02.04.2010 - Initial experience in Mexico
With a bit of stomach pain we approached the dawn of the International Bridge over the Rio Grande in Brownsville. Too bad we had heard in recent months about Mexico. On the American side, we were waved through. The border crossing is almost only used by short-term tourists in border areas. be first on my strong intervention that we leave the U.S. and not re-enter, we opened a parking bay. When we our tourist card charges and border officials she considered such disbelief was clear to us that a final departure from the United States over this border crossing is the exception rather well. We asked two more times and hope that everything was played well and we get on a subsequent re-entry no problems. On the other hand, there stood a Mexican border guards, who greeted us warmly and we ZUWI a parking lot. In the border are building the tourist card to fill out handed out. We did not do anything wrong and have leafed through the dictionary, maybe we looked a bit helpless, because after a few minutes, the border guards came to us and offered his help in filling. After a short time everything was done and we had a residence permit for 180 days.
The import of our hobby was as easy, if somewhat time consuming. The young woman in car imports had some problems, the data from our German registration forms in their register. On that Good Friday was not very much activity at the border crossing and so were then involved in our vehicle import almost all of the available limit. My passport and my driver's license passed from hand to hand and in all major vehicle inspection - or, better vehicle inspection - had to be there, none. After over an hour it was done, our hobby was allowed into the country and he even had an import license for 10 years! With many good wishes we have adopted very warmly and plunged into the bustle of the Mexican border city of Matamoros.
The town is completely adjusted to American bargain hunters and so are shops, bars, night clubs, pharmacies and dental offices in the city are lined. On the road were tractors and seedy tourist guides who all wanted to do our best. We now need nothing more than some cash. The acceptance of credit cards can not be compared with that in the U.S. and are away from the big cities are hardly ATMs. We stopped at a bank and went to second on the ATM, which is safer in such a city. The car was guarded during this time for a few pesos from a self-appointed parking attendant. And then we just wanted to quickly get out of the border region.
The initially relatively well MEX 180, we drove through poor villages and parched land to Tampico. Coconut palms and banana trees lining the road. At Country Express Hotel, we found a parking space for the first night. We were able to co-users the beautiful garden and the pool and in the evening we were spoiled by the hotel restaurant with a traditional Mexican dinner. With Tequila you round off our first day in Mexico.
05/04/2010 - Costa Esmeralda, Veracruz
Our journey took us further to the Costa Esmeralda and in the meantime we do have some experience with the Mexican roads made. The road conditions are very good to disastrous, and in exactly this sequence, we could experience the change of road surface quality. A good section of road was suddenly a bumpy, deep holes or a missing manhole covers made the trip an adventure. Annoying are the many topes, which are artificial hill on the road, which should reassure the market. Often there are warning signs but sometimes not, and so has the important task of Petra in particular to watch the road carefully and recognize Topes and other threats in time. We now know that there are always, is sold out on the street something Topes - or the Topes were created to sell something.
The previously chaotic situation we experienced in Poza Rica, where a four-lane road was passed without any traffic regulations on the opposite lane to the left in a single lane bumpy. Only after we had abandoned our conservative driving style, the horn and uninhibited use us through crowded sometimes we were recognized and had the chance to cross the intersection. Courtesy on the road or consideration for local residents is unknown.
On the highways it is common to get even with oncoming traffic. You just count the fact that the Responsive is alert and evasive on the verge. If you then still considered the poor condition of some cars, it surprised us know that no more accidents happen.
A minor accident can happen to us on this trip too. The pre-Columbian ceremonial El Tajin with the unique Pirámide de los Nichos (niche pyramid) is the largest archaeological attraction on the Gulf coast to Yucatan and certainly worth a visit. El Tajin was signposted hundreds of kilometers in radius, and we are confident that this remains the case and does not use GPS data. About some catastrophic roads we drove to Papantla - south of the city would have according to our guide El Tajín lie. We were surprised then but the lack of signage and for a GPS-Check noted, we - we had driven 40 km to far. Guide had been confused north with south and we were faced with the decision either to go back one hour or by the shortest route to the coast. We have chosen the second option and have to park our hobby in the early afternoon on a small campsite on the Costa Esmeralda.
was on this Easter Monday, the Mexican place firmly in hand and we enjoyed celebrating as spirited and, above all, according to the Mexicans. The most important were there perhaps the music systems, which is a tenacious and vociferous campaign delivered. For us, this was all a bit of getting used to. After it was then drawn well after midnight some rest began a new struggle. Under the theme "man / woman against mosquito" We spent the short remainder of the night. How often have we said: "It's now been the last" and then came the terrible buzzing in our ears.
sleepy and we found stabbed then set on the morning that the power went out in the night - had a current distribution is no longer made. We could the refrigerator just in time to switch to gas and save our frozen products.
We wanted to give mosquitoes a second chance and drove to Veracruz is the oldest English city on the American mainland. The city, founded in 1519 by Hernán Cortés was the starting point for the bloody subjugation of the Aztec empire and later the main port of export of the Mexican precious metals to Spain.
On a confusing intersection I've probably not paying attention and suddenly we were standing right in the seedy district of Vera Cruz Station. One-way streets made it impossible to contact and was of the passers indicated to us that our car is too big for their onward journey. With a slightly uneasy feeling we followed the instructions of the dark-eyed men and were soon afterwards on the right track. Internally, we were ashamed about our prejudices. We have just been learning, the people here to correctly.
spent the evening we are in a nice restaurant on the waterfront and the night, this time without mosquitoes, on the large Wal-Mart parking lot. The next morning it was already so hot that we had to cancel the planned bus or taxi ride into town. We could not our Basko at the temperatures to leave the car.
08.04.2010 - Tlacotalpan
Now we wanted but finally something Mexican culture . do On the list of the UNESCO world heritage Mexico has 27 entries, more than any other American country - and Tlacotalpan one of them. The Mex 180 runs behind Vera Cruz on a narrow spit between the Gulf of Mexico and the lagoon of Alvaredo. The last few miles the road follows the Rio Papaloapan, the city owed its prosperity. were to some 400 km of the river was navigable by steam ships and even large overseas trading ships in the deep river bed to reach the harbor of the city. Cedar, cocoa, cotton, sugar and rare birds were shipped on Tlacotalpan to Vera Cruz, South America, Cuba and Europe. Artisan-made products in fine fabrics, silver and wood. As a result of wealth, resulted from this favorable trade position, the city experienced in the second half of the 19th Century, a rapid recovery. The city has been renovated, there were schools, built a theater and even a tram. But then within a few years the city lost its importance, because several new railway lines leading past Tlacotalpan.
Today is exactly that considered a fortunate circumstance, for since the city was little changed and the time seems to stand still to be. Far from the hustle and bustle of modern life, everything here exudes peace and quiet.
We sat in the Plaza de Armas and let the tranquility of life affect us. Even after Tlacotalpan writers came to be inspired by the unique atmosphere. During a brief but intense rain shower we went for a walk without getting wet under the long arcades of the beautiful homes and admired the diversity of architecture. Especially the painting of the houses in different pastel colors makes this city so unique. By artfully latticed window we saw the stylish decor with old paintings, Chandeliers and handmade furniture. Many rooms were like a living museum.
Back at Hobby allowed us the friendly tenants of the PEMEX gas station even overnight next to his office to park, so we could continue the next day walking tour. With the promise that next time you visit the city again to camp at PEMEX, we adopted friendly and continued our way south.
13/04/2010 - Isla Aguada, Campeche, and Valladolid
We were under the shade of palm trees at the campsite of Isla Aguada and left us the warm wind blowing in his face. With closed eyes, we inhaled the salty sea air deeply. Going to the water cost no overcoming, the water temperature was over 30 degrees on bath level. When cooling is not necessarily appropriate, but you can not have it all.
Once again we were in a place where we had a good week endured were it not for our meeting in Cancun. So we have stayed only two days in a tropical paradise and have the tour went on to Campeche.
the afternoon we reached the absolutely clean city by the sea and could accommodate a new entry in our statistics. We have measured the previous heat record of 42.7 degrees Celsius. When we made the air-conditioned motor home got out we felt like we moved into the interior of an oven. After a while we had quite well accustomed to this temperature, which was bearable by a slight breeze.
Campeche, another place on the UNESCO World Heritage List has, since 1704, one for Mexico rather unusual massive city wall, which has made the city impregnable. Here for shipment to Europe lying valuable goods and precious metals had by then attracted over again marauding pirates. After a devastating attack in 1663, when which the city was razed to the ground practically began the construction of the wall. Even today, the historical city center with the Cathedral and the brightly painted houses of the massive city wall is surrounded, which, with seven bastions and four gates, the main attraction of Campeche.
The historic inner city was visited quite quickly and we drove on the same evening. On, for miles along the sea wonderful run and a waterfront promenade resembling Mex 180 towards Campeche we left Merida.
The next day brought rain and thus the opportunity to our hobby in Merida adapt the new shoes that blocked for some time, our storage spaces. After almost 50,000 miles without a flat tire, and thus about half the planned route, he had earned it.
the rain and the humid hot weather, you could very well indeed bear in a covered pool with a pleasant 20 degrees, cool water. Do not go in Mexico? But! On the flat, dry Yucatan Peninsula was the only possible settlement by the Mayas, because there are over 3,000 cenotes. These are caves with underground streams that collect the rain water or ground water in an underground lake. One of the most beautiful cenotes of Yucatan is the Dzitnup Cenote, near the city of Valladolid. Superbly cool water was a real refreshment and after some persuasion, then Petra has also dared to jump into the water. You were at first the little fish are not scary. Only when she became convinced that was nibbled at me nothing it has swayed himself.
On the other trip to Cancun, it poured with rain and we should still get a surprise.
16.04.2010 - enforced stay in Cancun by Eyjafjallajökull
While the water on the roads had not yet found an outlet we did in Cancun, the total flooding of the city. Up to half a meter of rain water stood in the streets and we had no chance to turn around. There was only one thing - your eyes and go. Many were cars with defects in the water and I had already short-circuits in the connectors expected floor of the vehicle - but it everything went smoothly: Only our way through the waterways Cancun and then in the course of the next day and the water Cancun's streets.
meantime we had found a quiet parking lot in a side street of the hotel zone and were looking forward to the arrival of our daughter the next day. During a morning beach walk, we received the SMS from Katharina: "All flights coming deleted, definitely not ... everything else later."
We were shocked! What had happened? We lived then in a different world, had no idea about the volcanic eruption in Iceland, the unpronounceable name Eyjafjallajökull, the ash cloud and the freezing of all German airports.
good that we had from the adjacent hotel has WiFi Internet access, so we very quickly were informed about the situation. Phone calls to Catherine, continuous information on the current situation and hope for an easing of volcanic activity dominated the next few days - but there was no all-clear. So there was only one way for our daughter: Holidays and flights and then move all thumbs.
After almost 2 weeks enforced stay in Cancun and surrounding area, we were on 29 April at last our daughter take in his arms. 3 weeks vacation together on the trail of the Maya were before us.
Am 102. Tag, Mittwoch den 07/04/2010 we drove almost 300 miles to home. Once again, is a beautiful, if not exactly ideal weather is concerned, vacation over. 
Der Stellplatz in Louhans ist neu angelegt und schon wieder viel zu klein. Am Ostersonntag war er schon zu Mittag voll besetzt. 
dream into a tea salon, we were served by a very nice young man. 
Kein Auto kann hier hochfahren. Lebensmittel, Gas und Baumaterial müssen hochgeschleppt werden. Als wir die hohen Mauern der Häuser hochblickten, fielen uns die Abflussrohre auf, die von einem Fenster der Wohnung aus mit Schmutzwasser bedient wurden, und vielleicht auch noch werden. 
The chapel of the Cordeliers lead up 124 steps, of which 95 steps carved into the rock. Therefore, the city takes its name. 
Als wir das Schild am Ortseingang „Facteur Cheval“ lasen, dachten wir, in dem Ort wohnt ein berühmter Pferdezüchter. Weit gefehlt. Der Herr hieß Cheval, also Pferd und war in seinem Berufsleben „Facteur“ – einem Briefträger gleichzusetzen. 
Wir waren 2004 schon mal hier. In der Stadt hatten uns damals die Arkaden und die schönen Cafés besonders gut gefallen. 
Unsere weiter Route führte uns über Le Barroux nach Vaison-la-Romaine. 
Der Ort liegt schön in einem Talkessel, umgeben von hohen ausgewaschenen Felswänden, eine Burgruine liegt auf einem Rock floor and the sourge flows through the city 
The river currently has a lot of water. The river is fed by a mysterious source. The secret lies in the inexplicable change in their volume of water that does not meet the climatic conditions. In the source, numerous studies have been made. In August 1985 the first time reached an unnamed submarine the sandy bottom in 308 m source depth. The river has enough water, you can see the cave where the source comes to light. In the old paper mill, you can watch how paper anno made in those days. There can also buy hand-made paper. 
line in the city cafes Bank of sourge. 
