January 7th, 2010

Tampico, Mexico - 2,000 Miles In

For some reason after I tell people about the adventure road trip, they ask "Why are you doing that?" I always find that a funny question because to me it seems like an obvious answer. Take your pick, to travel, to meet people, to see the world, to experience something new, at the very least, you decide, -20 in Minnesota or 75 and sunny on the beach? It seems like a simple thing.

Today we drove from Brownsville, TX, crossed the border into Mexico, and drove about 300 miles to Tampico where we would stay for the night before driving further south to pick up Donn and Charlie in Oaxaca, MX on the 9th. Today, although pretty straight forward, somewhat uninteresting, I had the perfect travel experience that explains exactly why I would want to do this drive.

If you've ever watched Anthony Bourdains "No Reservations," you understand what it means to interact with people while eating some simple, yet great food. About half way through the day today we stopped for gas and I needed a midday pigout. After we had gotten gas, there was a roadside "Carnitas" stand or basically a glorified taco stand. It wasn't the cleanest thing in the world nor eye catching, but when I walked up I could smell that the food would be good. No premade, mass produced food, but homeade, with love, Mexican food. An older woman was working and greeted me with a simple hello, probably thinking, "Where in the world did this Gringo come from?" We were not in a tourist area or even a tourist road, really just the middle of Mexico. I didn't know what to order so in my half good, half assed spanish I said "Quiseria algo bueno, algo normal y con salsa picante!! (I'd like something good!, something normal and spicy!!!) She smiled and then asked if I wanted corn or flour tortillas, while holding up one of each of the uncooked rolled doughs. I asked for flour as the corn tortillas I knew would resemble a good swine leather. She smiled again and proceeded to roll out the three flour tortillas, fill them with some type of beef, veggies, in a typical Mexican style sauce and then got me a little dish of salsa that looked like it might take the rust off a '58 Chevy pickup. Without hesistation I dumped the salsa on the tacos and started eating. Minutes later, with my entire body in a sweat, I had consumed the tacos at this road side stand, watching the cars and dust roll by. I told the woman her food was excellent and she smiled and said thank you. A small wave and "Adios" and I was walking to the car.

When I got in the car, Bob had woken from his nap and was talking on the phone, me with a big smile and thinking of all the other great food, people, and places on might see on the road to come.

If you can't understand this scenario or the potential smile you might get from the experience, you might not ever understand why I would want to head "South Bound and Down!" If that's the case, I can only urge you to try it, I am sure you will see what I am talking about.

We rolled into Tampico later that day, found a hotel on the not so beachy beach (lots of wind and ugly water) and that was about it. Tommorrow to Vera Cruz or somewhere south, so long as we make Oaxaca (pronounced wa-ha-ka) on the 9th.

What I Learned (or Re-Affirmed): Street stand food, pretty much anywhere in the world, is always a good idea!