El Tajin, Vera Cruz and Tuxpan

corn and more corn growing everywhere

We had permission to stay overnight along the Gulf Coast .  The drive was very educational.  We saw corn growing along the road, up and over the hills and in between trees.  Other trips we have taken show the Mexicans love their corn.  It has been planted where ever there is some empty space.  

More corn growing, everywhere

This trip was just the Packard's and us. Bruce and Jody in the Gulf of Mexico.

Us, not in the water but enjoying the beach

Was this the gulf where the Mulekites landed.  A lot of LDS Book of Mormon scholars think so. 

Olga.  The Packard's gave her a Book of Mormon.  We bought a coconut from her.  We drank the milk and then she cut it open and gave us the meat.  Dennis had it with lime juice and salt.  

Dinner on an outside patio.  The weather was hot along the coast.  We had a man singing and playing the guitar.  The river and the lights of the river are behind Dennis.

 When we arrived at the hotel in Tuxpan we realized we had a flat tire.  A man down the street had a fix it shop in his carport. He only charged us $4 in American money.  We paid his twice that or $150 pesos which is $9 American dollars.  What a deal.

On our drive to the gulf I saw two men riding down the highway in between the cab and the back of the truck. No seat belt required.   

 El Tajin was an amazing city.  The architecture is massive.  They must have had big animals to help them lift those stones.

A map of the city from the museum.  

Paint from 600 to 1200 AD?

I would like to know what this Mayan Symbol represents

Ball courts

Arches and the Packards.

 Niches temple at El Tajin.  This pyramid had 365 niches.  It is a calendar building.

Amazing ball fields on top of this construction.

 We drove along the coast and stopped in Vera Cruz for a short time.