Lee - 10-2-2006 at 11:07 PM
I was on the Malecon in Cabo picking up fishing gear at Minerva's and parked up near the Plaza a few blocks away on the hill. The Plaza has signs
everywhere that state 30 minute parking. Of course, I set the timer on my watch and made it back with 10 minutes to spare.
There was a cop standing on the sidewalk next to my car with a screwdriver in hand to take my plates off in minutes. I smiled and said hello and he
walked away.
They're serious about Plaza parking. If you park there, don't be late getting back.
P.S. I have heard as many stories about good cops as I have heard about bad ones. I always give them the benefit of the doubt and ALWAYS with
respect. I don't mind mordidas when I'm wrong. If I was the victim of a serious shakedown, I'd probably consider the situation at hand, how much
time I had to spend being right, possibly argue my case at the station.
I remember being pulled over by a cop in centro San Jose, Costa Rica for nothing, and after showing my papers and license standing on the sidewalk,
and having the cop berate me in Spanish, I got a little peeed and argued back. At the time it did not occur to me he wanted a bribe, and think my
cluelessness, and innocense, came through. He then waved me on.
Once at a checkpoint heading South on Mex 1, near St. Ignacio, I had 3 soldiers get in my RV with one saying ''Carta carta carta." I had no clue as
to what carta was. I kept saying ''What's a carta? What? Carta what?" The guy kept saying ''carta' and was annoyed that I didn't understand
him. He was obviously wanting some playing cards but I didn't know that. I got peeed and asked them, respectfully, to get out of my RV. I then
started carrying playing cards and handing them out when appropriate. (Figured these guys are really bored out there.)
[Edited on 10-3-2006 by Lee]
Oso - 10-3-2006 at 07:35 AM
Wrong. Playing cards are barajas. Carta means letter. They may have been asking for title, registration, maybe a letter from the bank saying you
had permission to take the RV into Mexico if you had a lien on it, maybe insurance policy...
Then again, maybe they wanted some cold Carta Blancas?
Lee - 10-3-2006 at 09:22 AM
I did look up ''carta'' in my Spanish dictionary and ''letter'' did appear. That's why I was confused.
These guys were looking for playing cards and the word ''poker'' came up as they were getting out of my RV.
My point here is that they were shaking me down and one soldier, in particular, was being very rude and aggressive about it. I didn't like it and
it showed. 
Lee
osoflojo - 10-3-2006 at 12:25 PM
Next time you need to park near Minervas try across the street behind Lord Black's. You can enter either there through the alley or use the entrance
by Caliente and Greenbergs. Usually plenty of room and closer.