Driving in Mexico
05 April 2011 | La Paz, Mexico
Steve
On Sunday my girlfriend Sharon, who goes by the nickname Shaybo, came down to La Paz to visit for awhile, we're not sure how long because she forgot to get a return ticket, but hopefully she'll be here through April (or until I drive her nuts).
I wanted to be there at the airport when she got here, which was not an easy task, first there are no buses that run from town to the airport, second, a cab was going to cost around 700 pasos, so for 598 pasos I was able to rent a car to get Shaybo, and I was also able to run a few other errands at the same time. Everyone that knows me knows that I am a very nervous driver, my kids friends even nicknamed me Mr. Pokey due the fact that I drive like an old lady. I really wasn't looking forward to driving here, kinda funny that after sailing somewhere around 1000 miles through some of the most hostile environment on earth, and I was more nervous about a 20 minute drive to the airport. The car rental company wanted to upgrade me to a Jetta, but I settled in on the economy model, which I felt would blend in with my fellow drivers better than the shiny Jetta. Before I left to pick up the car my daughter gave me a little advice, she had just returned from Mexico, and she said " Dad you gust have to step on the gas and go for it, and everything will be fine" I decided that I would follow Amber's advice, and turns out she was right, I hauled butt around La Paz dodging in and out of traffic, passing the Mr pokeys as I went and tooting my horn whenever someone pissed me off, I never did figure out why I got so many funny looks but I got Shaybo, ran my errands and now feel good about driving in Mexico.