Well it was an interesting 2 days. I'm really glad we took this exploratory trip before dragging the trailer here. The road that I know well just abruptly ended. Mexico has good freeways, but they just don't post detour signs. South of Tulum there was construction so there were a lot of barriers on our left. We took the sweeping spur exit toward Chetumal and the road had gravel piled on it blocking it with no warning. I had the 4 X 8 foot bed extender on the back so turning the truck around was a challenge. Had we been towing the trailer, I would have been screwed. We backtracked and found our way to the highway via a steep dirt ramp.
Back on the road, we approached the first military checkpoint. They usually open large cases but this guy really wanted a promotion. He removed and opened every bag, every compartment. Gloria had the smoke in her purse as they never ask to see in a purse. He said, "Open your purse", both our hearts skipped a beat as she removed items from her purse, He opened and looked in her eyeglass case and missed the cigarette pack at the bottom, thank God. At the next police checkpoint, we again were asked for ID and the truck was given the eye. There was another extra checkpoint, four in all and this was unusual. Yesterday we found out why.
We left the hotel at 7:00, filled up with gas and were on our way. Just outside of Villahermosa, the traffic was stopped. It really began backing up.
A police car came up and announced on the speaker that protesters had blocked the freeway and it would stay blocked until noon. This was a nationwide coordination, Mexico is ripe for a revolution. With abundant natural resources and a booming tourism industry, Mexico should have a vibrant economy, but due to government corruption, the average pay here is 65 pesos a day, about $6.00 a day. There were plenty of police with automatic weapons, but they were told to stand down.
After three hours, Gloria had enough. We walked up to the crowd and she shouted at them that they should be blocking the roads to the government offices and governors mansions. That if they were for the working class, they were blocking the working class from going to work to earn a living. A few in the crowd jeered at her to which she replied, "Chinga tu madre!" or "F*ck your mother!" for any who spoke English, she added "F*ck You!" and shot them all the finger.
We arrived just at dark and will be walking the land today.
