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Oh, the good life, full of fun seems to be the ideal,It's the good life to be free and explore the unknown. That's living and boondocking in Mexico. Come on in!
Maps Gone Tomorrow offers both the Guia Roji and Ediciones Independencia. http://www.mapsgonetomorrow.com/mestma.html
Also order direct from Guia Roji. I don't know what their shipping charges are but I assume it is shipping direct from Mexico. http://tienda.guiaroji.com.mx/products/category.aspx?id=1
I did a survey here on the blog a couple of months ago regarding interest in purchasing maps from me. Just so you know, I am not selling maps although I would have sold the Ediciones Independencia. They are a smaller company and produce an excellent set of Mexico state maps and atlas. I always like to give the small guy an opportunity.
The Guia Roji offers their maps on CD and now have the IntelMap for major cities (very expensive at $1000 (u.s.) ).
Then I grew up and well, the rest of the story is all down hill. I'll end up just like I started in the beginning. This shot was taken around 1987 when we went to AstroWorld in Houston. That was a fun trip. We rented a car and drove up to Houston and stayed in the Residence Inn.
I received a gift from my sister Dorothy. She is the oldest girl of my 10 brothers and sisters. I know I have mentioned her before but she is a real hoot. She's fun to be with, always looks after me and is a great cook. She makes wonderful snickerdoodles and Waldorf salad. We like to rv together, although it has been a couple of years. She likes to walk and we talk and laugh about all kinds of things. She's like my second mom. Anyway, I sure love her a lot and she sent me a homemade soy candle for my birthday. Thanks Sis! That's her, second on the right with the navy blue T-shirt.
The Durango Kid
My friend Roc submitted this one which is also very original. Hemri! Get it? The Durango has a Hemi engine.
I'm still undecided and would like to see a few more suggestions.
La Mordida - Paying A Bribe
This has always been a bone of contention with me and I feel it is worth sharing. Bribing a transit official in Mexico has been common place since forever. However, over the last five years there has been a big push by the Mexican government; federal, state and local, to try and eliminate this illegal activity. There are many sides to the coin and I happen to have my own.
I have never paid a bribe. Well, that's not true. In 1986 I paid a transit official because I had Texas plates and I was stopped for not having a front plate on the car. He told me I had to pay him. I did. But that didn't last long. When I arrived at my friend's house he went through the roof. He took me down to transito and we asked to see the Comandante. He pulled out a large book filled with photos of all the transit officials and found the officials working in the area where I was stopped. I identified him, he was called into the office and had to return the money. Keep in mind that was 22 years ago.
I am here to tell you the truth. No one in a uniform can ask you for money. When you are dealing with a transit official, even less. There is nothing he can do to you but maybe intimidate you or threaten you with false possibilities. DONT PAY ANYONE ON THE STREET ANY MONEY. You have nothing to fear, there is nothing that the official can do to you. He can't take your vehicle for a moving violation unless you have had an accident and no one wants to claim responsibility. If you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, have hit a pedestrian, of course they can impound your vehicle. It becomes evidence.
Apart from being illegal and immoral, it makes no sense to pay a bribe. There are many solutions and in most cases, when the officer realizes you are not going to pay him money, the idea of him leading you through town with a rig and down to the station where he will have to explain to his superiors why you are there, he will think twice and let you go.
The issue that is created by paying bribes is that it sends a message to the transit officials. "We are foreigners, we have money, and we are afraid of you". By paying, it just gets worse. More and more rvers will be stopped and asked for bribes especially in areas where rvs are known to pass.
What I would like to see this Winter, is to set a standard for rvers coming to Mexico. Get the word out that we will not pay bribes. We are willing to take the time out of our day to pay our obligation whether or not it is justified. Spread the word to rvers and to those officials that attempt to extort money from you.
In fact, only a police officer can force you out of your car. A transit official does not have the jurisdiction.
Follow a few safety tips:
Many years ago on our first trip to Maui, we had the great fortune of finding Astrud Gilberto. My brother had loaned us his condo and his music chest. There we found our first Astrud CD. In case you don't know who Astrud is, she is the "Girl From Ipanima". Buried down in the CD was this fantastic song, "Take Me To Aruanda". The lyrics described the place I always wanted to find. Well, I did find it here in the quinta, hence the name "Quinta Aruanda". The new quinta will become Aruanda II. Here are the lyrics and you'll understand my feelings about where I live.
There's a land, Aruanda
Diamond sand, Aruanda
Silver stars on the hilltop
Take me to Aruanda
Lots of fish in the stream near,
Lots of dangers to dream there,
Golden sun in the valley
Take me to Aruanda.
There where nobody worries,
There where nobody hurries,
Easy life waving your welcome,
Take me there.
Leave my sadness behind me,
Let sweet paradise find me,
Heaven waits over yonder,
Take me to Aruanda.
Please Don't Forget To Take The Survey
Someone suggested I use an online translater. Sorry, but they can't do the work of the human mind. It cannot digest culturally sensitive words or Mexican Spanish.
This morning I met with a friend, Robert, at Sanborn's. Sanborns's is famous for their Enchiladas Suisas. They are chicken enchiladas covered with a fresh green tomatillo sauce and Swiss cheese. No, I didn't order that. We each asked for a plain old omelet.
I met Robert at one of the companies I teach in. He was working in an institute at the time. I had promised myself that when I was nearing retirement I would find someone to carry on my work and to teach them the best way to make money as an English teacher here in Mexico. Most institutes charge companies lots of money for many years and offer bad service by hiring people who speak English, not teachers.
Well, I saw something special in Robert. He is from Panama but is also an American citizen. We began talking one day and he seemed interested as well as a good teacher. I asked around town about him and only got good reports. So now he works as a consultant and makes much more money than he ever thought he would. He recently married Brenda and they are starting a life together and I wish them the very best.
Today we got together to continue working on his business plan. He is young and has good ideas. I know he will do well. He recently got married to Brenda and I wish them the very best.
Sometimes you have to pass on your good fortune to others, it only seems right.
Still waiting on an answer about the Durango. My way or the highway!
No News On The Durango
As of this evening, the price has dropped on the Durango an acceptable amount. As for the price to trage the Nissan X-Trail, we are at a standoff. So far, I'm not budging. Stay tuned.
And get this. Here we are at Walmart picking up vitamins and I hear some calling me. I turned around and it was a friend, Walter, from Mexico City. Walter works for the U.S. Embassy and also for a publisher. I hadn't seen him for a while because he was working in Ecuador. He is now back in D.F. and came to pick up his U.S. car to do the temporary permit. I told him to use the Columbia Bridge for faster and more corteous service. Then we ran into a couple from Monterrey. Of all places to meet. Small world.
Heading home I took a photo that may help to clear up any confusion. As you come to the Mexican checkpoint, KM 26, there is a split in the road. The signage can be confusing as it is in Spanish. Well, unless you are an over the road driver and have an 18 wheeler, stick to your left.
Geoff, of Geoff and Sandy, sent a comment listed below the blog for today. He says the Durango with the 5.7 Hemi should be good to go for up to 8900lbs. That's what I thought and he is doing some checking. Thanks Geoff.
I Smell A Rat
The last two days I have come home and smelled a faint odor. Not strong but it was for sure some kind of funk. So this morning I went through the refrigerator, cabinets and checked the trash can in the kitchen. Couldn't find a thing.
This afternoon after my doctor's appointment I came home and it was a bit stronger. So I started looking under all the furniture with a flashlight. To my surprise my housekeeping skills are quite good. Spic and span, but that's beside the point. I went over to the living room with my good sniffer and it was getting stronger. I looked behind the bookcases, I moved some things and nothing. What else could it be???????
I moved the sofa and lo and behold, there was the evidence. A big mouse in a not-so-good state of decomposition. Gross. Now it all comes back to me. Last week I caught the cats playing with a baby mouse. I took it outside and got rid of it. Then came another toy and I took that away from them. Little Bit has a habit of opening the patio sliding door. I close it at night before going to bed but last week I forgot. Mama must have come in and gave birth and the cats got the babies and momma died under the sofa.
The house is now decontaminated and smelling like "home sweet home"!