Transportación

Last friday I rode with Luis and Nora to Mexico. Here todo el mundo (all the world) refers to La Ciudad de Mexico as simply Mexico. Luis put on his leather driving gloves, and we made such good time in the audi up around the curves of the autopista to the slow traffic of the city that Nora turned to her husband and said, "Mi amor, we're going to arrive early you went so fast!" To which Luis answered, "It would have been faster if you and Shannon weren't with me." Referring to his commute to the offices in Mexico, "and on Monday mornings there are no other cars." Getting close to Luis' brother-in-law's house, Nora pointed out the porshe that pulled in front of us: there's Alejandro. He and his son were clearly enjoying their afternoon drive-—both were smiling as we pulled up along side them.

When we arrived, Luis introduced me to his sister Claudia, a niece, and another brother before we headed to the kitchen to call a taxi. Feeling a little foreign carrying my backpack around a lawyer's elegant birthday party, I was greatful the taxi arrived almost immediately and Nora and Luis put me in the taxi, telling the taxista to take care of me. Winding roads, slow traffic, a huge Mexican flag and we arrived at the bus terminal TAPO. I met Heidi, who had been studying in Puebla, and Diana, who came to retrieve us, with hugs and kisses and then we were off by bus to Texcoco, and a taxi to the Aceve's house. We had a wonderful dinner with Diana, Rhode, Rebecca, and the workers Rigel Rosales and from Arkansas, Raymound Reece. Raymound has labored in Mexico for 50 years.

A huge breakfast, two meetings, sending Heidi off to the airport, a meal cooked by the Aceves girls, tres leche and las mananitas to celebrate Rafael and Tarsis' Birthdays, and then I was off in Rafael's car for the adventure home. Paty, a girl around my age who works in international marketing in autoparts sales, and a man who is originally from Guerrero, were generous in guiding me into a combi, from the combi to the metro, one change of metro lines, and to the bus terminal Tesquena. 5 minutes and I left on a bus that took me to Cuernavaca where I boarded another bus to Chiconcuac. I realized after I boarded that I was on the route that would take me through Temixco and every little pueblo along the way instead of the direct route via the autopista; but no matter, I had all afternoon. And it was all afternoon, including the departure of our driver from the bus for 10 minutes; he returned with a Sprite, but I suspect it also had something to do with the futbol game Mexico was playing.

You may count, but I believe that makes 9 changes in transportation in 24 hours, not counting the walking which brought me back up the brick sidewalk to the Zocalo, a rest on the park bench, and finally to our gate and Bruma and Trueno's barks of greeting.