Mexicans working hard to make Oaxaca better.

I have been to Mexico 8 times now. It will always be a special place for me as it was my first real holiday. Every time I leave, I think of when I can return. Most people go for the sun, I go for the daughters. Just kidding. I go for the adventure. Mexico is a huge country with many different landscapes and even after eight times visiting, there is much more to see.

Beyond the magic of Mayan cities, powdery beaches and fascinating colonial towns there are the Mexicans. Oh sure there are bad Mexicans and there are mean Mexicans, but I have yet had the un-pleasure of meeting just one. Get off the beaten track and it gets even better.

There are strong family ties in Mexico. There are also mucho bambino’s running around. Not a care in the world, no parents protecting them from anything and everything like back home. It’s just kids being kids and it is very refreshing. Children a little further north and adult strangers don’t mix. Down in Mexico there seems to be no problems.

One of my highlights on a recent visit happened in the tourist town of Oaxaca. It seemed as though just about every street was being dug up and restored. As I left my hostel a muchacho working on the road asked my hostel mate for a cigarette. He gave him one. The muchacho the shared it with his fellow work mates that have been busting their butts for very long shifts since I arrived. They were amazingly grateful for the two peso smoke and kept looking at us and smiling.

I decided to up the ante. My hostel mate played along. We knew they stopped working  just as it got dark. We timed our walk so as to arrive about 15 minutes before that time and wouldn’t miss them. Sure enough, as we came around the corner with a 12 pack of beer and two packs Marlboro lights, they were there. We pretended to walk by and into the hostel then did a 180 and presented them with the modest gifts. They were truly blown away and thought we were joking. Needless to say we hung out and they took us to their favorite bar for a few more.

I have nothing but great things to say about Mexicans and I now know a few Mexicans that feel the same way about Canadians.