crazy craziness in Cancun

So, today Jamie and I headed up to the Super Telebodega (as our two Telebodegas in PdC can’t hold a candle to the massive massiveness of the CUN TB). After finding amazing deals on A/Cs and refri’s, we decided NOT to go back but instead find our way to Costco from where we were. I normally stick to the same streets in CUN but figure I”m never going to figure out new ways to get around if I stick to the same streets. So we ended up quite lost out at Villas del Mar or some residencial and eventually on the road to Merida. Once I figured out we were quite lost I noticed a good spot to pull a U turn and got in the lane. I stopped, even though the light was green, because I though that there *should* be an arrow for me to be able to turn, but all the oncoming traffic was stopped so I thought that maybe there wasn’t any flecha.

I did a quick perusal for a transito and pulled the U turn. Almost immediately a transito appeared and the 4 cars that were waiting behind me pulled their U turns. I guess the flecha appeared immediately after I turned.

So I pull over and as he starts walking up a 2nd transito appears (both on motos). He starts asking for the car’s papers and my license. I play TOTALLY dumb about the car papers because I REALLY REALLY don’t want them taken away. I know my license is gone but I figured I really didn’t have much choice there. I keep playing dumb about the car’s papers and the 2nd transito tells the first, “look at the placa! She’s a foreigner” So the 1st transito keeps going on and on about the cars papers, I play dumb and we talk about the ticket, how to get to the station to pay it, how much longer it is going to be open, how the station will radio him and let him know I’ve paid the ticket and then he’ll bring my license to the station, yadda yadda. He was adamant that he did not have to provide me with a license, that my ticket would be my license until I paid it. (I’ve been told by other folks that the transito is supposed to provide you with a temporary license once they impound your license) So he goes to the back of the van (still running, it’s a diesel) and “writes the ticket”. So far, not ONE IOTA of sniffing for any kind of mordida.

The 2nd transito is chatting me up and keeps going on and on about the papers and finally I say, “You mean this permit?” as I point to the permit stuck to the windshield. His face brightens and he is visibly relieved. He says that the placa could be impounded if I didn’t have that. He asks if it is current (it is) and I tell him I also have an FM3 so it didn’t really matter that it was current. So now he asks me if I want him to give me a hand with the 1st transito and I’m thinking “AHA! HERE is the mordida” but I”m resolved not to pay anything but the infraction but I figure what the hell, I’ll take what I can get so I say, “Sure, buddy! thanks!” and he goes back to Transito no.1 and BRINGS BACK MY LICENSE AND TELLS ME TO BE CAREFUL. I was so shocked that I thanked him and QUICKLY pulled out before they realized they didn’t get the mordida. I totally expected him to race up and pull me over and ask, “didn’t you FORGET something???” but he didn’t. AND, I got directions to Costco while we were chatting. I’m still puzzled.

I have one eye pegged on the side mirrors watching, just KNOWING they must be on their way. We take his excellent directions and make it to Home Depot where we buy not one but TWO ACs, one door, 2 windows and a mirror. While we were shopping some Home Depot dude with a lolipop stuck in his mouth says, “my, that’s a LOT of merchandise you have there. How about a discount?” and takes us over to (I’m guessing the mayorista area) a counter and writes up a bill that effectively removes IVA from our tab. I saw him do this to one other couple and yet another couple walked up to him and did the same. These other 2 couples didn’t have much merchandise – they didn’t even have carritos, so go figure there.

So, what up, CUN? Youse guys are freaqing me out!