“Travels to a Different Time” : 8September1983: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico: Will That Texan be Found in a Back Alley with a Knife in His Back? The Corruptive Force of Tourism

More delicious eggs Mexicana for breakfast. Had a swim at the pool and watched the hawkers on the beach selling blankets, carvings, dresses and jewelry. Hotel security watches them like a hawk to give the gringos some unmolested time lest they be swarmed. They are not permitted on hotel property. Does the hotel own the beach or have they greased the palms of local officials to deprive the locals access to public property? If you venture outside of this protective custody they do swarm you saying “ Hey Meester…you wanna buy?” Some are skillfully funny asking you as a big spender if you want to buy some of the best junk on the beach. Dinner was another snapper filet but I noticed a couple of young Mexican guys very raunchy and sleazy looking fawning over a very drunk Texan saying “Don’t worry. We’ll get you back to the Sheraton”. He was so far gone I wonder if they had drugged his drink. He was so out of it he couldn’t lift the coffee cup to his mouth. Hopefully this poor Texan will not be found robbed next morning in a back alley with a knife in his back. Tourists in Puerto Vallarta seem to be fair game. Tourism in a dirt-poor country corrupts both locals and gringos absolutely.