Purple haze all in my brain

So we are hanging around Budget Hotel #1 hoping the haze will lift. The Gulf of Mexico from Tampico around to Minatitlan is pretty hazy with pollution. When we did this trip in 2008, I remember that we had very low visibility from Tampico to Minatitlan. It was nerve-wracking.

I'd previously said that our next ultimate- intermediate destination was San Cristobal de las Casas, where we'd hoped to spend a few days. In light of the weather, we have now actually suspended that plan in favor of no plan at all.

We have some vague ideas, but no real expectations. We hope the haze will abate enough that we can advance as far as Veracruz. I just want to get out of Coahuila! In Veracruz, we will check the weather again to see whether we can continue on to at least Minatitlan.

The long-term (haha - long term for us means one week or so) problem is that there are storms forecast for all over Southern Mexico starting in a couple of days. We can't fly in storms. Hell, we can't even fly in nice fluffy clouds.

All of our planned intermediate-ultimate destinations were on the Pacific coast, which means we have to cross mountain ranges to get there. See all those big scary mountain ranges on this map? We need crystal clear weather to cross mountains safely in the trusty Koliber. If the clouds are low, we just can't cross the mountains. I'll do the math for you:

(Mountains + Clouds) * VFR = nightmare (or crash)

BUT - there are no mountains between the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. We are thinking that we may just be stuck going to the darned old Caribbean if the storms in Southern Mexico prevent us from getting to the Pacific coast.

Yes, that's right. We may just have to beat a path to Belize. Oh darn!

Budget Hotel #1 Continued

We just wanted to stay someplace within walking distance of the airport so we could get outta here first thing in the morning and continue on our course to our ultimate-intermediate destination.

Yes, ultimate-intermediate. The Ultimate-Ultimate destination is Lake Atitlan in Guatemala, where we will spend a week at Ricardo's cabin. We have a few intermediate destinations, both coming and going. Our current intermediate destination is San Cristobal de las Casas. But we have to stop a couple of times to refuel and whatnot before we get to our ultimate-intermediate destination. Tampico is thus a necessary evil (is that too harsh?). Anyway, I think I've got that all sorted out for you.

So, anyway, we are just here by necessity. Just need a clean-ish place to lay our heads before moving on. I already shared with you the doorknob debacle.

But that was preceded by having our choice of rooms: the 20 feet from the 4-lane highway room jutting off the front of the hotel like a buck tooth pointed out onto the road OR the stinky room that seemed to be polluted with some vaguely familiar but finally unrecognizable minor stench.

We opted for the stinky room. And it turned out just fine, really, because after we showered, we ourselves were stinky. Yes, we and the room become infused with a sulphureous smell once the shower created a mist about the place. At least it was an odor we could recognize and make peace with.

Note: we nearly paid more for our breakfast this morning than we paid for this hotel room. Our priorities seem to be in the right place.