Continued Dangerous Activity

Still thinking.

A car has an advantage, even when gas prices are very high. A car is easier to stop than are most of the usual forms of transportation. One can stop a car on a whim, an impulse, almost on a dime. A car gives a man a better chance of 'following his nose' than does a ship or a plane, or a bus or a train.

I have a four door Suzuki that I can drive. It goes for more than thirty miles on a gallon of gas. If that costs too much, I can park until I save up more gas money.

I've thought of a tentative itinerary. It attracts me. To follow it I could use my abilities and resources on hand. I could drive the SX4 LE along the US side of the Mexican boarder from here to Brownsville, Texas and cross into Matamoros, Mexico from there.  Mexico! Mexico can be quite exotic. It can also be be less expensive than Canada or the US. Through Mexico can drive to Belize and to the other six Central America Republics. I once drove to Honduras.


Over the decades the US government has grievously damaged those republics and it can be saddening to see that damage. Still they are grand countries with grand people.


From the Republic of Panama one can, without much difficulty, ship oneself and ones vehicle to Venezuela or Colombia. From Colombia one can drive to the extremities of Chile or Argentina and on to visit most of marvelous South America.


The itinerary I have in mind for myself is less ambitious than a drive to Patagonia. 


An itinerary is far from being a complete plan, even for a vagabond.
My plan includes driving slowly and stopping often. It includes stopping for days, weeks or, perhaps, months. My plan also includes following my nose and exploring enough to give myself what might be called a peak experience. My plan also includes looking for a city home.


The itinerary I have been thinking of most recently is making my way from Matamorros to "Tampico, Tampico, on the Gulf of Mexico." In the Tampico area I'd check out rents for a comfortable little downtown apartments. From Tampico I'd head south along the Gulf to Vera Cruz. I'm sure I'd eat seafood along the way and perhaps swim in the waters of the Gulf. In Vera Cruz I'd see about renting a nice apartment I could easily afford.


From Vera Cruz I'd visit Merida, Yucatan or Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala. I've never been to either of the last two cities. Visiting both of them seems a great idea. Exploring both of them sounds even better.
Tlaxcala and Merida!


From there I could move on to Morelia, Michiocan. There is always Patagonia to the south and beyond that, Antarctica. Once in Chile I was offered a translating job on a South African whaler; so, couldn't I be off to the Old World.

Older Travel Post

I have no tickets or visas yet, but have the start of a plan: Fly to Colombia, probably into Bogota rather than Medellin. I can see the Gold Museum and the Salt Cathedral while in the Capital. Mis Piasanos de Antioquia no me van hacer falta. From Colombia go to Merida de Venezuela to take a look at the surrounding small towns. From Venezuela to Bolivia to take a pretty good look at that land-locked country. Venezuela and Bolivia are both new territory for me. Right now Bolivia seems very attractive. Maybe I can see the reality of the Tamengo Canal with my own eyes. Relaxing in the hot water at Salta, Uruguay again doesn't seem a bad idea either. While I'm thinking, I'll pack a bag. If I go to North Africa, South Africa, Indonesia, or Maldova I'll enjoy my own t

A Few Spanish Memories of the Maya

 A short time-line:
1523 - 25 Pedro de Alvarado 'subdued' the Maya of Guatemala.
1526  Francisco de Montejo received a royal 'permit' to conquer the "Island of Campeche and Yucatan" along with the title of Adelantado.
1527  Monejo's party landed at Cabo Catoche and made the first unsuccessful attempt at conquest.
1531  Montejo founded the town of Campeche and colonization began.
1534  Fry Jacobo Testera, a Franciscan missionary, arrived in Campeche establishing monasteries there and in Champoton. Other Franciscans followed, proving more successful than armies in consolidating the conquest.
1542  Francisco de Montejo, son of the Adelntado, founded the city of Merida on the site of T'Ho.
1543  Valladolid founded on te site of Zaci.
1546  Last hold-out groups in the eastern portions of the peninsula were subdued.
1697  Island kingdom of Tayasal in Lake Peen Itza forced to submit to Spanish rule.