Driving to Monterrey was pretty fun, a bit of an adventure until we hit the city, and then it became a HUGE adventure. Shawn is being modest about the highways. People are courteous... but that means that sometimes you are moving over dangerously far onto the shoulder to make room for someone behind you to pass while the people in the oncoming lane are doing the same.

Here they have one lane and a generous shoulder. You are expected to move into the shoulder when you see someone coming close behind you so they can pass. If it is clear, you signal with your left signal to let them know... but most people just pass you well before you do.

It sounds harrowing, but after driving it for awhile, it really makes sense. There are no huge trains of cars waiting to pass someone because there is plenty of room to pass almost anytime you like. About the only time someone won't attempt to pass you is when you are on a dangerous curve.

In the city is a totally different ball game. Many places have no lanes marked and people just drive wherever they want, cutting in front of you and crossing multiple lanes at once. Lanes will end without notice and roads end, offering a sudden split to the left or right with no signs to tell you which way you want to go.

On the freeways through town, there is usually no advance notice when your lane is going to exit or where an exit actually leads.

Making things even harder, main roads often have four or five different names depending on which area of town you are in.

When you get close to downtown, the roads turn into narrow one way streets with pedestrians crossing here and there, usually with no care as to whether you are going to stop or not. You learn quickly to look like you are going to plow ahead no matter what or cars and pedestrians alike are taking advantage of you.

Finding ourselves parked in a crosswalk at one light, a local lady gave us what can only be described as the evil eye, and made sure she gave it to us at least five or six times, even after she was a way down the block on the other side. I made sure that didn't happen again!

The staff at the hotel were more than friendly and helpful and they crowded around in a big group asking us all kinds of questions in English while we checked in. They wanted to know where we came from, where we were going, complimented my tattoos, and asked if I had a Harley. I think they were thrilled to practice their English, and thought we were quite different.

We walked the street our hotel is on last night and there were vendors all along it selling toys, food, and offering services to wrap presents. There were several men selling armloads of little puppies, and if Shawn hadn't been there to stop me, I would have been the proud new master of at least three. I got to hold one of the little fleabags and it was cute. They had some of them dressed in little santa coats, which made it all the more adorable.

As Shawn said, we hit the square where they were presenting the story of the birth of Jesus. It was really cool because it took place on several elaborate stages that had been built around the whole square. At the final stage where the birth took place, there was a pen of actual sheep and goats.

I think today will be spent exploring and eating good food. Perhaps we'll find more nun themed restaurants.

Some dogs near where we bought our Santa pinata in one of the towns along our way to Monterrey.

A little chihuahua at a roadside restaurant that we stopped at for lunch.

Shawn said this pop tasted.... different. The look on his face says it all.


Shawn taking off from a parking lot after stopping for gas.


Shawn on the road. As you can see, everyone is kind of driving wherever they feel like it.


Holly and Shawn in the nun themed restaurant. The walls were all tiled from top to bottom and there were paintings of nuns on the walls. In a different restaurant we saw on the street, the waitresses had actually been wearing nuns habits!


This huge Christmas tree was in the main square and was a huge advertisement for some kind of drinks. Every round decoration had a brand name on it.


One of the stages for the story of the birth of Christ. (the dude in the red is the devil, aaaaaah!)


The pen of sheep and goats at the last stage.

This is the first guy we have seen in Mexico with a huge beard. His family was taking photos with him, and we asked if we could too. His name was Nicholas!


Leaving the square, looking at the main street that leads to our hotel. The whole thing was blocked off for pedestrian traffic only.

And that's it, another huge post!