Wednesday, June 5, 2013

General Information



General Information:
            To survive in Mexico you must have some common sense, the ability to chew gum and walk at the same time also helps and the ability to do things for yourself without depending on someone else to do them for you is a plus. Common sense goes a long way in Mexico, PHD’s and “Book Learning’s” can be tossed into the bote de basura (trash can) cause ain’t nobody here who cares about them and certainly not impressed by them. You may notice that the term “common sense” is used a lot in these instructions, if you are unsure what that means … quit reading now! Close your computer and don’t plan on driving to or through Mexico….. Take a plane instead.
                Obviously you are still reading so I assume you have some common sense, good, because other than lots of money it is the single most important asset you can have while in Mexico, in reality the only time you need lots of money is when you have no common sense and you need extra cash to buy or bribe your way out of whatever you did wrong because of your lack of common sense.

Driving in Mexico:                      
            Oops, here we go again with that term “common sense” don’t leave home without it! I’m sure that not one of you would have a fear of driving through Los Angeles, Detroit or DC on a lighted Interstate at night, however if you have any common sense you would not drive through Watts in Los Angeles or through the Ghetto’s of DC or the Projects in Detroit at night unless you were in an armor plated Hummer.  
            A good rule to remember in Mexico is: Do not drive anywhere at night in Mexico unless it is an emergency or unless it is a place that you are familiar with, you have been there many times before, you know exactly how to get there and you can get there without having to stop for anything, you are not allowed to pack a pistol in Mexico so pack your common sense instead and you will never have a need for a pistol.
                Carry lots of explanatory maps, more importantly, know how to read and understand them, have a good compass in your car, if you don’t know how to use one, bring a Boy Scout or stay at home. Street signs are often none existent, wrong, missing, misleading or in Spanish which you may or may not understand anyway.
            Topes (toe-pays) are inexpensive but efficient ways to control traffic speeds in rural and residential areas, in reality they are nothing but large (very large) speed bumps that show up in the middle of nowhere with little or no warning. Basically there are only two types of drivers in Mexico, those who have hit topes at 60 mph and those that are going to hit topes at 60mph. Once you have hit a tope at 60mph (hopefully someone is with you to help pull your head out of the headliner) you will become more consciously aware of the need to look for and……fear topes. The symbol for an upcoming topes is a street sign resembling a silhouette of Dolly Parton laying on her back, if you can’t understand that, just hit one, it won’t take long, you’ll learn.

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