We finally made it to the Pacific today but not without a bit of excitement. We are staying at the resort area of Bahia de Huatulco. We were about halfway between Tuxtla Guitterez and here when we saw the cars and trucks ahead all stopped. Duke rolled down the window and asked Que Pasa – what’s happening. Someone told him that the garbage workers were protesting!
I’ve heard of these protests. They just stop traffic for who knows how long. We sat for about 45 minutes in the car in the sun wondering what would happen. While we were waiting with all the trucks and other cars A big inter city bus pulled up near us The passengers got off. A bunch of tuk tuk three wheel taxis appeared and ferried the passengers to the other side of the protest. The bus turned around and here came a bunch of people from the other side of the protest. They got on the bus and off it went. About 15 minutes later another bus pulled up and the same thing happened again. Obviously this is fairly routine! And a good deal for the tuk tuk drivers.
A late model VW had been waiting in front of us this whole time. Another car pulled up next to us and the driver started talking to the VW driver in front of us. It seemed obvious that he was explaining that he knew a way around the protest. The guy jumped back in his car, turned around and took off. The VW driver turned around and followed him and we decided to do the same. It was about a 2 and a half hour detour, some of it on dirt roads but our ‘guide’ seemed to know where he was going. Although there were a few wrong turns eventually we were on the interstate again
We had no more detours and eventually got to Bahia Huatulco where we are tonight. It is a beautiful resort community built from scratch about 30 years ago. Now that we are on the coast it is hot and humid. We had our first long anticipated fish dinner. Unfortunately the AC in our room only barely works. Tomorrow we are going to head to Puerto Escondido.
I wonder if all those truck drivers are still waiting at the protest!
Marion's Blog 