Today I had a dental appointment in the murder capitol of the world.
Wait, let me back up a bit...
A few weeks before leaving home for my Mexico trip, I decided I might as well get my teeth cleaned while I was down there. I hadn't been to the dentist in three years, and although my teeth are holding up pretty well, I thought I'd take advantage of Mexico's low prices on dental services. So I made an appointment at Smile Acapulco.
Of course, I'd been warned by the news, well-meaning relatives, and the United States government to never, never visit Acapulco, the "Murder Capitol of the World". But then I discovered I could get my teeth cleaned there for just under $50 US, so I decided to chance it.
My merry group of voluntaryist travelers had planned a day-long boating trip for today, but I couldn't go with them because of my dentist appointment. (I'm not jealous AT ALL. I mean, when faced with the choice between sitting on the deck of a boat, drinking beer and laughing with five of your best friends, surrounded by brilliant blue ocean, or having a person in a white coat use vibrating tools on your molars, it's no contest.) So to the dentist I went.
But first, a taxi van trip across Acapulco with the aforementioned group, during which, to everyone's surprise, no one got hit by a stray bullet. Finally, we arrived at a restaurant called Pollo Feliz (or "Happy Chicken"), where, pleasantly, we were not forced to eat our lunch while the waitresses held butter knives to our throats. Afterwards, I parted ways with the rest of the group as they walked across the street to the marina to meet up with their boat operator (who, I've heard rumors, moonlights as a knee-breaker for the cartel.) They got on their boat and motored out to sea, and I was left alone to cross the most dangerous city in North America in search of the dentist's office.
I walked thirteen blocks down the costera, past friendly fishermen and families waiting at the bus stop. Amazingly, I was not mugged by those little old ladies selling necklaces and trinkets from a blanket on the sidewalk. But I couldn't take it any longer. I had encountered the most dangerous aspect of Acapulco: the sun. My skin felt like it was about to blister, and Acapulco, being the dangerous city it is, doesn't seem to know about sunscreen, so I couldn't find a place to buy any. (Curse my melanin deficiency!)
Faced with the prospect of being immolated by the sun in the murder capitol of the world, I decided it would be best to catch a taxi the rest of the way to my destination.
My taxista, Mauricio, drove me to the most dangerous depths of El Centro, where I saw not two but three street dogs fighting over a box of restaurant leftovers. I barely escaped alive. Finally, he dropped me off in front of the dentist's office and I army-crawled from the taxi to the door so as to avoid landmines.
The dentist's office was clean and bright, and the dental hygienist treated me gently. I was tense the whole time, though, because from what I'd heard on the news, dental clinics probably get shot up by cartel members almost every day. Luckily, it didn't happen while I was there.
I paid my $50 US dollars and exited the clinic. Walked a couple of blocks until I came to a pizza place, where I went in and had a delicious Pizza Margherita and a coke. The waiter wasn't even wearing a bulletproof vest! After that, I stopped by an ATM and withdrew 2000 pesos in full view of several amicable looking people, and none of them robbed me.
I caught another taxi back to the AirBnB and he only charged me 60 pesos, which is around $3.20 US, for a fifteen minute trip. When he dropped me off at the entrance to the apartments, I heard a loud popping sound and flinched, but it was just a car backfiring down the road.
Now, here I sit on the balcony, writing a Steemit post and enjoying this view:
PRAY I MAKE IT HOME SAFELY!
Hi, I'm Starr!
It is terrifying to read you are in Mexico City. We saw the movie, "Man on Fire". Remember the little girl was kidnapped.
Thank goodness they did not steal your teeth.
You are so brave going to an ATM.
Send me your address and I will mail you a bulletproof vest. The old ladies selling trinkets could be armed.
Thanks for writing in such a fun delightful way. Are they forcing you?
I am following you now so I can report to the authorities if I see you stop posting.
LOL resteemed
Forget the bulletproof vest. JUST SEND SUNSCREEN!
This was so great. HAHA! I love how people who don't travel have so much "wisdom" about travel. People are people. Enjoy the sun and warmth.. its freezing here in the pacific north west! Maybe I should risk the dangers of Mexico... nope.. I would definitely start using drugs and get stabbed. ;)
LOL... I know, huh?
We do hear a lot of bad things but look at what is on the news about everywhere.
Wow! I'm so glad you made it through that ordeal so that you could tell us all about you risky trip to dentist.
A wise choice in my opinion! Especially to avoid having your knees broken on the boat trip!
I hope that Trump gets that wall built pronto! because by the sounds of it, your better off on the Mexican side =)
Enjoy the rest of your fabulous, eye opener of a trip!
LOL @markwhittam I think you are most likely correct !
Yes, I'm starting to think the whole wall thing is an attempt to keep me imprisoned inside the United States.
I love how you wrote this post, Oh the lovely media trying to control where we go by putting out all these fear stories. Been to Mexico a couple of times, years ago, love the food and the people, spend two nights in Acapulco and then headed down to Puerto Escondido. Do they still use VW vans as taxi's? there were some proper stylist ones when I was there, all painted up going with whatever theme the driver was into. Had no idea it was seen as the murder capital of the world.
What a terrifying post! I've been visiting Acapulco once or twice a year for over 20 years, but haven't been back for a while. How's the Zocalo?
Thanks for the graphic descriptions of gratuitous violence ;-)
Hahahaaaa....glad you are safe and sound AND with clean teeth to boot! Great read lol
Love the satire here. Glad you made it out alive :O I had a similar dentist experience once, only I visited a nice columbian man who speaks english and likes American music.
Fun and sun AND dental care? Sign me up!
HaHa. I love it @lesliestarrohara.
I'm dealing with the same situation, since I lived in El Salvador for 2+ years and we have our home there and can't wait to go back to finally stay there. (Back in Canada now, till we finsh some business). El Salvador is the most dangerous country in the world where most people including my family etc. are terrified to go and explore because they will get shot or killed.
While living there we had the best dentist and doctors experiences and for a very, very low cost. My son who had braces done in Canada, but then the dentist in El Salvador was taking care of his braces for a year was a way better treatment and way cheeper than here in Canada. My son loved their services and we were very, very pleased.
We even got to buy a shirt for my son in El Salvador which said "I SURVIVED EL SALVADOR" since the gangs were shooting and fighting everywhere.
Anyways. Love your post and following to see more of your great sense of humor.
Wow love to travel the world
That's great to share..
Thank's for your post..
Have a nice journey ....
the cartel folks mostly kill each other, mostly.
Good
wow, the trip is amazing, I'm very happy to read your post, very interesting @lesliestarrohara,,😊😊😊😊
Ha...I, for one, appreciate the sarcasm!
I'd spent some time in Baja in the mid- to late-90s. Fell in love with it then, and the people--outside the tourist areas (which is all I know thus far) are amazing, and for the most part, friendly. Of course...there's a story from the friend (American, married to a Mexican--was before Americans( I stayed with down there was a missionary coordinator, and worked a lot with orphanages and in prisons. He said one day while in one of the prisons he got called in to speak with one of the main Mexican Mafia guys, who at the time ran the prison. The guy told him he'd heard of the work he'd been doing, and promised him protection because of it..).
I know the area got hit hard in the early 2000s as the druglords moved in, and the area wasn't safe for a while. But was down there a couple years ago, and it's back to how it was in the 90s and a bit better in terms of economic growth and housing. I sure had missed it.
--S.
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You have amazing creativity and great ability to see laughter in danger.
Hell ain't that bad afterall!