Only in Mexico...

Only in Mexico do you see, hear, experience:

-random trucks delivering water, gas, fruit, vegetables, plants, fish, hardware, anything you may want. You can hear the trucks long before they approach, the loudspeakers mounted to the top of the vehicle belting out some sort of crappy sing-song type of music while the driver interjects every now and again, "sin gas" or "agua" or "camorones, pescado, dorado". And if you are so in need of any one of these items you run outside with money in hand. Apparently anything can be delivered in mexico, anything. I've only gotten the gas and the water.

-the smell of something burning, constantly. In mexico they burn everything from garbage to their pile of grass clippings. You can walk down the street and in the middle will be a pile of rubbish with smoke billowing upwards. At first being the concerned person, I thought "fire" and should I run to get a hose. But that thought quickly subsided when I saw someone come and throw more rubbish onto the pile. It is no wonder I see random fires buring in this grand country...fire control is not in existence!

-dogs showing up in your backyard. Every day I seem to have a new dog friend. Sometimes there will be 3 or so just sitting there waiting for some attention or love or just to check out the "new dog on the block". Sometimes they stay overnight, sometimes they continue wondering about.

-the ability to live across the street from a master "gallo" breeder. Gallo being cocks. Get your heads out of the gutters people, this isn't Aurora Avenue. No, the cocks, being roosters raised to cock fight. So cages and cages are stacked with cocks and every now and again a random man will show up with his cock (sweet jesus, this does sound a little risque) to challenge my neighbors cock to a small little pre-fight.

-unplanned bus stops. If you flag a bus, it will stop. If you want to catch a bus to the next town and it only travels along the highway, you just go up and sit on the highway and wait and then wave it down as it approaches. This is how most people travel. But, if you miss your bus as it goes by to fast, it may not be uncommon to be offered a ride by a passing car. They whistle, you give the correct hand signal and then you communicate to see where each is going. If they are going to your selected destination you climb on in. It is perfectly harmless, and again, very common. I was offered three rides when walking down the road from the highway the other day. Of course, I declined as I think it is not a habit that a woman should get into being that I have a car and that I have promised so many people that I will remain safe. Plus I thought my bean eating, tortilla having body could use a bit of exercise.

-and one of my favorites, change or cambio. If a particular vendor doesn't have enough cambio to give you they may offer you something off of their cart or truck instead. For instance I was buying fruita the other day and the guy didn't have 2 pesos to give me for change, he offered me three oranges instead. Which I gladly took! Ahh, only in Mexico...