We thought we might barfa if we had to drive to Marfa.

So the original roadtrip plan has drastically changed in the last 2 days. Instead of heading to Marfa, TX and then on to Santa Fe, NM and then to Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, etc..we decided to screw it! Cause you know what..we're tired of driving 6 hours a day, eating out all the time, unpacking and repacking the car every day and spending money on hotels. While it would have been fun to explore those areas, we just ain't in the mood no more.

After Brownsville, we headed to Kerrville, in Hill Country (mighty pretty there), then north to Abilene (mighty ugly there). And today we have FINALLY gotten out of Texas and crossed into the Great Plains of Oklahoma. Lawton to be exact. We're here for 2 nights. Thought we might go hiking in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge tomorrow where the deer and the antelope play (and the prairie dogs!!!). It's the oldest mountain range in North America don't cha know. We're very excited about spending the day out of the Fuego. After Lawton we'll make our way through Oklahoma and Missouri and then to Illinois, destination Chicago, to hang out with our friends Kate and Sonny. Really looking forward to that!

Still giddy about being able to brush our teeth with the tap water, flush toilet paper down the toilet, drive on highways that are properly signed and perhaps the best thing of all..no more topes!!! Taking a break from the rice, beans and tortillas is pretty nice too.

Till next time,
Amee and Jean

Home sweet home.

The rooms are great but no matter where you are, they all look the same. We can't wait to stop living out of our luggage. The constant unpacking and repacking of the car is enough to make anyone positively loopy.


Pool shaped like the State of Texas. Holiday Inn's slogan: "Swim across Texas." Oh the cleverness of it all.

Driving driving driving driving driving and more driving.

Amee revisits her favourite American happy place!

Back to the road..showing ya'll the purtiness of Brownsville, Texas in the US of A.

Rewinding a couple weeks to our last meal at Casa Oaxaca and saying goodbye to our fabulous waiter and friend, Alejandro.

Howdy from Texas!

We have made it safe and sound across the border into Brownsville, TX. Strange to be communicating in English again but we welcome it. Still can't believe we're out of Mexico and starting the journey home. Where did 1 year go?!

We'd put up some pictures but there ain't nothing purty or worthwhile to photograph here. Nothing but SUVs, Denny restaurants and 5 lane roads. Yes, it's gross but we're happy as can be in our Holiday Inn room with high speed Internet, AC, English newspapers and even a pool! We're about to indulge in some much needed SUSHI!!! and maybe even take in a movie..in English. Ah the luxury of it all.

xo,
Amee and Jean...formerly known as Amicita y Juan...sigh.

Update

Hola everyone,
Just to let you know we're still in Oaxaca City. We've been relaxing, decompressing and taking care of some last minute business. Tonight we're going out for dinner with some friends at our favourite restaurant which we're really looking forward to. We roll outta here early tomorrow morning. Below are some photos from the great escape. It all seems quite surreal to us now and we keep counting our blessings that we got out of there when we did. Turns out the conflict might continue for a few more weeks.

Found out a bit more about the situation from the newspaper, a few online reports and from our friend Cheryl who lives in San Agustin. We read that 21 officials from Oaxaca who arrived to set up the election were...ah hem...taken hostage by the citizens of Guelache (who we thought were so tranquilo). They are being held in the municipal building. No wonder it was so tense over there! The newspaper reports said they were getting food, water and had a place to sleep. But ah..no word on when they will be released. We're in shock! How can such a thing happen in such a quiet and peaceful pueblo? So it goes in Oaxaca.

Our next post will be from the road. The glorious, free and open road.
xo,
A & J

We've pasted part of Cheryl's email as it explains the situation pretty clearly. (Thanks Cheryl!)
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Apparently Guelache is the county seat and the other villages are agencies. Guelache receives money from the government and is supposed to divide it up amongst the villages. Well as you might guess they didn't and haven't been for some time. The other villages are pretty pissed off about that. Plus Guelache would not let the agencies vote...hence the blockades to keep others out. Now I guess the Feds are going to come in with the military to put up the voting booths so the voting can take place. Oh so interesting. It should be real interesting in the next few weeks until the elections actually take place. I asked why the State gov't wasn't helping and found out that Carmelina Cruz, a state senator or such, is from Guelache and has been helping Guelache. So now the Feds have to take over. So you were able to experience the wonderful Oaxacan politics...and are now on the road to new experiences....
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¡The Great Escape!

The charred remains of Barrier #1.


We thought we had made it out...but ah...


Uh oh! Not so fast..Barrier #2.


As we're trying to figure out what to do, a pick up truck full of hombres arrived and unlocked the chain. After we showed them our permission slip of course.





And then kindly moved Barrier #3.


And then quickly dismantled Barrier #4.


Still not quite sure if we're free or not. Still nervous...still soiling our trousers.


But glory be...there's the open road! Freedom never tasted so sweet.

Our wacky cartoonish ticket outta there for "dos norteamericanos" that we got from the "municipal official." As you can imagine, we had our doubts.

Do you see a happy face and a duckie?

Saying our heartfelt goodbyes to our wonderful neighbours and the niños we taught English to.

Packing up...waiting, waiting, just waiting to leave. And saying adios to the Happy Hacienda.