Brucato'scelebrateRobert'sbirthday.blogspot.com

 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 c...

Okay, today has been a very difficult day.   R thinks that by writing, it will be cathartic for me … I just want to go to bed.   But with that opening, I know I can’t … so … to proceed.   We were up around 5 am and down to breakfast at 7 am.   Unfortunately, breakfast was running a bit late, so rather than have the breakfast buffet, we had scrambled eggs, bacon and refried beans … definitely not good for me, as beans and I don’t always agree.   At any rate, out the door by 8, and sorry to leave our really lovely hotel!  Back to the 180 toll road, and heading south, this time, towards Veracruz, through which we needed to go to get to Santiago Tuxtla, our location for the day.   It was a long drive – a little over 5 hours, but we made it by a bit after 1 pm.   We settled into the Posada Dona Angela – a small but very attractive place on a side street and decided to head first to the town center.   While first ending up on a dead-end stre...

   Up this morning about 6, as we wanted to get on the road by 8 am.   The actual miles between Xalapa and Poza Rica aren’t that many, it’s just that there’s a mountain range in between, and it takes a lot longer than one thinks it should!   In fact, we needed to head back south, towards Veracruz first, before turning east towards the coast and then north, towards Poza Rica.   In all, it took a little over 3 hours, but the drive was fine – excellent toll roads most of the way.   The interesting thing about the roads is that in some places there are only two lanes – but fortunately, there are wide shoulders, as there are lots of trucks, and people tend to drive close over the line towards the edge of the road, so that other people are able to pass easily and safely.   I know the highways are marked “no passing” but, as in many countries, those are just suggestions, really!     R took this leaving Xalapa! Beautiful mountain r...