ShareThis“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.”
-Helen Keller-
Nogales, MX
I visited Nogales, my first time in Mexico. It was a side trip to Hell, the Sodom and Gomorra of the southwest replete with drug hawking shop keepers who’d chase tourists down streets and beg them to purchase their ‘product.’ Nogales was filled with marauding pimps who sold the services of sad eyed pre-teen girls to willing ‘customers.’ I’ve been told by relatives who visited there recently that such moral outrages are passé. I was informed that Nogales is now a city of fine shops, malls, pricy restaurants, and home to a myriad of tourist related businesses. That city has a ‘cleaner face’ yet drug wars rage in the streets of Nogales claiming hundreds of victims annually. If you’re planning a visit I strongly suggest you don’t go out after dark and to use your common sense. I’m sure the moment you set foot in this slice of ‘Mexico lindo (pretty Mexico)’ your Chicago ‘street smarts’ will automatically kick in. Type: Nogales Mexico for more information on this interesting place.
The bus ride to New Mexico was a sight to behold. We passed the Grand Canyon, Sunset Crater National Park, stopped, and shopped at Ft. Courage the
set used for the old TV sitcom ‘F Troop.’ (www.azot.gov & www.newmexico.org)
Albuquerque, NM
‘Duke City’ Albuquerque, New Mexico by another name is aptly named. It’s rougher than Chicago! From the time I left old Phoenix, it was one thrill after another. When the bus rolled in to the main terminal; I only l thought about one thing-FOOD! I stored my luggage in the Security Room then made for the terminal’s restaurant. When I got there the place was filled to capacity. I took a table along the wall. When the waitress arrived I ordered:
* 3 pancakes
* 3 strips of bacon
* 3 sausage links
* 2 eggs sunny side up
* large orange juice
* small tomato juice
* coffee
* hash brown potatoes
* large glass of milk
* and a glass of ice water
The food arrived and crossing myself, I got comfortable and prepared to eat breakfast. Before I took a bite it happened. The voice over the PA system ordered all passengers to leave the restaurant and go across the street. There was a bomb threat! These were the days before 9/11 when the word ‘terrorist’ wasn’t a familiar part of the English lexicon. Some passengers panicked and screamed! Others dashed for the door! Me, hell I was HUNGRY. I calmly waited until the place cleared, took my food and beverage laden tray across the street, sat calmly sat on the ground, and started to eat with about 100 hungry faces looking at me. I figured if I were going to die why get blown up on an empty stomach. As things turned out there was no bomb.
I brought my empty tray back to the restaurant, left it on a table, and calmly started touring the Pearl of the Southwest.* About a half block into my walk, some ‘wannabe macdaddy (apprentice pimp)’ approached me and asked if I wanted to ‘rent his girlfriend.’ This guy looked like he was still in elementary school. His ‘lady’ didn’t look a day over 15. If he was in Chicago, a real pimp would have knocked him on his a** and made his lady work for him. I politely declined. He left it at that and I continued my tour.
My walk took me through the fabled Old Town section. I stopped and chatted with some costumed Native American women who were selling some of the most beautiful silver turquoise studded jewelry I’ve ever saved for museum exhibits that displayed ‘Indian’ artifacts. Remember I was vacationing on the ‘cheap.’ I politely declined though I did purchase a small artificial red chili pepper for .35 at a specialty shop. I’m a photographer. I took a lot of pictures. WARNING: When on holiday conceal your camera! Don’t look like a tourist or bad things will happen as mentioned in a previous travel article.
I met some nice folks in Duke City, shopped at a local supermarket where the bagger thought I was crazy after I asked for a shopping bag, had lunch with two women who laughed when I asked them how come every window in their city had thick sets of burglar bars, and took public transportation to reach Albuquerque’s more distant attractions. After two days in town I retrieved my luggage, got back on the bus, and continued my odyssey across America. (www.itsatrip.org)
San Antonio TX
When we arrived in San Antonio we had two hours between buses to sight see. During that time I discovered that the Alamo is a very small building, panhandlers will run you down to beg for ‘change,’ and the oft mentioned ‘River Walk’ is small yet quite beautiful. (www.sanantoino.gov)
New Orleans, LA
The food in New Orleans is as great as they say it is. This city has a thriving arts and Filipino community. As mentioned in a previous article, New Orleans is home to the first Filipinos who settled in North America. The city is birthplace to my mother and step father. After four days touring the ‘Big Easy,’ visiting relatives, eating, taking pictures, eating, souvenir hunting, and eating some more it was off to Memphis, Tennessee. (www.neworleansonline.com).
Bloomington, IN
After my Memphis experience (Don’t ask.), I needed some serious down time; someplace where I could chill out. Bloomington is home to Indiana University. It’s quaint, clean, slow-moving, pretty, sort of like a New England college community with a Midwestern flair. After two days, $3.35 in my pocket and neither credit cards nor cell phone I had to get home in a big hurry. (www.visitbloomington.com)
HOME AGAIN
Hours later I arrived in Chicago and took CTA home to my then South Chicago neighborhood. I was happy having made my first trek across these United States.
LEHAIM! (To Life.)
Reader did you know then Philippine President Manuel Quezon had an open door policy to Jews fleeing Nazi persecution during World War II? Next edition will be devoted to Judaism in the Philippines. Till then drive sober, pray for and assist the Memphis flood victims, go to church, and remember you don’t take vacations from GOD.
*I made that title up.
(vamaxwell@yahoo.com)