I have a friend who lives in La Paz. He is an american, married to a mexican girl. He’s been living in Mexico for over 20 years, in at least to states surrounding the Sea of Cortés. His business is Real Estate.
Now, you’ve seen sales people, professional-looking attires, ties, suits sometimes, shiny shoes, very white smiles. He has the white smile, but that’s it. He will greet his clients, wearing kaki shorts, a short-sleeved sea-motif shirt, sandals and the easiness of working a few steps from the Malecón, the dock.He is at ease in La Paz.
It was only in recent years that his mother came to visit with them, in her first trip to Mexico. To her suprise, her son had running water, and a bathroom inside the house. Water and a bathroom.
My friend was suprised. How could someone really think México was still where Pancho Villa left it? Specially when he was living and booming, calling his family in the States once in a while, and being in contact with the rest of the world via Internet.
If this was 1900, her surprise would have a place, but in the XXI Century, Mexico has come a long way, and has all the commodities and amenities you would expect in America.
Happily, there’s still millions of people still to discover México beyond the news, beyond the age-old sombrero and cactus image.
Help us spread the Mexican reality. Spread the word.
