The Magic of Quintana Roo

Today we headed north from Monclova, MX to the Texas border at Piedras Negras/Eagle Pass.  About 30 miles south of the border we came to a customs check point.  We'll pulled to a stop in our lane to wait our turn as I watched an agent open a Suburban from Texas in the lane next to us.  As the cargo door went up a cooler felt out onto the agents feet.  Like ours, that vehicle was packed to the gills.  I thought, "UGH, we're next.  Full search.  Take it all out.  No cooler will fall out, but maybe a saddle or a bottle or two of rum..."  The car ahead of us (with bottles of tequila scattered across the back-what's-it-called (the area behind the rear seats in a sedan), got waved on and it was our turn.  We pulled up to a young man in full military attire.  He asked from where we were coming.   Monclova.  You have relatives in Monclova?  No.  Why are you coming from there.  Just drove through it on our way back to the US.  You've been vacationing in Mexico.  Yes!  Have you been to Quintana Roo?  Yes!  Tulum, Mahahual, Chetumal.  Que lugar lindo!  

A smile spread across his face as he said, "I'm from Quintana Roo.  I'm going back in three weeks on vacation.  I can't wait.  Buen viaje.  Pasen adelante.  Adios."

But that is only part of the magic of Quintana Roo.

I wrote this as we driving through for a children's poetry book I'm working on:

I'd like to be 

In Quintana Roo

Where the sea is green

And the sky is blue

I'd like to be in Q Roo

How about you?

Yes, on the beach

In Mex-i-co

I'll snorkel and swim

While the breezes blow

I'd like to be in Q Roo

How about you?

Yes, on the paths

Of Mayan land

With temples and statues

Above pure white sand

I'd like to be in Q Roo

How about you?

Yes, on the coast 

With splashing waves

Swamps of mangroves

And hidden caves

I'd like to be in Q Roo

How about you?

Marlyn A. Marincas, March 2010

When we decided to add the Yucatan Peninsula to our journey, we altered our route from heading west from Tikal into Mexico to heading east into Belize.  The Guatemala/Belize border presented us with it's own special challenge -- the Guatemalan teachers were striking and had blockaded the immigration office and locked the exit gate.  That had music blasting and were having a kind of fiesta, while frustrated travelers waited in the burning sun.  When we finally got to Belize we were interviewed by the local news station.  Later that night we the second story on the Belize City news.  PLEASE do not google the story and find the taped footage -- it's embarrassing -- I look frazzled and horrible and sound like an idiot!

[More to come on Belize and crossing in to Q Roo.]