The entrance to Mexico struck me as tight - we left a crush of neon signs and gas stations and fast food restaurants in Laredo, crossed a bridge where we paid a $3 toll, drove along a three or four lane roadway, stopped in a narrow area where they checked our truck, then immediately turned left into a tight jumble of houses and tiendas in Nuevo Laredo.
The landscape then opened up to a wide plain of scrub brush and cactus along the cuota (toll) interstate. We were thrilled to pass a huge flock of sandhill cranes in a field, like familiar friends. More quickly than we expected, mountains appeared in the distance, and before we reached Monterrey, we were driving through rugged canyons. Southwest of Monterrey, we entered a wider valley, but we remain between mountain ranges, green and lovely. Along the road, we passed horses, donkeys, goats, and lots and lots of vulcas, which we think have something to do with tires and/or car engines because the word was often painted on tires along with promotions for llantas (tires) near the road and next to shops that seemed mechanical. Road signs are proving to be a fine primer for our Spanish. We also are learning to convert kilometers to miles.
In the photo above, I'm at a stop in Matehuala with Bill, who is a trooper.
A few more hours of driving tomorrow, and we will reach Guanajuato!
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