It was day six of our seven days trip around Central Mexico. The previous night we had bravely, or foolishly, driven back up the steep, gravel road that winds down the mountainside to Tolantongo. Less of a road than an accident waiting to happen, in all honesty. Especially in the dark. Yet, we had made it back to the small Airbnb in one piece. A story for another time.
Then that morning we woke up bright and early. Lisa and I spent some time debating if we should head back down the mountain to Tolantongo before eventually deciding against it. Instead, we started on our way back to Mexico City, winding our way up and down the mountains surrounding the natural springs.
Breakfast In Ixmiquilpan
So after driving for a bit, taking the time to make sure not to go careening off into some canyon, we finally made it through the mountains and started our way across the desert. It didn’t take long for us to get hangry, which is never good. We started getting testy with each other and, halfway through Ixmiquilpan, we realized that breakfast was essential. Therefore, we stopped at the first food truck we saw open.
Lisa dropped me off there to order the two of us food as she parked the car in the nearby parking lot before joining me. The two of us had a delicious breakfast of Tacos for the fourth time that week, not speaking a word as we shovelled food into our faces, unless it was to ask for more. It wasn’t until a Taco Tuesday amount of tacos had been devoured that we proceed to begin holding a conversation with each other and the food truck owner. We continued chatting about travelling, Mexico, and a few other things before things picked up, and we decided to leave, so we weren’t taking up the space.
Stopped By The Police
The second we got back into the parking lot, I spotted them and knew what was coming. On the other end of the lot, a police pickup was slowly circling as the officers scanned the cars. When they saw us, they headed in our direction. I could do nothing, but hold my breath and wait for them to pass as we threw our stuff in the car.
Lo and behold! They stop the truck right in front of our car and all piled out. We had to use a translator back and forth to communicate. Therefore, it took way too long to figure out what they wanted to see in addition to our papers. Yet, with a bit of translation, some pantomiming and a bit of luck we had our door open and our hood popped, and they were checking out the VIN at each spot.
We waited with bated breath, trying not to do or say anything to cause something to go wrong. Probably even hoping that the rental car we were driving wasn’t stolen or something. 20 minutes passed with them looking at various things before they tried communicating again. They had called for backup and all I could think of was, “Shit, what did we do?”. So, we waited another half hour for the backup to arrive. Lisa and I sat in the car. The doors open, and the hood popped, trying not to shit ourselves as we waited. The officers loitered around, talking, as we waited. Glancing back every so often with a gesture in our direction.
Eventually, the second group of cops arrived and with them came more talking, pointing and gesturing. We were slowly starting to go crazy as the new officers went to check the same 3 things over and over. Which they continued to do for another 20ish minutes. Back and forth, rubbing the spots as if trying to erase something. We had heard the rumours of bad encounters and were being completely respectful as to not provoke anything.
Finally, they allowed us to leave. Just like that. So I just had to ask for a picture. Upon receiving that poorly translated request, they seemed so happy and excitedly got in position. We took the picture before they hopped back into their vehicles and drove off. We still don’t know what they were looking, or hoping, for. After all the myths and “facts” we had heard about Mexico, we were a tad worried. Clearly, we had no reason to be. Yet, encounters with cops in any country can be unnerving; even without the rumours.
Thereafter, we were quickly back on the road down to Mexico City to meet with the other content creators.
