An interesting, bustling, modernizing if not completely modern, city. Lots of history here, and lots of money, too. According to our guide, the problems of drugs and disaffected revolutionaries are diminishing (having moved north to Mexico, apparently), but you have to wonder how many now “legitimate” businesses and buildings are built on the foundation of drug money.
With gas at $6+/gallon, it was no surprise to see so many motorcycles (piloted by people with nerves of steel, but, on the plus side, all wearing helmets – finally a country smart enough to protect its citizens). Driving seemed like a giant game of chicken, making Rome look like a country town in the U.S. by comparison. (Okay, that’s an exaggeration.) Stop signs apparently are only decoration, not even suggestions. But we were in a big vehicle, so “no problema.”
In an interesting contrast to the United States, there appears to be recognition of the various ethnicities inhabiting the country, including reference names that would be pejorative back home (mulatto, sambo, etc.), but no ones cares and the designations apparently carry no negative connotation. Again, that’s according to our guide (and I asked that specific question at the end of the tour), so you can take that for what it’s worth.
Final note from the guide: “There are two seasons, hot and hotter.” Doesn’t bother us, because we like hot, but maybe “hotter” would have been more problematical. Unlikely we’ll find out from personal experience anytime soon. Another day at sea tomorrow as we head north toward the Panama Canal and I try to finish editing a much longer, perhaps too long, piece on the topic of conversation that has dominated virtually every encounter when people find out we’re from St. Louis.
No comments:
Post a Comment