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The Journals from the Road
Today I was treated to a scrumpious breakfast at the Seranos before I headed off to Mexico City. Timing was once again perfect as today was the day that a few employees of the family’s business had to make a trip into Mexico City for some fire extinguishers. I was able to ride in their truck along the tollway up to Mexico City. As we approached they pointed out the upcoming haze as Mexico City. I had heard the air pollution was the equivalent to smoking three packs of cigarettes per day and I still had images in my head of each person in the city with three packets of cigarettes stuck in their mouth. I started wondering if I was going to be hacking and crying for next three days. The important connection that we had to make was to find a "taxi del citio" which is a line of taxis that are in radio communication with a supervisor at all times. I later heard from my host that about eighty taxis a day are stolen in this city so you want to make sure your taxi driver is legitimate. The fellows taking me in told me that they would negotiate a fair price with the taxi drivers first and that I was only to show my face after a deal had been struck. Soon they had a deal and I hopped out and we all jostled and cajoled my bike box, and panniers around until they fit into the back of the taxi, unfortunately on the lap of another passenger. As we got further and further into the city and as I began conversing with the driver my nervousness began to subside. The air pollution was evident in subtle whiffs of fumes but other than that my eyes, nose, and lungs were not protesting. We found Teresa’s appartment without a hitch. The driver would just ask other taxi drivers for directions at various intersections. Teresa was the teaching partner of my high school Spanish teacher about 20 years ago and that was how I knew her. Teresa had arranged to leave me a key and I let myself in through her apartment door, all decorated with Christmas paper and ribbon. She told me in her welcome note not to leave the apartment until she came back so I decided to hang tight. Teresa came in about an hour later as I was napping on her floor. She gave me a few tips on making it in Mexico City. They were: First, don’t carry anything valuable when you go out. Second, don’t ride in taxis, and if you have to, check their license and photo ID posted on the vehicle to make sure it matches the welcoming face of the driver. Third, don’t go into certain sections of town. And finally, if a police officer approaches you, walk the other way. The last direction needed a bit of clarification as it was counter to all I had been taught. Later that night we took a walk around the block and she showed me where to catch a bus if I wanted to go exploring. I decided to stick to walking as I got used to this city of about 36 million people. As I laid out my sleeping bag in her computer room I was filled with thankfulness for my Mexico City host. Peace(Bike), TAD |