Gypsy Jan - 3-12-2005 at 12:31 AM
While driving through TJ the other day, I bought a wide print map of Mexico from one of the children who peddle them at the major intersections.
I made another one of my frequent silly mistakes, mistranslating when he said the cost of the map was *sesenta* to mean seventy pesos instead of the
correct sixty pesos. When given fifty and twenty peso bills, he asked if I had *cambio*, meaning change.
I replied, confused, *No*.
He proceeded to dig around in his garments, searching, while the light changed and the cars behind me started to honk, loudly (TJ is a city full of
agressive drivers darting in and out of lanes; pushing the stop lights seconds ahead of red going green and wanting to be first and fastest to
anywhere).
While the horns were honking, the child map vendor persevered and came up with and insisted on giving to me the ten peso change that I was owed.
I didn't sort out what had happened until after and much later.
I wish that I had given the ten pesos back to him on the spot.
I FEEL SAFE ANYWHERE IN NORTH AMERICA
Barry A. - 3-12-2005 at 09:36 AM
Great story Gypsy Jan!!!
I have been going to Baja for 55 years and have never had anything stolen, and have never been held up by the policia for mordida. I have been
ticketed a couple of times, but I deserved it. Always went to the station to pay my fine.
Also, I have never had anything stolen from me in the USA, either.
Guess I am lucky, but I do take normal precautions, no matter where I am.
The Mexican people are wonderful, as far as I am concerned.
Barry