| Having spent two weeks in Cabo San Lucas, | | | | own death from morons coming the other way as |
| Baja Mexico I have a much better view of what | | | | well. |
| paradise is and what it is not. I have been | | | | |
| going down there for the last 6 years, twice | | | | Their driving speaks to me of their culture, |
| a year but never for more than 7 days. This | | | | a macho outlook with pride above all, and |
| 14 day extravaganza came after I had to sell | | | | intelligence taking a back seat. The |
| long positions to close them out for a loss | | | | Agrigarian culture is not ready for the |
| and then watched the stock market go to new | | | | civilized world of rules and regulation and |
| highs in October, a month always known for | | | | having been in an accident here in Las Vegas |
| being the worst month for stock prices in the | | | | with a 16 year-old Mexican boy running a stop |
| entire year, followed only by the month of | | | | sign with no insurance, I now understand why |
| September. I had only been waiting all year | | | | it happened and can only wonder when their |
| for this move, but I digress. | | | | government begins to train their people to |
| | | | use their cars as vehicles not weapons of |
| I always thought that I would retire in | | | | machismic behavior. The apex of my |
| Mexico, it's slow pace and charming people I | | | | experience was when I had to make a "K" turn |
| envied or so I thought. Now having more time | | | | as taxis and local cars blocked a street and |
| to delve into the culture, to spend more time | | | | in attempting to turn around I was swarmed |
| driving for instance, allowed me a new | | | | with taxis on both sides, all who saw what I |
| perspective. Mexicans do not have rules of | | | | was doing and were attempting to block me for |
| the road when they drive. They pay no | | | | absolutely no reason. I rolled the window |
| attention to divider lines, no passing zones, | | | | down and started screaming assholes in |
| speed limits, turn signals, right of ways, | | | | Spanish while jamming the car in reverse, |
| dangerous curves, stop signs, lights, and any | | | | posturing as if I would smash their mode of |
| other legality that I, a citizen of Estado | | | | living to bits, coming within inches of their |
| Unidos, would be pulled over and would have | | | | taxis to force them to stop for a |
| to fork over forty to fifty dollars to pay | | | | millisecond, while I yanked the wheel and |
| off the local cops at their request of | | | | bulleted out of there before it got way too |
| course, amigo. Badges? They don't need no | | | | violent for such a small incident. I had |
| stinkin' badges! | | | | enough for any vacation and for the first |
| | | | time began to look forward to coming back |
| There isn't one vehicle that doesn't have | | | | home. |
| damage to their bumpers, doors, fenders, | | | | |
| windows, or any other part of their vehicle. | | | | What was charming was now an inconvenience |
| They drive like they are in a bullring, | | | | and the slow pace and constant stealing of |
| taunting you by using their car as a cape, | | | | change that I used to not care about, began |
| their machisimo brandished like a sword | | | | to piss me off. Now I was living here, not |
| putting their lives and their children's | | | | just admiring the view, and I didn't think |
| lives in constant danger. Insane madness | | | | the gas attendant stealing a few bucks with |
| permeates their every move and only a more | | | | the lack of pumping the correct amount was a |
| insane display of madness will back them off, | | | | quaint custom anymore. The incessant |
| one that would put you in harm's way and only | | | | badgering by men, women, and children for |
| a fool would attempt. My old adage if | | | | sales of silver, dolls, scarves, gum, and |
| they're behind you, they can't hurt you | | | | timeshares was now overbearing. The chips |
| didn't apply as they were like horseflys with | | | | and salsa had run their course and Monty |
| a mission to bite you, New Jersey green | | | | struck with a forceful blow. Enough of |
| heads-never giving a fucking inch. They had | | | | paradise, give me an Arby's, a clean |
| no fear, the fools, and they would run over | | | | restaurant, a television whose channels |
| their own people rather than show kindness on | | | | stayed the same for more than 48 hours, a |
| the road. Everyone was the bull and they | | | | pool that wasn't heated to 102 degrees in the |
| take on bull with mucho gusto. On the road | | | | 97 degree weather. Give me my home, my own |
| out of town to Todos Santos I witnessed a | | | | culture, my discount supermarket card, my ATM |
| head-on between two tractor trailers at high | | | | spitting out dollars not pesos, cars with |
| speed. There was nothing left but scrap | | | | pollution controls and brakes-HASTA LA VISTA |
| metal. This on a two lane treacherous road | | | | BABY!! |
| with no passing, no shoulders, and apparently | | | | |
| no speed limits although I swear I saw signs | | | | THANK GOD FOR THE U.S. OF A. Thats all I can |
| that showed 60 kilometers per hour on the | | | | say. I will still enjoy manchego cheese and |
| curves and 80 on the straightways. I slowed | | | | someday again chips and salsa, but for now |
| and looked at the Mexican drivers in shock, | | | | the firehouse that was my ass is pain free |
| rolled my window down and shouted "muy rapido | | | | and I can eat solid food again and I am |
| es bien, eh?" They looked down in shame as | | | | grateful. Adios, amigos! |
| they should have. They avoided death only | | | | |
| because of the protection those cabs afford. | | | | Ole! |
| I then spent the next hour trying to avoid my | | | | |