March 12, 2007

Chihuahua, part deux


The tour bus picked us up at 9 a.m. This was a nice bus, not the stereo-typical Mexican ‘chicken-bus’. Luis, our tour guide, provided commentary as we entered Chihuahua. The city is a mix of the future and the past, with many new factories, ramshackle dwellings and some very nice older residences. We were grateful that we did not have to individually fight our way through the traffic and find any of the tourist vistas.

In the morning we stopped at Pancho Villa’s house, now a museum to the Mexican Revolution. Also visited state capitol buildings, including one with some colorful murals of the history of Chihuahua and Mexico. A stop at a local pottery-maker provided an understanding of the painstaking process to make fine Mexican pottery. Lunch at a downtown Mexiteria (a cafeteria serving Mexican food) provided our first opportunity to risk our palates. Not bad, especially the chile rellenos. The town square, featuring several large statues of chihuahua dogs, was bustling with noon-time activity.

By 2 pm we were back in camp for a siesta, though mine was delayed as I worked on a popping noise in our front end, likely caused by a loose bolt holding the springs. We’ll find out next time on the road (Tuesday).

After a 5 pm meeting, we reboarded the bus and headed back to Chihuahua, where we dined at a nice hotel/restaurant. I would not wager a large amount of money on what the meat on my plate was. Represented as beef, it was a thin cut covered with gravy. My taste buds first registered ‘liver’, but it wasn’t bad, whatever it was. Perhaps the folks in the kitchen were having the last laugh on the gringos??

Following dinner, we were entertained by a series of young dancers doing traditional dances. They were great.

With two weak margaritas under my belt (these were served to everyone) I welcomed the opportunity to crawl back on the bus and head back to camp. The couple who had been sent back to the US for repairs had arrived in camp while we were gone, and will be with us for the rest of the trip.

We are now the wi-fi provider for the group, as many have piggy-backed on our wireless router. I am hopeful that they will keep ‘traffic’ to a minimum so my monthly rate doesn’t get jacked up into the commercial range.

Heading out at 9 a.m. Tuesday.