MONDAY FROM TAMPICO TO XILITLA

We checked out this morning on a very overcast but warm day for what we had been warned was a trip of about 150 miles on rough road. It was 66 degrees and people had their heavy parkas on. We programed our GPS to our destination and it really paid off in navigating through Madero and Tampico. Some of the first part was very picturesque in a sort of Mexican Aurora Avenue way. Soon we again came to the large farms of sugar cane, cattle ranches interspersed with the typical tiny villages. Each village had speed bumps (topes) that were meant to slow traffic but the pot holes in the road had accomplished that.
After being in the sand, sun and wind of the shore, we drove on into a veritable jungle with mist and lush growth. We saw villages which were one plant nursery after another with what we would consider exotic indoor plants for sale.
The land becomes marshy in areas and access to waterways is frequent. Lots of scrimp for sale. And oranges,,, I have never seen so many and probably never will again. At one spot in the road there must have been 100 large trucks loaded to the top with oranges. And they have to travel over that two lane pot holed road. Other trucks were laden with sugar cane to be processed that is if they didn't topple over.
As we begin to climb there is light rain like we used to have in Seattle. We really didn't realize that Xilitla was as high as it is. It is in the Huasteca mountains. As we drove on the winding road going higher and higher, we could make out through the mist beautiful vistas of steep cliffs and deep canyons. We are hoping that it is clearer when we drive out in a couple of days for we can imagine the amazingly spectacular scenery.
Our GPS was accurate and brought us to this most wonderfully different town of Xilitla!!!!! At first it kind of gives you a feeling of unreal or surreal. Turn the corner into the town and meet head on another car - have to back up, drive forward while another car waits - all on an extremely extremely steep road. Fun once you get used to it. Of course I wasn't driving.
Our hotel, Posada el Castillo, was the home of Edward James, http://www.laspozasxilitla.org.mx/en . An interesting character, descent of English royalty and surrealist. We will visit his sculpture garden (HEY! THE ELECTRICITY JUST WENT OUT HERE IN THE HOTEL)!!!!! tomorrow. (electricity on now)
So we find our hotel easier than a parking space, I stay in the car in a no parking spot while Pete checks in. If you read the history of this place you will know that Edward James had a Mexican friend. That friend built this house and Edward James became a member of his family and vice versa. Louisa, is the granddaughter of that man and runs this house that is now a hotel. Our room is supposed to be Edward James old room. It is modest with tall elaborate windows, an interesting wrought iron door to the tiny bathroom, a double bed, an easy chair and several tables. An interesting surreal part of the decor is a wooden table and two chairs located on a ledge which is about 11 feet from the floor and above the bathroom. The table has a beautiful cloth and a decorative basket on it.
We walked up the street to the plaza. By up I mean up about twenty stone steps straight up. Many of the streets are stairways. We had the most delicious late lunch. Best food yet!!!!! Back to the hotel because we are a bit tired and are saving our energy for tomorrow.

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