We´re back, tired and rundown from our two day drive home. We had an amazing time. We stopped a few times along the Mayan route and saw the pyramid and ruins of Chichen Itzá. It was so amazing and beautiful. We were in awe.
I loved the drive so much because for the first time we actually experienced Mexico. We saw the beauty, the craziness, the funny side and of course the sad poverty. It was the poverty that shocked us the most. How can the country allow this to continue? We were sad and angry for the people who have to live subordinate to a government so corrupt. It´s a disgrace to the people of Mexico that their people are forced to live like this. It made us realize how truly spoiled we are, French and Americans living with whatever we want or need an arm´s reach away.
We got ticketed for not having an "emissions inspection paper" in Mexico City. We weren´t even sure what this was but since our car is new and all the papers were done by the dealership we were sure if we didn´t have it then it probably wasn´t necessary. It was just the usual ploy. The cop said the fine was 500 dollars and our car would be impounded until we paid it. We were nervous like you get in these confrontations but we know how it works. We stayed polite and Seb slid him the minimum we had in change, a 20 dollar US bill I had tucked in my international wallet. He groaned shaking his head, "no ...5000 pesos!" But he finally accepted our little tip when we added a bit more and then he let us go. This is the third time this has happened to us since being here. All the locals tell us not to support the corruption but when faced with a gruff policeman in a foreign country it´s hard to stand up for your rights, especially when you have your entire family in the car and your language skills are limited.
On the way to Cancun and just before the cop incident Seb´s cell phone rang. It was someone from a company he´d sent his c.v. to in Mexico. They were interested in meeting up with him. We got very excited because it was a chance to stay here--a life ring tossed in our direction! Maybe we could stay longer and not have to move. As a result we spent our vacation full of exciting what-ifs rather than ill tempered resignation. So far nothing has panned out but the call itself was a blessing because it filled us with some much needed hope and happiness and let us truly enjoy our vacation.
7 comments:
I also hope that things turn your way, Chris. Your vacation sounds like it was fantastic. L
Thanks Lucy. We aren't so against going back. France is our definitive home but adventures cut short are always frustrating. Vacation really highlighted the joy of living here! Life is so strange we could end up in China like you did. Now that would be fun! You never know what destiny has in store.
That encounter with the cop sounds a little creepy. Eeeeek!
They have emissions inspections stamps here in Italy too, I am thinking for similar reasons...
I climbed that pyramid when I was six months pregnant with Jack! It was nothing going up but coming back down scared me half to death. I won't be doing that again with a big old belly.
How on earth did you get a picture of Little S with the Chichen Itzá pyramid AND NO tourists in the background?? Everytime I've been there (7 or 8 times at least!) it's always crawling with people!
About the cop? The same thing happened to us on Hubby's first visit to Mexico. We had just come out of the airport in a rented car when we got stopped by a policement with a bogus claim. Even though I'm mexican I'd NEVER before been stopped by a cop and like you I kindda panicked and offered to pay the "ticket" in cash. Hubby had always heard about the "mordidas" system but I guess witnessing one live was something of an experience for him. He was so shocked! On the other hand, later on on that same trip we got stopped for speeding on the highway (hubby forgot he wasn't back home in France and was doing 130kph on a 90kpm road!) and the policeman was incredibly polite and let us go with just a warning and not even a ticket! You can imagine what THAT did to my husband's idea of law enforcement in Mexico (LOL). I guess it all depends on who you run into.
In any case, I'm glad you like my country enough to see a potential job position in Mexico as a reason of hope and not of dread. I personally would one day love to return home and work there. I just have to convince hubby that driving in Mexico peacefully IS possible! ;)
Fned.
Jennifer - I went to Chichen Itzá when I was 20 something and i remember the guide saying you go up like a jaguar and come down like a snake. This was excellent advice! You can no longer climb up the pyramid though because a tourist died last year after a fall.
Fned - People tell us we have been unlucky to be stopped so many times in one year. It´s not all that common. We don´t know why. Seb does have a lead foot but he´s never been stopped for THAT, always for bogus things like once we got stopped because we pulled off the road to read a map in a parking spot downtown and got a 5000 pesos "fine" for illegal parking. We didn´t even get out of the car and the motor was still on. Another time it was for slamming on our brakes at a red light. We didn´t run the light (oops almost--Mexican lights don´t change to yellow before they turn red) but the cop indicated we were driving recklessly and we got fined. Typical bogus stuff.
That DOES seem unusual. Perhaps it is because my husband (who is very obviously mexicano/local) always drives--but we were never pulled over all the time I was living there. My mom and I even took a road trip through the entire Yucatan 4 years ago--we were on the road, just us two gringas, for 3 weeks, and we were never stopped or hassled for anything. I guess we were lucky. Then again, perhaps it's the car? I have always noticed that crap stuff seems to happen to people driving new cars--perhaps you look like a sweet deal. Ugghh. Corruption is awful.
One of the reasons I made the VERY tough decision to leave was this--I never felt truly safe or able to defend myself in Mexico, and I couldn't imagine living in a bubble forever. The job situation also had a lot to do with it of course.
I'm surprised to hear you are considering staying, all things considering. You two are truly adventurous spirits!
Great photos! I love Chichen Itza. We had the same thing happen to us on Cozumel. We got pulled over for not wearing helmets on a scooter and paid a "fine" which just happened to be equal to all the cash we had on us!
:)
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