Adios a Mexico

We have spent 13 months in Mexico, traveled 4800 nautical miles on her waters.
Mexico consists of 31 States and the DF. We visited 15 of them by car, train, bus, and boat. We plan on visiting many more when we enter the Gulf of Mexico in a few years.
The world news (American and Canadian mostly) has done a great injustice to this country, painting it as a lawless society. A tourist destination to be avoided due to violence, drugs and of course the LAZY Mexican. They work 6 days a week at a daily wage that is less then our hourly wages. We are here to say that this is the furthest from the truth. Make Mexico Your Tourist Destination. Much news is made about the people trying to get North to the Great Promise Land. As a Mexican said to us if they opened the border we probably wouldn’t go there. Mexico is no longer a third world nation; it is struggling with low wages and an influx of something I believe to be even more damaging to their society. The BIG BOX Stores.
This nation was set up with the towns surrounding the town squares. Generally the church was at the head, the government or municipal buildings at the side and shopping. In the area would be the Mercado. The large building holds the stalls for the fresh food and clothing to be sold and purchased. The businesses owned by Mom, Pop and the kids learning the value of hard work. Lining the streets, store fronts with homes behind. A living where everyone smiles, greets and visits. The super grocery store; Walmart, Costco, Sam’s Club are eroding the fiber that make up this unique system. They are large, sterile, uncaring places that employ 1 person for every family that has to close their business or live on much less. The fruits and vegetables are gassed to be ripened versus the freshly grown market. Us North American’s look at hanging chickens and meats and turn up our noses, after all it could not be safe to eat. Everywhere else in the world it is done this way, our whose system is wrong. Just look at the deaths caused in Canada by listeria.
To explore Mexico is to kayak its lagoons, walk through tropical rainforests and along tropical beaches, traverse deserts and gaze at volcanoes, walk on Colonial cobble streets, learn about the indigenes’ ways of life and experience some resort living, visit Mayan and Aztec ruins from centuries past. To learn about Mexico is to listen to the Mexicans tell their history, explain their customs and festivals. What makes Mexico? It is the people; a hard working, caring society that put family, church and friends first. Their homes are open to you if you give them a chance. It is the people of Mexico we will cherish; from the pangareos that took us inland to fix a starter, the women who stopped me every morning in Guaymas to chat, families that shared their lives with us, all to eager to help with our ongoing Spanish lessons.
Food plays an important role in Mexican lives. Not only does it provide daily nourishment but it is used in ceremonies like the Day of the Dead.
Each area seems to have its own specialties.
The fishing was outstanding. The ocean provided us with many meals. More importantly we observed and learnt about the many different ways fishing is performed along the coast. We never got tired of watching.
There was so much wildlife; butterflies, birds, insects, turtles, whales, whale sharks. However nothing will match the Tail Walking Dolphins.
Sunrises, sunsets, moonrises and moonsets.
Musica, musica, musica. Salsa, romantica, karaoke, mariachi bands, religious, flaminco and good old disco to keep us awake. Some good and some well ………………… Always loud and proud.
Weather played an important role in which direction we travelled. Chubasco, Northerlies, Tropical Depressions, Hurricanes and the Tehuantepec. We had maybe 2 days of rain in the last year and it was only for an hour or two. We have had one season. Summer.
Our plans originally were not to be in Mexico for a full year, but I am glad we took the time explored inland, met the people of real Mexico. Please make Mexico a destination but look beyond the fancy resort or gated community, here lays a beautiful country and people.