Road trip to Mexico
 

Taking a road trip to Mexico with a couple of my colleagues. One is an archaeologist and historian so I am learning a lot and seeing many fascinating historical sites. Went to the Camino Real historical museum today and we're staying in a Bed and Breakfast in Columbus NM tonight, the town where Pancho Villa attacked the US in 1916 trying to the US to enter WWI.
Into Mexico tomorrow. First time for me.

The Camino Real is the Royal Road, a 1200 mile road created by the Spanish in the 1500's to connect Mexico City and Santa Fe. Probably one of the oldest roads in the Americas.

Don't drink the water!

I just read a story by Peter Egan about biking in mexico. He loves it. He intimated that perhaps Pancho never actually attacked the US but it was faked by a European wanting to suck the US into one of those European wars!

Now I wanna go.

Stephens, John L. - Incidents of Travel in Yucatan. 1840's travelogue.
Prescott's "Conquest of Mexico". A general history from a western European perspective.

Excellent background reading.

Keep us informed; I always wanted to take the w123 across the border (I'm in Texas), but it's supposed to be dangerous. I'm an optimist so I always figured those stories are usually a bunch of hooey. I'd like to know if you felt safe or not during your trip.

Chris, my historian friend, has serious doubts as to whether Pancho Villa himself was involved in the attack. His men were certainly here, because there was lots of destruction and death in the town. Surprisingly, Columbus is the location of the first US Army Air Force base which Pershing used in his response to Villa's attack. It is also the first (one of the first?) places where the army began using trucks. They had a machine gun mounted on a motorcycle, and Chris says they even had some mounted on mules.
I'll keep you posted on the Mexico portion. My friends speak some Spanish. I don't.

PRIVATE: "Sir! My gun jammed and my mule refuses to move!" :(

CAPTAIN: "Well, shoot the SOB!" :mad:

PRIVATE: "Sir! With WHAT?" :eek:

First question that pops into my head...are you driving one of the Mercedes? :)

Sounds like a great trip to me and I look forward to your tales from the road.

Taking your new camper?

I live in Decatur, Texas and have taken several extended driving trips into Mexico over the years. Most recently this past August. I was actually intending to drive the 420 sel, and spent a month plus some $$$ getting it ready only to learn at the last minute that I needed the title to the car (which was at home) and I was too far from home at that point to go back and get it. Fortunately the group we were driving with had an extra van ready to go so we took that instead. Driving through the mountains to Saltillo, is beautiful and the roads are as nice as any interstate we have here.

Back in the late 70's and early 80's I went camping through the Mexican mountains (Oriental and Occidental) as far south as the border with Guatemala & Belize. They were wonderful experiences that I wish I could repeat today. We never, ever had any problems but we mostly stayed in camps far from towns. I'd stay away from border areas and DF at all costs.

B

I was gonna say that. Hey don't forget to visit the Hersey factory, it moved from PA.

Kerry...have you seen No Country for Old Men?

That was great!

Yeah, be forewarned. If you come across any suitcases full of money in the desert, LEAVE THEM ALONE!

Take the money and leave the transmitter!