Ameca

The Road to Guadalajara…

We've left Troy behind in Peurto Vallarta for a few days and started our trek East across the interior of Mexico, away from the coast.

Troy will catch up to us in the next few days.

The road we took from Peurto Vallarta towards Guadalajara was on the map, but not on the GPS.  It's a twisty, windy road that goes over the mountains, and would have been absolute motorcycle heaven… if we weren't stuck behind two pickups and a bus full of fully armed police.  They didn't want anyone to pass, so we trundled along at about 50km per hour… all day long.

We finally passed them at a small town when they pulled over to eat.

So we ended up not getting to Guadalajara, and instead stopped in a small town called Ameca for the night.

Rolling in it became obvious that the Mexico we have seen so far, is the Mexico geared for tourists. 

In this town, we stick out like a sore thumb.  We are the only white people, and quite obviously "not from around here".

In researching this trip, we were acutely aware of the perceived dangers in Mexico.  From the drug cartels killing each other and anyone who gets in their way, to the corrupt cops on every street corner, to the bandito's that lay in wait to take our stuff.

SO FAR, we have either been incredibly lucky, or the reality is different that what the news reports.  The police presence is everywhere, along with the Army.  They have been more often than not polite and curious, or at least disinterested as we have been passed through checkpoint after checkpoint without incident, and are either just waved through, or get the most cursory inquiry as we pass by.

Tonight, after arriving in Ameca, we could not find a place to stay by randomly driving through town.  Neal ran into two bicycle police, who insisted on helping us by leading us through the darkened streets to a hotel.

The whole while, I am sure we were all wondering if they were trying to help, or if they were leading us closer to some kind of organ harvesting area, where they would take our kidneys and leave us in a ditch.  :)

Instead, they lead us to a nice little hotel, with a parking garage across the street.  It was cheap and secure.  They made sure we got everything locked up, and before shaking our hands and riding off, assured us they would patrol all night and watch the bikes.