Author: Jalo

I decided to pass on Mexican independence celebration and continue going instead. I crossed the second border and safely arrived in Belize City, BLZ, where I am now researching on container ships to eventually find a solution to ship my car from Panama to Colombia. I still didn’t fully abandon that plan.

Also, I learned something today: Belize’s official language is english not spanish! I feel stupid for not having known that…

I safely arrived in Merida, MEX. On the way, I was stopped by the police twice. But they only checked my luggage (not sure what they were looking for) and then let me go.

Here in Merida I’m staying with a friend who showed me around the city today. Tomorrow I will check out more ancient pyramid ruins nearby and then come back to Merida.

Considering that I had to wait for the title anyway and realizing that I was getting closer to the “end” of Mexico, I decided to take it a little slower from now on. I had breakfast with my very warm and friendly airbnb hosts, refilled my food storage at Walmart and then decided to only go to Campeche, MEX, where I arrived safely. I already went swimming in the sea, took a walk and am currently having dinner in the picturesque historic center of this very tranquil, slightly touristy, but beautiful city.

PS, good news: My title arrived at my friend’s place in Austin. Hopefully I’ll receive it the day after tomorrow in Merida.

From the beginning I had planned to stay for two nights in Mexico City to have one full day to explore it. So today was that day without driving. Except that I had to get my car from Joroba. It took me about 2.5h to get there and almost 2h to get back (I was pulled over again but easily talked myself out of a “ticket”).

Unlike I feared, traffic wasn’t the worst in the city center until I reached the parking garage which my hostel suggested. But unfortunately I saw it a second too late and missed it. Looping around to get back to it I then got stuck in the worst traffic ever. It took me over an hour. Just for a loop around (it was a big loop though, due to one way streets and pedestrian zones).

So it wasn’t before 5pm that I was finally ready to explore more (I also had to wait to get dry in the hostel because the strongest rain had surprised me on the way back from the parking garage).

As I only had such little time here, there still is a lot of sightseeing left. A good reason to come back one day.

Tomorrow I want to see the pyramids of Teotihuacán and then I’ll see how far I’ll make it before darkness.

I almost called it yesterday, but eventually I did make it safely to Mexico City, MEX.

My drive to Mexico City this morning was harshly interrupted when right at a toll booth I was stopped by two police officers who explained to me Mexico City’s “hoy no circulo” policy. It basically means that every day of the week several cars are not allowed to drive to our within Mexico City. On Fridays it’s cars with license plates ending in 0 or 9. Mine is HTD4419. Yes, you can see where this is going. I was told I had to pay a ticket – a big one. If I remember it correctly, it was almost 400 USD. And my car would be taken until I pay it which couldn’t be done before Monday. I suggested to simply turn around but I was advised that this policy affects all highways of the state Mexico, which I already had been inside for a while. So I had already done wrong and deserved the ticket.

Then they reduced the price to 200 if I paid in USD and cash. Every child understands what they were asking for. Bribery.  I asked whether after the payment I’d be allowed to go into the city. They said yes, so I agreed. But after the payment I only received a post-it note stating that I already paid a ticket. I doubted this would help me in case I was pulled over again.

So after a moment of rethinking I went back to them and requested them to give me back my money. They did so in exchange for the post-it note. They offered a lower price ($200), I refused and offered $50 if they let me turn around without a ticket.

After a short bargain we didn’t make a deal and agreed on filling an official ticket. Though I feared they’d tow my car and keep it –  as they had threatened me before, they eventuality let me turn around. Except that they wanted me to pay the toll (about 6 USD) and started talking to the toll officer. When I joined them, an older toll officer came, asked what’s going on and said what I wanted to hear “If he wants to turn around, he doesn’t have to pay again”. He opened the barricades and let me go.

So after a lot of stress,  all they got from me was my data (name and license plate). I have my driver’s license and also got the $300 bribe back and I didn’t receive or pay any official ticket. Let’s just hope it won’t be awaiting me when I leave this country.

On the way back I took the first exit and ended up in a small town. I stopped at a gas station as I had to refuel anyway. I told the employees my story and that I want to go to Mexico city by bus now. They suggested to leave the car parked at the gas station which had 24h service and video surveillance. I gratefully accepted. They even walked me to the bus stop and made sure I took the correct bus and wasn’t charged more than the actual ticket price.

That’s how I finally arrived here. I strolled a little bit through the center of this mega city. It is a nice city and all the security warnings I’ve received from everybody (including locals) at least don’t apply to the city center. Tomorrow I’ll have to get my car and then I will stay another night here.