Would you like some Zapatos with your Zapatistas?
Saturday, October 21st, 2006Our last few days were spent in Tulum, Mexico, a once important Mayan trading port and currently a huge hit with the tourists. In the late 19th century to early 20th century, Tulum served as the symbolic center of the Mayan rebellion (War of the Castes) before Quintana Roo accepted Mexican rule. The town itself is ordinary — touts try and convince you to eat at their restaurants, taxi drivers honk at you, and children practice soccer after school, and men with large loud speakers drive around in pick-up trucks listing the many varieties of shoes they have for sale. “Tenemos zapatos para trabajar, tenemos zapatos para los ninos, tenemos zapatos para la escuela, tenemos…” At first, hearing only the Zapa… in the amplified voice, I assumed this was a run-of-the-mill political agitator, going on about the Zapatistas. My Spanish ear has become more sensitive in the last two days.
So far, staying at hostels has given us nearly unfettered contact with European travellers. We have yet to encounter any Americans, although we came close today, when we met two Canadians from Alberta. Sarah thinks they’re lying about their nationality so people will think they’re smart. She wants us to start lying about where we’re from, but we stupid Americans don’t know enough about Canadian geography to pick a hometown. Shoot.
Speaking of stupid Americans, we ran into hordes of them at the seaside Mayan ruins of Tulum. After spending time with Europeans, it became flagrantly obvious why American have earned their poor global reputation. For one, after a week of feeling totally obese next to svelte Swiss women, we suddenly felt like the belles of the Mayan ball next to the American tour groups. For two… well, there’s really only one. I’m sure we’ll be writing more about our conflicted national identities as the trip goes on. Maybe we’ll even talk to a few actual American travellers. For now, we’re leaving in five minutes to catch a 12-hour bus to Palenque. From there… the journey continues.
-Megan (Sarah came up with the idea to talk about Americans, but the zapato guy was all me)
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