“Travels to a Different Time” : 9September1989: Cancun, Mexico: Lost in a Sea of American Yuppies and Mexican Workers: More Time Share Beggars

Took the local bus into town to pick up some breakfast. I am the only gringo on it and it was full of Mexican workers. It has a huge crack in one of the windows. Elephant ears and banana bread. Headed out for a look at the commercial section of Cancun and hustled by 4 different Mexicans about “incredible time share deals”. These people remind me of the gypsies begging in Eastern Europe. Scouted out two malls both of which were gloriously airconditioned and devoid of human life. A massive attack of the runs hit me and I had to scramble down some rocks to let it fly. God help me if anyone saw that! With no toilet paper it was a sticky situation. The hotel strip is sterile. A cocktail of tequila and orange on the balcony. Hailed a cab to Pericos but that snooty joint required long pants so off to Calypso a rip off joint with an interesting group of owners. Long hairs and well dressed. The tables were packed with American yuppies downing all sorts of frozen drinks like money was no object. An outrageously expensive dinner and horrific service. As I left without leaving a tip I heard a surly voice saying thanks and tips are not included. I felt scammed by the extortionate prices and nonexistent service so no tip. I don’t think I have ever done that before but after being stuck and scammed so many times in Mexico it felt good to stick it to them for a change