Forums > Areas > Jalisco's Lake Chapala Region

Bloviator

Dec 31, 2005, 6:26 PM

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Driving Across Mexico or Topping the Topes

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Just finished driving from Ajijic to Playa del Carmen and back. It was a fascinating experience, but one that I found to be quite trying.

Would be interested in peoples horror or ecstasy stories about driving trips and or the driving culture of Mexico.

To start it out, I have devised the ideal test of ones true love of Mexico and all things Mexican.

You have just driven 500 miles for the day and are six miles from your hotel. Traffic is moving bumper to bumper at about one mile per hour. Every third Mexican is passing you on the shoulder and crowding ahead of you or is passing in the oncoming lane and then really forcing his/her way into line ahead of you.

You are a true Mexico lover if you think that those who are crowding ahead are probably really more important than the poor slobs waiting in line or that they really have more important business than those in line.

You are probably a rational human if you would like to ram those crowding in line with your car, but refrain because you really don't want to get into a discussion with your insurance company, the police, or the moron who is so important that he can't wait in line with everyone else.

You should really move back NoB if you think that the Mexican who is crowding everyone else out is out of line. You really don't understand the culture and can't possibly be sensitive to the feelings of our gracious Mexican hosts.

Incidentally, I wonder what would happen if more than 20% decided "screw it. Why should I wait either." We would have chaos. Would it be worse than what we have now? This is a serious question. If everyone began to make his/her own way, ignoring traffic lanes would it get worse or better?

1ajijic

Jan 1, 2006, 6:58 AM

Post #2 of 7 (571 views)

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Re: [dlyman6500] Driving Across Mexico or Topping the Topes

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Actually, it would get better. Getting stuck behind ten cars that won't pass a truck means that eventually you will have to pass all of them. if each person passed as it was safe, all would get around that 3 mph truck more safely. Mexican truckers are very courteous and signal when it is safe, just GO!
http://www.newbeginningsmexico.com

Bloviator

Jan 1, 2006, 8:18 AM

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Re: [1ajijic] Driving Across Mexico or Topping the Topes

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Sometimes you can just go and sometimes they are just playing with you. My favorite is the left turn signal. It either means its safe to go or that the driver ahead is going to pass just as you get abreast of him/her. Also, when you have to pass long lines, it is sometimes necessary to forget courtesy and force your way into line in a big hurry. I would never do that NoB, but it seems to be expected here.

The prime example of that is right near here on the road from the Guadalajara hiway to La Barca. The norm is to pass over whatever line is present and to hope that the car you are passing and the oncoming traffic will pull over and that there isn't a car coming the other way doing the same thing. Probably that procedure is a result of the fact that it is a very wide road with lots of traffic and lots of straight stretches.

Bear

Jan 1, 2006, 9:00 AM

Post #4 of 7 (548 views)

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Re: [dlyman6500] Driving Across Mexico or Topping the Topes

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What you describe is pretty mellow. Try Distrito Federal for a couple years. You will really learn to love the "culture". Bear

Bloviator

Jan 2, 2006, 8:46 AM

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Re: [Bear] Driving Across Mexico or Topping the Topes

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We had been advised to avoid the DF and didn't understand the no driving days thing anyway. For that reason we went around the DF via Queratero on the outbound trip and via Cuernavaca on the return. Enjoyed both drives, especially the mountain parts from Cuernavaca to Toluca, even though it took two hours to go 50 miles. It was worth it. Very scenic and beautiful.

sfmacaws

Jan 2, 2006, 11:05 AM

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Re: [dlyman6500] Driving Across Mexico or Topping the Topes

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Hey glad you enjoyed that route. The pass is over 10k ft and the views on that road are incredible. We have done that twice now with the RV, it's a bit hairraising but wonderful.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

Bloviator

Jan 2, 2006, 4:30 PM

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Re: [sfmacaws] Driving Across Mexico or Topping the Topes

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Really enjoyed the trip. Thanks to all who made suggestions, particularly to you, to Ed and Fran, and to Bubba for getting me to go through the "Alps."