Villahermosa - an unscheduled stop

Dave with the Warrior in La Venta Park, Villahermosa

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As were were leaving the Aquarium in Veracruz, an elderly lady offered to read Barbara's palm, and promised to bring her good luck. Not really believing in such things, the offer was politely declined!

(On 4 December) We left Veracruz on the overnight "sleeper" service to Villahermosa, (although we have since renamed it the "not a wink of sleep" service) the plan being to catch a connecting bus out to Palenque the same day. What should have been a 7 hour journey, ended up being a 5.45 hour journey, such was the reckless abandon with which the driver sped us to Villhermosa. Montezuma - or was it the curse of the palm reader - laid Barbara low for 24 hours in Villahermosa (interestingly, it's called "la tourista" the female tourist here).

Villahermosa - 6 December 07

Coati searching for food in the La Venta Park

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Given our unscheduled stop in Villahermosa, we decided to take advantage and visit the La Venta park, where the Olmec heads were brought to from their original home in the town of La Venta, 128 kms from Villahermosa.

There are now over 30 exhibits from this Olmec site in the park in Villahermosa, (entrance costs 40 pesos) although the most impressive head is probably that of the Warrior.  It is thought that this may have been a portrait of a ruler, and the design on his helmet shows three petals and a "u" shaped motif.

After the recent severe flooding of the town, it is clear that it is slowly starting to reopen for business, although you may be advised, as we were, to give it a miss just now. Some hotels are open and you may have to look harder to find a restaurant that is open in the evening, however the people seem to appreciate the business.

Spider monkeys in the Zoo area of La Venta Park

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In the outlying areas near Villahermosa, the fields are still flooded with a lot of standing water but river levels have returned to normal.

At mid-day we caught the ADO bus to Palenque. Back on track and the stomach is sitting fine now.