[Jawbone54]

My stomach is upset from a goat milk cappuccino, it feels 200 degrees, and it really doesn't...look like Mexico...



My hotel is surrounded by McDonald's, Popeye's, Wal-Mart, Dominoes, Blockbuster, KFC, Office Depot, and SAM's Club. Of course, all you have to do is travel two blocks in any direction to find "real" Mexico, but it's still kind of weird. They don't even change "Neighborhood Grill & Bar" on the side of Applebee's to "Barra y parrilla de la vecindad" or whatever. And NO ONE speaks English, so it makes even less sense.

This is Tampico, by the way.

[Sherman Homan]

The VW Beetle all shiny with no rust is the clue!

[Dakarʒ]

Drink the water.

[design219]

Wear a condom.

Oh, pastor, forgot.

[Jawbone54]

I did...and it's SOOOOO GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!
I shipped you some, too.
[Reply to Dakar, by the way.]

[Jawbone54]

Originally Posted by design219 

Wear a condom.

Oh, pastor, forgot.

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo...preacher joke.

I was wondering what took so long.

[VoicesInMyHead]

Yeah, you're right about Avenida Hidalgo, or close to the airport. Northern cities in Mexico are getting very americanized, Monterrey is getting a bit ridiculous in that sense. Try going downtonwn to the main Plaza, next to the old port. You'll be surprised how similar is to New Orleans.
Try eating the "tortas de la barda", in the food market next to the old port, one block away from the Hotel Inglaterra. Just beware, they are absurdly big, but very very good.
If you have time, go to la Huasteca or to Tajin (close to Poza Rica, about 3 hour drive away).
OH and if you can, get some stuffed jaibas (crabs) from El Pollo Marino. Ask a taxi driver, he'll take you. There is one towards Pueblo Viejo, across the river, or one downtown. There is also one right next to the beach, but that's far from where you seem to be staying.
Also, try a "mercedes benz" fish fillet at "El Porvenir", right on Avenida Hidalgo, across from the cemetery. That thing is amazing.

[Jawbone54]

Dear god...I wish I'd posted this thread before I left. I'm sitting in George Bush Airport in Houston right now, reading the stuff I should've seen/done.

Oh well...

Thanks for the tips, anyways. If I go back, I'll dig up this thread.

[irunat2am]

Go to a town outside of Cancun sometime if you take another trip down. It's "real" Mexico. I went down there a few years ago and loved every second of it. The people were extremely kind, the pick-up soccer games were INTENSEEEEEE, and it was just a blast.

Sorry you saw an Applebees..that is quite depressing. Looks like the stores lined up on one of my streets here, too. OYE!

[mindwaves]

I just came back from Mexico right near the border from San Diego. It was just a few hours trip walking down the Revolution Blvd and some mall near the area. It was definitely interesting. I know that the area that I went to was a tourist area when everyone sees that you are a foreigner and offers you stuff to buy and invites you to come in the store and to have a look. I was kind of amazed though because at the Mexican version of the Wal-mart (not Wal-mart, but some other brand) that I saw, prices were about the same or even higher than the American version of Wal-mart. it was quite startling to me because how would the locals afford the goods if they have to pay the same or more amount and they make less money than their American counterparts?

[imitchellg5]

Mexico looks like Colorado Springs.