, ranch country and orange groves passed through many villages and enjoyed the daily activities of the locals – riding their bicycles loaded with wares, selling fruits and cheese, offering cold drinks at the topes, hauling oranges, rounding cattle and driving taxi.

We concluded our day with a pool party hosted by tomorrow’s tour guide, Vicky – margaritas, taco chips, guacamole and fried beans. All in all a great day! Think we will sleep soundly tonight.


Sharon and Ed, rig #5


Rig # 6 January 16th. 2010

This is our second day in Poza Rica Hotel and RV Park. Some of us are up in the hotel parking lots;
others are down in the RV park. Everyone knows how wet it is down here. It rained off and on most
of the night, as well as waking up to rain this morning.

We left around 9:10 AM. We got on the tour bus with our guide Vicky. She told us a little about the
area Posa Rica “ Rich Hole”, well known for it`s oil. They also grow citrus, bananas, coconuts and
are most famous for their excellent Vanilla.

We arrived at El Tajin Ruins and museum around 10 AM.

We first watched the Papantla Flyers, 5 men up a 120 ft steel mast. They wound up the rope around
the mast by walking around it. The old man, 77 years old climbed up to the top and sat, and then
stood on a small circular platform in the centre. He played some tunes on a musical instrument
sounding like a flute or picalo, while banging on his drums. The other four men finally jumped over
the side and from their weight the unit on top began spinning while the ropes were being unwound.
As everything was turning and the ropes unwinding the men were slowly coming closer to the
ground. It was truly an amazing thing to see.

The weather also cooperated with us today, cool but very nice, and no rain.

We then went into the ruins with a different guide, a very knowledgeable fellow. We looked at the
temples, ball court, market place area etc, As for all of the history you all probably have your own in
interpretation.

We had a great lunch around 12:30 PM, chicken and rice with a pumpkin and sunflower seed sauce.

We had an hour or so to stroll through the museum and the shops, then on the bus and back about 4PM.

Bob, Richard and Brian did not come with us today. They had many things to do; taking care of Dan`s transmission and some sort of electricity and water for those up above. We went to our travel meeting at 5:40 PM and off to our Welcome to Mexico Buffet Dinner.

It was a great day and we are looking forward to many more.

John and Kathy, Rig #6