Further thoughts on driving in Mexico

Driving in Mexico is interesting, to say the least. In Oaxaca city, they have something called "vuelta inglesa," which basically is somehow traffic crossing over from one side of the road to the other. You may be driving on the right side at one time, then find yourself crossing over to drive on the left side of the road. Not sure I understand it. Also, they have intersections where if you want to make a left-hand turn, you move to the right lane and when the light shows a green arrow to turn left, you cross in front of all the cars going straight. Huh? And the topes definitely get old after a while. Passing is interesting. There is a section of highway where you turn off of the highway to Vera Cruz to start heading to Oaxaca (highway 150 to 135) where the drivers are crazy when passing. It's a two-lane road and slower traffic generally drives on the shoulder while faster traffic passes. But they pass anywhere, whether there's a curve or not. I wonder how they know whether or not another car is passing from the other direction. In general, however, I find that Mexican drivers are very good and very friendly.

I also paid what was essentially my first bribe. I swore I wouldn't do it, but I really had no choice. Although it is not widely known, tourists need a permit to drive in the city and state of Mexico and the state of Puebla. My friend Jesus had told me about it. The permit is free online -- you just fill out a form and print it out. But I forgot, and didn't have a printer anyways. And it is only on some days, if I understand correctly. Well, I got flagged over about 15 km from Jesus' house near Texcoco and didn't have a permit. We went back and forth a bit in my very broken Spanish. Finally I called Jesus and he talked to the officer, who wanted me to pay the fine right there or the truck would be towed, impounded, and I would have to pay the fine two days later on Monday. He wanted 4,800 pesos (about $260). (We looked it up later and the fine is really half that.) Finally we worked it out to pay what I had in my wallet, 350 pesos. He then asked if I had money for the final toll both, and I showed him a few coins. So he gave 100 pesos back to me so I could pay the toll. The interaction with the officer was very friendly, but I think he just wanted some money. And I was in the wrong since I didn't have the permit.