It is the fission of fear, the feeling of
being a part of something dangerous, but not actually in danger, that stokes the
internet wildfires. The desire to be a part of the news as it happens: I was there. But I’m safe. I was close, but
nothing happened. I have a friend who was there and he said …..
 |
| TV Isla Mujeres, Cancun January 17th |
When the recent shootings happened in Cancun, the internet blazed with news, comments, and speculation. The official reports
maintain that the attack was a response to the new governor's anti-crime initiatives. The police headquarters were stormed by cartel soldiers who were unhappy
with the authorities. One police officer and three bad guys were killed, and another five were captured. The police and gang members took the fight into a
high-speed movie-style chase through the streets of Centro, scaring city
residents and the customers at Plaza las Americas’ shopping center into
thinking they were under attack.
 |
| Local kids enjoying a peaceful time on Isla |
It’s a heartbreaking news story
that will affect many of our island neighbours who are trying to eke out a
living, to live a happy life, to watch their children grow and have families of
their own.
This area relies heavily on tourism. Millions of visitors from many
countries in the world, as well as from other parts of Mexico, visit the Cancun-Riviera Maya
every year.
The stories of fear and danger will dramatically slow or
stop the flow of tourists to this area.
 |
| 1991, Switzerland with Brits & Europeans |
As Canadians, we were not affected by
the US travel ban.
For six months, we explored Scotland, Northern Ireland, Erie,
Wales, England, France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Andorra, and
Portugal with our pick of accommodations, even the ones that were typically booked two years in advance. In the six months of traveling, we met dozens of Canadians, hundreds
of Europeans and eight Americans.
 |
| 2001, the empty Intercontinental Hotel in Bali |
In 2001, a few months after the bombing of a
nightclub in Bali, we spent a delightful two weeks in a charmingly generous
and gentle culture when hotels were nearly empty, and restaurants were closing due
to lack of tourists.
Every Balinese national that we met said, “Thank you for
coming to Bali.” Their small country was nearly destitute from the drop in
tourism.
This isn’t a Mexico problem; it is a
worldwide problem. Whether it is some crazy person shooting up a school, or
bombing a cultural icon, or gangs involved in turf wars, it isn’t going to go
away. Please don’t let this stupidity control your life.
And an interesting quote from an experienced authority.
"Chicago has had close to a 1,000 shootings in the last year," said Walter McKay, a former Vancouver police detective who is an expert on security issues in Mexico. "I still don't see a travel advisory on any websites for Chicago."
"The drug cartels are business entities," McKay said. "They're there to make money. And if they start shooting up and doing this all the time and all the tourists flee, well, what's the point of having the Playa del Carmen area under your control?" Quote taken from an Article by Nicole Ireland
And other happenings in paradise.
On Sunday night, the underwater electrical
feed, a cable that runs between the mainland and Isla Mujeres, was damaged by a
yacht anchoring near Playa Norte, leaving the entire island without power for
fourteen hours as the electrical company scrambled to make repairs. Then again, on Monday night, right around supper time, the power was cut to make additional
repairs. Okay, bad timing for the
intentional power outage, but when the crews are working non-stop, they do what
they have to do to fix the problem.
 |
| Traffic jam on the water, North Beach |
We started to think about the funny and slightly
annoying things that happen during a power outage. Money that can’t be
dispensed by ATM’s. Gasoline that can’t be pumped into motos and vehicles for a
community that habitually purchases small amounts of gas daily. Or the lack of
cold beer.
One very inventive owner of a local taco eatery
brought an operating moto (motorcycle) inside the restaurant, using the
headlight as illumination for his customers.
It was a two-walled restaurant
with lots of open space for air circulation. It probably wasn't the healthiest
solution, but it was inventive.
 |
| Lights for dinners R Lacey photo |
And then there were the teenagers, deprived
of the internet or phone texting, who were forced to communicate verbally with
family and friends.
OMG, fourteen hours without updating their Twitter,
Facebook, and Snapchat accounts, it’s a teenager’s nightmare.
During the power cuts, we realized we were actually
well-organized. We had propane for cooking.
Fifteen wind-proof candle-lanterns normally
used for romantic evenings on our patio, plus a dozen spare candles.
Six
flashlights were stashed in various locations around the house, and extra batteries.
Bottled water. Food in the cupboard for us, Sparky, and Tommy.
A hand-operated can opener. Wine to drink and
books to read.
 |
| Wind-proof lanterns, handy during a power outage |
Avid readers, we stopped purchasing paper
books ten years ago due to the lack of new material available when living in a
foreign country.
E-readers are handy to have, as long as we remember to keep them charged and at least one or
two unread books downloaded and ready to go. Otherwise, they are just another
useless electronic device when the power and the internet are out.
 |
| Beginning of another warm and sunny day |
We certainly weren’t going to freeze to death
in temperatures hovering around the mid-seventies F, or mid-twenties C.
Life was good. We were all set for the current
situation.
Hasta Luego
Lynda, Lawrie, Sparky, and Tommy
Or
%20Instagram%20%231.jpg)
.JPG)
%20Instagram%20%231.jpg)
.jpeg)
