Belize & Noni Juice & Road Fever

OK, it's time for me to hopscotch all around Mexico and even dabble into Los Angeles with my postings.  A few weeks ago, I made the long journey back across the US border and now it's catch up time on the Tooth!

After three weeks of pure island bliss, I jammed off of Isla Mujeres and hauled south all the way to the very border of crazy-blue-water Belize (you have no idea how badly I just wanted to cross on over the border) before cutting west all the way across the entire body of Mexico.  I then shot up the tropical Pacific coast of Mexico and crossed over into the US at Nogales (never again), quickly making my way toward my old friend, Los Angeles.  I have a quick job to do here (it sorta just popped up, so I put the skids on my journey for a few months), but when it wraps, I will return to my adventure (and trailer) in CAmer later this summer.  It was a stunning trip---traversing the whole of Mexico---but I was sick the whole way.  Like pull-over-every-two-hours sick...just for a quick little nap because I wanted to die there was so much spittle in the back of my throat.  I think God was telling me, "MST don't leave Mexico, she loves you...."

And, since I've been back in the states, I've heard nothing but kudos for being such a brave girl.  To tackle Mexico alone...holy moly.  Even from the Mexicans here in LA that I practice my Spanish with--they are afraid of their own county.  I am so confused by this.  Like mind-boggling confusion hits me every time someone says something about how crazy/brave I am.  Sadly, Mexico gets a real bad rap by a whole lot of people...but it's seriously one of the best countries I have ever experienced. 

So, Mexico. I did it alone. I did a huge chunk of it with a vintage travel trailer hooked to the back of my truck.  And, I loved every single second of it.  Especially once I happened upon some noni juice whilst sick to death.  I first discovered noni fruit in Nicaragua, on a tiny spit of sandbar called Little Corn Island and the only other place I have ever seen it is in a glass bottle on a shelf in Whole Foods (for a rippin' $20+ bones).  But, down by the Belizean border, there were road stands hawking huge piles of noni's and big bottles full of chilled noni juice.  After some confusing as shit small talk with a couple of six year olds selling the juice, I hopped in my truck and slammed the whole bottle in a wild attempt to cure my sickness... and it actually did help for about 24-hours. 

But, by the time I hit up Mexico City, I was back on the hurts.  Nothing a $28 hotel room in the center of the biggest city in the world can't cure, though.  More coming on that one...

Comments

[Pixies]

We have been robbed outside of the car permit place in Nuevo Laredo by a policeman then chased down the road by a guy in a white VW demanding money.

Things around the border are very bad but once outside the border area and away from the big cities things are very nice and relaxed.

[Barbara]

Ignore all those people who talk about Mexico! Someone once told me that the homicide rate in Mexico was 31% higher then the USA......so I did some research for the year 2005. 3500 homicides in ALL of Mexico that year - then I took NYC, Detroit and Berkley and the three combined were more then all of Mexico. I read once that the railroads had a campaign at the turn of the century (19th to 20th) to make people in the USA think the roads were dangerous so people would ride the railroads......it obviously stuck! It's now an "urban myth"......I've driven EVERYWHERE and NEVER in 40 years had one problem. It can't be just me! AND you were in one of THE most dangerous areas - the State of Sinaloa because of the drug cartel! See, you're fine!