The Neatest Thing That Happened In Mexico

The neatest thing that happened to us this year was in Villahermosa. We had to change highways there and of course we hit the city just as rush hour was nearing. The highway from the Gulf Coast that we were on continued on into the heart of the city where there is no room for a motorhome! The highway we wanted turns off to the right just as you enter the congested area. I had moved into the second lane of three to avoid the double parked vehicles near the university and suddenly, there was my turn! I was in the wrong lane with no hope of moving over. The light had turned red and there we were, stuck!

A small bus was beside Norma's window with the driver waving frantically at us. She rolled down her window and he told us we could not take the rig downtown. We told him we wanted to be on the highway north and he started giving rapid directions in Spanish that we could not follow. The light had changed by now and the horn choir started up. He called at us to let him in front and he proceeded to go off his route to lead us about six blocks to another entrance onto the highway.

We pulled up beside him and offered him some money which he refused. The bus was full of university students who were all laughing and yelling at us in their best English and snapping photos with their cell phone cameras. We thanked them, waved for the cameras and pulled onto the highway. It was another case of a potentially horrendous situation turning into a memorable, happy Mexican adventure.

I cannot imagine this happening anywhere north of the border. Buses just do not go off their routes to lead stupid tourists around town. I am sure any driver caught doing it would face severe discipline. In Mexico it is "No Problema". Another story to tell their families at dinner.