One of the things we have noticed here lately that is definitely different than in the US is the amount of noise there is around us. Here are a few examples:
- Last Friday night, there were parties at three of our neighbors’ houses. Nathan woke up at 2:30 am, and the music was still blasting. This wouldn’t be such a big deal except that our houses are connected (think, apartments with concrete walls).
- Our neighbor regularly comes home and honks the horn for his wife to open the garage door. While not a big deal, it adds to the noise.
- A guy just walked down my street selling something, all the while chanting what it was he was selling (some sort of pastry).
- The gas or water guys come down multiple times a day shouting gaaaaaaaas or agguuuuuaaaa.
- Dogs…barking…loudly…constantly. (Nathan definitely knows what a doggie says…woof, woof).
- Our neighbor really enjoys the sound system in his car, despite the fact that maybe we don’t.
- Music is regularly played above our normal listening level (at church, at stores, wherever.)
- A small airplane flies around with a loudspeaker attached, shouting something about some promotion that is going on or some political message. Cars drive around doing the same.
- As I’m typing this, I can hear someone banging on a house down the street that they are fixing up.
These are a few examples of the cultural differences and the noise level here.
The Mexican Electoral Officials have ordered a partial recount for the July 2 elections. This should make Lopez Obrador and his supporters (who are blocking a main street downtown and have threatened violence) happy. Of course, they will not be happy if the recount doesn’t go their way. They have said that they would not be happy unless there was a full recount, so I don’t know what they will do if the partial recount gives them the lead. Will they be happy or not?
(Photo by: Gibraine on Flickr.com)
There was another election protest in downtown Mexico City today. According to this AP article, the organizers say there were 2 million supporters of Lopez Obrador who marched down Reforma to the Zocalo. Then, he asked his supporters to turn the protest into a sit-in downtown, which will probably create a ton of problems in this already overcrowded city.
I think the quote of the article is this:
If the road to democracy is closed off, than all that’s left is submission or violence. -AMLO
I vote for submission, not violence. Please keep praying for this situation that may get out of hand. Luckily, where we live is a good distance from downtown. We are nowhere near the protests. On my way to church today, I did see one person this morning waiting for a bus dressed in yellow. I assume they were going to the protest downtown. Anyway, this is far from over.
Photo: Gato Azul on Flickr.com
Coming home today from Puebla, we were talking about some of the top things that we hate about driving in Mexico. We were talking about this during the three hour drive, which included about an hour and a half in traffic.
Here’s the list, in no particular order:
- Buses and taxis everywhere who think they own the road and have no courtesy. Meaning, they stop wherever and whenever they want, cut you off, expect you to let them into the line of traffic, but never let you into the line of traffic. Plus, they don’t really care if they bump into you.
- People who turn right (or left) from the far left (or right) lane, cutting off anyone who is in the lane that is SUPPOSED to turn that direction (or go straight).
- Potholes that could swallow a compact car that you don’t see until they have broken your axle (we hit one that sounded horrible).
- Speed bumps (they call them topes), but we are talking about the kind that are intended to hurt, injure, or render useless any car that doesn’t practically come to a complete stop while going over them.
- When there is traffic and people decide to turn the shoulder into another lane. Then, when they can’t get past you, they get behind you in traffic and “bump” you.
- Traffic cops that mostly cause traffic. Maybe that’s where they get their name?
- While driving down the road, at any given time, someone could be backing up towards you, and you must avoid them. As long as they have their flashers on, there’s no problem.
- Motorcycles that zip by you (between you and the car next to you) without any warning.
Wow, that list got longer the more I thought about it. Anyway, we’re back safely (thank God) from our trip to Puebla. I’m sure I’ll be posting a follow up traffic post sometime in the future.
“I won the election. Yes, I’m the president of Mexico,” said Lopez Obrador, the candidate who finished in 2nd place in the Mexican presidential election. Here’s a piece of an article on CNN.com:
Lopez Obrador said Wednesday that if Mexico’s top electoral court does not order a full recount — something widely considered unlikely — he couldn’t rule out the possibility that his supporters would seize Mexico City’s airport and block major highways to the capital.
Please pray that this will be settled peacefully. It could be a very difficult next few months in Mexico, especially Mexico City.
Related: Our “Election” posts.
Although, we wouldn’t make this for the reasons the author would make it, maybe Pepto-Bismol ice cream isn’t such a bad idea for those who are going to visit Mexico.
Every time a group comes for a short-term trip here to Mexico, someone gets sick. Some people say it’s Moctezuma’s revenge; I usually say it’s because they’re dehydrated. Anyway, maybe we should whip up some of this stuff next time a group is coming. Yummy!
