World cup goodness

Points of Interest: Guanajuato, Patzcuaro, Taxco

Coincidentally I’m traveling through the heart of Mexico during the 2010 World Cup. Like many Americans my age I had little exposure to the sport growing up and I’d be hard pressed to name one player on the US soccer team. I do however enjoy team sports and I suppose I’d need my pulse checked if I weren’t swept up in the futbol fervor that permeates Mexico. Since Mexico’s victory against Italy I’ve been enveloped in a tank slapper of fiestas and euphoria that have left me with a new found appreciation for the sport loved the world over. No matter if it’s a travel day or a day taking in the sights I don’t have to look far to find a radio, TV, or internet broadcast of the day’s game. Activities tend to get put on hold when Mexico’s playing so don’t expect to accomplish much during game time. As if taking a cue from the conductor, cathedral bells, brass bands, fireworks, booming stereos, and the cheers of flag draped fans sound off in unison when Mexico wins. A win buys another week on the emotional roller coaster and weaves tighter the collective desire of a country. Sadly, the hopes of millions of Mexicans were dashed last week as Mexico lost to Argentina thus ending their bid for the 2010 World Cup. The next four years will be spent licking wounds and rekindling the desire in anticipation of 2014. In the mean time let me say on behalf of millions of Mexico fans, Go Germania!!

I stated early on I would ride when I felt like riding and stay put when I felt the desire. True to that goal I’ve covered a considerable number of miles since my last post. This leg of the trip is littered with futbol, long and dank roadway tunnels, rain, creepy artifacts, futbol, colonial architecture, lake retreats, sickness, futbol, new friends, and hundreds of miles of beautiful twisty Sierra Madre roadways. I was thrown off my trajectory in Taxco by a stomach bug that took me out of commission for a few days and left me somewhat wobbly on the travel front. Given its appeal, I intended to make Taxco an extended stay but was compelled to ride by a need to escape the blanket of sickness hanging over the city. I pointed the bike down the libre and set a course for Oaxaca. Getting lost in the farm lands surrounding Mexico City trying to avoid toll roads led me through some lush double track recently muddied from the rains and a number of creek crossings. It felt odd to feel as if I were in the middle of nowhere so close to the largest city in the world. Wrestling a fully loaded bike through the mud was just what I needed to sweat out the remaining pestilence that winged me. After several dead ends and cresting a number of small mountains I hooked up with the main road and made time for the remaining distance. I rolled the bike into the foyer of the hostal as the skies opened up, I’ll take it.