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Hound Dog

Oct 4, 2010, 2:52 PM

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Morons at the Gate

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I am posting this under the Southern Mexico forum because that is the region most effected by the terrible rains in the past few weeks. Yet, we have local Mexico boosters who push driving there by strangers and, as of yesterday, we have acquaintances stuck in 20 hour traffic jams who braved the roads despite every warning we gave them before they left regions not subject to inundation. The last thing the people of Southern Mexico needed these past few weeks was a slew of ignorant travelers descending upon them unaware of the dangers attendant to traveling in those parts during inclement weather.

We, who live and own residential property in Chiapas but have the opportunity to escape the Southern Mexico region during its recurring "biblical" catastrophic encounters with nature for more reasons than I can fit in this synopsis, told you to avoid this place until Tlaloc had exacted recompense for past sins but some of you went anyway and a pox upon your houses.

We´ll head back to the promised land in January when God has finished exacting his/her/its revenge.

For now, those of you determined to reach Southern Mexico by driving or to regions adjacent thereto; fret in peace brothers and sisters. You sit there stewing in your own juice staring out at stalled trucks and Ohio Tagged RVs. We´ll pour another Tom Collins at Lakeside and toast your adventurous spirits.

(This post was edited by Hound Dog on Oct 4, 2010, 2:56 PM)

dewrun

Oct 10, 2010, 3:17 PM

Post #2 of 4 (3763 views)

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Re: [Hound Dog] Morons at the Gate

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Hound Dog,
I was in Oaxaca City and San Cristobal last week of September and returned home Tuesday. I was on a buying trip. One of seven I do a year in the interior of Mexico. I and two other women from Oaxaca took the "red eye" bus from Oaxaca City to San Cristobal. We shopped nonstop at the markets, some only protected by tarps and umbrellas. I was reluctant to go to San Cristobal because of the flooding in Oaxaca (before the mudslide.) My friend checked with the bus service and they gave us the green light. We spent three days buying textiles from sun up to sun down. The vendors were there setting up every morning and tearing down every night during the torrential rain. We bought beautiful things. We readied ourselves to head back to Oaxaca on the "red eye" the day after the Oaxaca mudslide and, of course, they canceled all bus service into Oaxaca City. Bridges were out and there were several rock/mudslides on all main roads. So, we enjoyed another day in San Cristobal. Great food, great wine and great people. We got out the next night but I didn't sleep a wink as our bus had several close calls. I was seated behind the bus driver. Even though I couldn't see as it was dark, when he slammed on the brakes and swerved to the side of the mountain, I was alert! When we stopped before crossing bridges, I held my breath. When we arrived in Oaxaca City, three hours longer then usual, I wholeheartedly thanked the bus driver. (I really wanted to hug him.) HE was a life saver! We were NUTS to be out there in that mess. However, I'm glad we went. (Easy to say now!) There are fewer and fewer of us going into the interior of Mexico to buy folk art and hand sewn textiles. Every time I go on a buying trip in Mexico, I'm thankful I've got the guts to go. The indigenous villagers make a living selling their art. When I've made my purchases, they always ask, "When are you coming back?"
I'm heading back to San Cristobal in January. Can't wait.

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geri

Oct 11, 2010, 5:30 AM

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Re: [dewrun] Morons at the Gate

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Hey dewrun, thanks so much for your detailed bus/buying trip. I've had several bus rides during which I wanted to hug the driver at the end. Those drivers are truly amazing. Considering how many millions of people travel by bus in Mexico, there are few accidents.

I think it's great that you are helping the indigenous by buying and selling their incredible art, and I include textiles, carving and pottery in that great art category. Keep up the good work.

Geri, in N.H. heading back home to Oaxaca

Hound Dog

Oct 11, 2010, 9:06 AM

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Re: [dewrun] Morons at the Gate

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dewrun:

Glad to hear your trip to San Cristóbal was successful. You have made us feel tremendous relief that we spent this summer at Lake Chapala which is our usual seasonal hangout at that time of year with a return to Chiapas normally in January or thereabouts for a few months. This year has proven the wisdom of avoiding Southern Mexico during the summer rainy season and, after experiencing the onslaught of the fierce rains in San Cristóbal in May and June back in 2006, we decided to head for Lake Chapala at that time each year since we had no canoe to negotiate the streets of San Cristóbal during the annual monsoon. 2006 taught us why so many street curbs in that city are up to three feet high as many streets become temporary raging rapids.

By the way, we´ve been on that "red-eye" between San Cristóbal and Oaxaca City a few times as, since, as far as we know, all of the express luxury buses between those two cities are of the overnight variety, and we consider that to be one hairy route over narrow mountainous roads. That must have been real fun under the present circumstances. Of course, they may have opened that new autopista from Mitla to Tehuantepac by now which should make the drive easier. We know how many curves and steep drop-offs there are on the old Tehuatepec-Oaxaca City highway since we have also driven it a number of times and I´m always certain that bus driver is going to fall asleep and that will be all she wrote. I wish they would start a daytime express bus so at least I can see my fate approaching as we head into the chasm.

Keep us informed if you return to Chiapas in January and perhaps we can get together for a cup of coffee or whatever.

Bob

(This post was edited by Hound Dog on Oct 11, 2010, 9:22 AM)