Days 10 plus what we didn`t do on day 9

OK, so here we are in an Internet cafe in San Cristobal de las Casas, and every 5 to 10 seconds this damn antivirus window is popping up so I have Ruth on my right with the mouse closing this stupid window that keeps popping up! Talk about frustrating! I guess better than a Blackberry...

So yesterday we drove from Veracruz to San Cristobal in yet again another grey, drizzly day. So not much of a good photo day, but we did get a couple. There must have been some religious holiday or cause that we are unaware of since there were a lot of people jogging along the side of the road carrying torches, all of whom were either preceded by or followed by some vehicle with a bunch of signs on it that we figure explained what they were up to but in Spanish at 60 MPH forget about reading them. The most curious aspect of this endeavor were the groups of 3 to 5 bicycle riders with with plastic statues of the Virgin Mary strapped to their backs; see the photo. If anyone out there can explain this please do!

Nothing more to say about yesterday since it was basically just another long day behind the wheel on sometimes often times poor but almost always TOLL roads. We coughed up over $50 US in tolls to go just over 300 miles. Do the math... We did get some rather tantalizing glimpses of what appeared to be some awesome mountains and would have taken a photo but the fog or a 175 foot long truck or something would get in our way. And then we would have to pass the truck on a blind turn in the fog... Going 80...

Just kidding. Old Red can`t go 80.

So we wound up in San Cristobal de las Casas in the Mexican state of Chiapas, land of the Zapatista uprising. Luckily most is quiet here except for one small protest we saw. Something about those that have not yet supported LAMP or some such thing. Go figure...

On to real happenings... We pushed like heck to get to San Cristobal so we could actually have a day off to stretch our legs and perhaps do some sightseeing. Well, we certainly picked the right day since we finally had some mostly clear skies and warm temps! Started the morning with a hike up an extinct volcano named Huitepec, which is indigenous speak for extinct volcano of steep inclines for Gringo hikers. We did make it to the end of the trail and actually it was quite beautiful and peaceful and felt really good after the fact. Not much wildlife but there was a quail lying in wait for us that thumpered off just when were right next to it! Made me jump for sure - Ruth was like ehhh...

Then a short drive through an indigenous Mayan community named Chamula. No photos allowed here and we certainly respect that. We reached the summit of the hills and caught some great mountain views and pics. The indigenous people had these small shrines that looked like mini churches here and there and all were in pristine shape and all had big displays of lit candles inside that you could only catch a glimpse of from the road. Our understanding is `from the road' is as close as you should get...

Finally, after the grueling mountain hike (especially after sitting on our arses in a truck for a week) it was time for a trek through town to procure some refreshments. I was lucky or smart - I just had beer on my mind. Poor Ruth was in search of a Margarita only to be found in Mexico. Well, she tried a couple and in our opinion you would`nt find one like these back home. She switched to beer...

Almost last thing to mention is that if you ever are in San Cristobal Chiapas eat dinner at Hotel Tierra y Cielo and order the Mole Coleto. It was absolute heaven on my tongue...

We are getting kind of wound up because tomorrow is our last entire day in Mexico and the following morning it is off to the border to transfer title of Old Red. Time is running out... Not only for me and my 19 years of driving this motorized amigo, but also for you to help our cause in bringing the medical treatments to the much less fortunate than us, the kind folks of Jalapa Guatemala. I will keep saying thanks again and again to those who have already given and I look forward to saying THANKS to those that are going to give. I will make it easy: www.lampcharity.org/donate and you can make your tax-deductible donation online.

Tomorrow off to Tapachula Chiapas, right next door to our beloved Guatemala...

ps, typed on a Spanish keyboard so please to forgive mistakes

Saludos!