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woody with a view
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Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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Mood: Everchangin'
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have you ever tried to change lanes in the northbound border lanes? gringos understand. Mexicans are 35 years behind the whole driving etiquette
thing.
seems logical it would transfer to the rest of the roadways.....
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DENNIS
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Mexicans, for the most part, according to my observations, have at least two personalities....one, face to face....and the other, when behind the
wheel of a car. It's night and day.
I think it has something to do with the car giving them anonimity.
.
[Edited on 11-5-2011 by DENNIS]
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DianaT
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That had to be just an awful experience. I do hope you got the vehicle fixed ok. It does sound like your helpers had prison tattoos, but having
worked in a prison, I can say they are not all bad people. (OK, some are really, really bad dudes) Glad they stepped up to help!
Having a vehicle stop suddenly in the middle of traffic IS a terrible feeling --- when it has happened to me, sitting duck comes to mind.
Maybe it is just our experiences, or maybe it is a border thing where the pace of life is faster. But we have seen similar things happen more in the
north than in the south.
It seems like in the south whether it is on the main highway or a rural highway, when someone has a car problem like that---in the middle of the road,
everyone stops, helps and/or is patient while the vehicle is moved.
Hope the rest of your trip went better!
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Mulegena
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Totally sympathic for your situation, friend.
Glad you and family are alright and no one was injured.
Car-stuff happens, but with people-- well, we each always have a choice in every moment.
The people are easier to understand, maybe not accept, but maybe, just maybe figure out.
The good, the brilliant-- always expect 'em and rejoice and welcome when they do show up.
The bad, try to let their arrows slide off your soul.
btw, what was wrong with your car?
Something almost exactly like this happened to me and my caravanning friend recently.
The car-- we limped along through Baja and made it back, but still no proper diagnosis or fix.
"Raise your words, not your voice. It's rain that grows flowers, not thunder." ~Rumi
"It's the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." ~ Aristotle
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krafty
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Woooosh
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
Mexicans, for the most part, according to my observations, have at least two personalities....one, face to face....and the other, when behind the
wheel of a car. It's night and day.
I think it has something to do with the car giving them anonimity.
[Edited on 11-5-2011 by DENNIS] |
Not anonymity, it's power. Being behind the wheel is one of the few times a Mexican is totally in control of their lives and they savor it.
Heavily tattooed Mexican deportees and their American skinhead former cellmates are the least favored group of people in Baja norte. The Mexican
deportees are particularly despised and are usually treated better by white expats (like you and me) than their own. You caught them at a good time
and day. Everyone needs a day off from causing mayhem.
[Edited on 11-5-2011 by Woooosh]
\"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing\"
1961- JFK to Canadian parliament (Edmund Burke)
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sanquintinsince73
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Woooosh
| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
Mexicans, for the most part, according to my observations, have at least two personalities....one, face to face....and the other, when behind the
wheel of a car. It's night and day.
I think it has something to do with the car giving them anonimity.
[Edited on 11-5-2011 by DENNIS] |
Not anonymity, it's power. Being behind the wheel is one of the few times a Mexican is totally in control of their lives and they savor it.
Heavily tattooed Mexican deportees and their American skinhead former cellmates are the least favored group of people in Baja norte. The Mexican
deportees are particularly despised and are usually treated better by white expats (like you and me) than their own. You caught them at a good time
and day. Everyone needs a day off from causing mayhem.
[Edited on 11-5-2011 by Woooosh] |
http://youtu.be/JM-MkY4sNho
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Mengano
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| Quote: | Originally posted by sanquintinsince73
I can say with almost 100% certainty that the people honking and behaving rudely were more than likely relatives of "Mengano", the angry Chicano with
cognitive issues. |
Yeah, my primos were in a big hurry to get to San Quintin before the oysters ran out. Now please rationalize for us why the only people who helped
bajaeng were Americans (pochos are Americans), while the friendly Mexicans you boast about were doing all they could to impede him. We are all
awaiting your explanation, Carlos. Help straighten out my cognitive issues with a cogent explanation for what transpired.
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woody with a view
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DianaT
It seems like in the south whether it is on the main highway or a rural highway, when someone has a car problem like that---in the middle of the road,
everyone stops, helps and/or is patient while the vehicle is moved.
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2 weeks ago whilst climbing the grades south of El Rosario we rounded a curve and there was a Ford Explorer in the southbound lane. just enough time
to brake, formulate the 3 kids, 2 ladies and the guy with the 2 gallon gas can standing at the rear bumper. i asked, "tiene mangera?"
"SI!"
i drained 2 gallons out of my just filled tank and bid the family "Suerte" as a deisel cabover pulled up alongside. after telling the driver i gave
the family enough to get on their way (wherever that was?) he said, "i only have deisel. your a good man!"
when i said to the thankful driver, "cuanto tiempo aqui?"
i was surprised to here, "tres horas!!!!"
it's time like these......
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DianaT
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajaeng
It took awhile, but after we got to the side of the road and trying to figure out what to do next, ( and praying nobody slams into us, because the
shoulder was very narrow and cars were passing within a foot or two ) one of the construction worker trucks stopped by, and asked for our Toll Ticket.
They then towed us into Rosarito and we were able to get our car fixed over the next couple days. It was the fuel pump that went bad.
Make sure you hang onto your Toll Ticket. It covers towing. At least that's what they told us. The workers said some people toss their ticket, and
then they can't get the free towing.
The split personality comment sounds pretty accurate. |
Good information about the toll ticket.
When our fuel pump went it was 5 minutes before we crossed the border, and we were stuck at a busy intersection in a left hand turn lane----just
stopped dead. Took a while before some young guys stopped to help --- meantime, we heard lots of horns, lots of bad words, and read some sign
language. I sometimes think some people think one has stopped for no reason other than to annoy the rest of the drivers.
Glad you got it fixed!
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Mengano
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| Quote: | Originally posted by woody with a view
when i said to the thankful driver, "cuanto tiempo aqui?"
i was surprised to here, "tres horas!!!!"
it's time like these...... |
So the poor man was being passed by Mexicans on the Transpeninsular for 3 hours before a Gringo gave him gas? South of El Rosario? That is only about
20 miles from San Quintin, where the friendly Mexicans are.
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bajaguy
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Also believe the toll ticket covers an ambulance when in trouble on the toll road
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Diver
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I think it might also has something to do with where you are located.
Folks seem to be more friendly and willing to help when you are in the "country".
Once in Mulege I was stranded and passed by many gringos when trying to hitch a ride; I was finally picked up by a mexican businessman who was
friendly as can be.
Once on the road into Asuncion with 2 flat tires, 2 CA plated gringos passed without slowing but every mexican who passed, stopped to see if they
could help.
Once just south of El Rosario when our F350 stopped dead, we were rescued by a lone gringo and his wife who towed us over, ferried the wife and kids
to Baja Cactus and came back to make sure I hadn't backed off a cliff. Thanks again to TW !!
And then there was the time we were stranded in El Rosario for a week with a broken down truck. FDT sent us parts by bus, BajaGringo drove down some
parts and tried to help find the problem, the Trotters drove down from Chula Vista to ferry the family back to the US and Roberto came to TJ to help
tow our camper and truck across the border.
And then the times we pulled folks from the sand in Los Frailles, in San Quintin and in El Sargento.
And the time we picked up the young soldiers who's truck had died.
And the times we've helped young families and a few older with sand storms, RV repairs, broken down cars and rides to wherever, free fish when we have
extra... and free info for everyone.
Maybe it IS karma ??
Must be my wife's good karma !? 
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Woooosh
Not anonymity, it's power. Being behind the wheel is one of the few times a Mexican is totally in control of their lives and they savor it.
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Psychiatrists disagree. Remove the identity from the Mexican and he acts without social restraints. You'll rarely see a Mexican act as rude and
selfish in public as he may when he thinks no one can ID him.
This may apply to many other than Mexicans as well.
Your statement about them being in control of their lives is only valid when they arn't bound by social contracts, and when they are sheltered in
their private world, their car, they answer to nobody.
It isn't power per se. It's more self realization.
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Osprey
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I'm with Woosh. Here's an excerp from one of my short fiction pieces about this part of Mexico (A Ride with Nando)
"I don’t think he was thinking of the truck as a tool, as a way to get more work, expand his business horizons. Something in his eyes told me he was
thinking of the truck not as a way in but as a way out – a place where he could, just for a few fleeting minutes or hours feel the power, the force of
the big thing, the cold beer between his legs, the freedom – that evasive kind of sweat-won freedom to do not what he had to do, what he needed to do,
what he was told to do, what was expected of him but a chance to do what he wanted to do – just ride the blue beast."
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Osprey
"I don’t think he was thinking of the truck as a tool, as a way to get more work, expand his business horizons. Something in his eyes told me he was
thinking of the truck not as a way in but as a way out – a place where he could, just for a few fleeting minutes or hours feel the power, the force of
the big thing, the cold beer between his legs, the freedom – that evasive kind of sweat-won freedom to do not what he had to do, what he needed to do,
what he was told to do, what was expected of him but a chance to do what he wanted to do – just ride the blue beast." |
Sounds more like a "Harley Davidson Penis Extension" interpretation.
Anyway....I'm glad you're with Woooosh. Will there be a ceremony? It's not legal everywhere, ya know.
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sancho
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2524
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Woooosh
Heavily tattooed Mexican deportees and their American skinhead former cellmates are the least favored group of people in Baja norte. The Mexican
deportees are particularly despised and are usually treated better by white expats (like you and me) than their own. [Edited on 11-5-2011 by
Woooosh] |
I understand these deportees are guys one does not
want to run into, I imagine they are DESPERATE.
Spend time in a US prison, tossed across into TJ
with a few $ in their pocket
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mcfez
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bajaeng ....good story.
I've had lots of help in Mexico too. Count your blessings that you didnt ask BN norte or BN Dave for help...they don't do volunteer stuff.
[Edited on 11-5-2011 by mcfez]
Old people are like the old cars, made of some tough stuff. May show a little rust, but good as gold on the inside.
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Woooosh
Banned
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Location: Rosarito Beach
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by Woooosh
Not anonymity, it's power. Being behind the wheel is one of the few times a Mexican is totally in control of their lives and they savor it.
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Psychiatrists disagree. Remove the identity from the Mexican and he acts without social restraints. You'll rarely see a Mexican act as rude and
selfish in public as he may when he thinks no one can ID him.
This may apply to many other than Mexicans as well.
Your statement about them being in control of their lives is only valid when they arn't bound by social contracts, and when they are sheltered in
their private world, their car, they answer to nobody.
It isn't power per se. It's more self realization. |
professor Dennis today! ... thanks for the sociology lesson. Can I combine power and anonymity and make a case for that being the cause of
aggressive driving in Mexico then?
( I guess all driving is anonymous in Mexico because no one assumes the plates on your car actually belong to you. )
\"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing\"
1961- JFK to Canadian parliament (Edmund Burke)
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Woooosh
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by Osprey
"I don’t think he was thinking of the truck as a tool, as a way to get more work, expand his business horizons. Something in his eyes told me he was
thinking of the truck not as a way in but as a way out – a place where he could, just for a few fleeting minutes or hours feel the power, the force of
the big thing, the cold beer between his legs, the freedom – that evasive kind of sweat-won freedom to do not what he had to do, what he needed to do,
what he was told to do, what was expected of him but a chance to do what he wanted to do – just ride the blue beast." |
Sounds more like a "Harley Davidson Penis Extension" interpretation.
Anyway....I'm glad you're with Woooosh. Will there be a ceremony? It's not legal everywhere, ya know. |
Sorry- already happily married and waaay past my prime years anyhow...  Dennis
the professor and matchmaker today. I like drunk Dennis better.
\"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing\"
1961- JFK to Canadian parliament (Edmund Burke)
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