Vamos a la playa

So we just got back from Tampico (beachy coastal town) on Saturday. The group was dropped off at the airport and we made good time despite torrential rains and landed back in Reynosa at about 1pm. Unfortunately it rained most of the week and the job basically consisted of tying rebarb (not too much fun for a young high school youth group) but we did manage to still have a good time and go swimming in the Gulf. The first day was overcast but for the second beach visit the one present lifeguard had set out the black flags (of death I assume?) and then packed it up himself. The beaches are pretty neat (no rules, no fines for walking on the dunes, people ride 4WD and even pull their cars up onto the beach, but the food and drinking can make it pretty dirty and so you have to be careful that you're not tromping on broken beer bottles, etc).

The towns of Tampico and Ciudad Madero are heavy tied into the oil industry (nationalized here in Mexico in 1938 by Lazara Cardenas). People seemed fairly well off in some parts of the town... Oil is shipped in from other areas of the country and people also take rotations (12 days at sea, 12 days back at home) working in the ever dangerous oil refineries. Apparently though they have good benefits, some workers receive up to 32 vacation days a year and retirement packages are generous.

The railroad also passes through Tampico since it's a port town and cargo is transported to other areas within the country or even up to Brownsville Texas. There's also a tiny airport with four gates, I found that comical.

Seafood is of course the specialty so I thought I'd feature the soup we had on the way to town. After one group member declared her vegetarian needs I decided to cement my decision (k si es posible ser vegetariana aun en Mexico, jaja) and good news Cassie, I'm back on the wagon, no more frijoles charros for me! It was really interesting talking with the women in the kitchen and the perceptions of vegetarianism that are present here. Most people are astonished or believe I have some disease saying "Oh, I'm so sorry you can't eat meat! or Are you okay???". It's been difficult to explain that its a personal decision that is not the equivalent to a diet or some type of health restriction but a lifestyle choice or alternative made for ethical reasons... Quien sabe...

This week I also got to spend some more bonding time with Lupe and his son Jonathan (our resident bricklayer, although not much bricklaying got done this week, we just poured some columns...). Again I'm quite surprised by his openness with me. This is the guy that has crossed many people over the Rio Bravo (some for $150 some for free) and swears that in 15 minutes he can have them chowing down in Whataburger (a faster cross than vehicles waiting in bridge traffic). He explained to me how he used to pack car tires with coke and other drugs. Basically the drug materials are wrapped in plastic and lots of duct tape and packed in tires with rags that have been dipped in bleach and other potent chemicals to disguise any detection. If my figures are correct it was about 100 kilos per car and a $100 per job. A quicker way to gain profit that a 5-6 day work week in construction earning $150 for your time...