Mexico City, MX - La Policia

"I don't travel to see different things, I travel to see things differently"
Author unknown

I've waited so long to write this post because I think there's something poignant that I've learned, and I wanted to be able to articulate it fully.

I have, however, come to the conclusion that I'll never be able to convey my thoughts satisfactorily, so here I go anyway.

I got back from Las Vegas, after a wonderful weekend with friends, and Vandrew was right where I left it. I noticed that all the doors were unlocked, and when I tried to throw my bag between the seats, I found that there was an empty wooden fruit create between the seats. I took it out and left it in the garage. Nothing seems to be missing from Vandrew, and they charged me significantly less than the park n fly or the airport parking would have, so things were looking up. I had taken 5000 pesos out of the bank machine, so I had money to pay for parking and for gas. I had booked in to the same cheap hotel that I'd stayed in on my way to the airport, as they were close, cheap, and I knew they had parking for Vandrew.

Just as I was about to pull into the hotel garage, the lights came on. Another policeman. Another "ticket". All my pesos, gone. About $300CDN.

I can't afford this. I don't speak the language. This guy holds all the cards...and all my money. I feel so helpless. There's no "let me talk to your manager", or "I know my rights!".

The next morning, I'm scared to see police cars. I drive carefully by and hold my breath. I can't get out of town fast enough.

It's a horrible feeling...and I'm really glad I got to experience it.  As a white guy from Alberta, I've never felt this way before. I'm so privileged.

How many people feel this way every day? In countries where the police and government are corrupt, this is a matter of course. A black person in the US south in the 60s didn't just have to worry about their money disappearing.  There are places all over the world today where people grow up with this feeling as a way of life, not just while they're travelling for a few months.

It was horrible and I'm so glad I got to experience it...just a very small taste of what so many people deal with only hundreds of times worse.

That being said, I'm going to avoid the big cities from now on.