In my intention to let Mexico shine for it's goodness and alter the negative public opinion - one reader at the time - I would like to share another good story. I really want to stress that I have been to the Yucatan peninsula many times, lived there on my own, went back for vacations with family and friends over the past 25 years. I always highly recommend traveling in that region, and I am always delighted to go back with people who have never been there before. Here is today's story...
1986 - I was 22, and had just returned to Cancun after spending a few months in Toronto to work on my English. I was with a good friend of mine, which was not always easy because I had to look out for her and she had a hard time adjusting. We both found work very quickly, one job each at the Paradise Beach Club - she was hostess at the restaurant, and I was PR for their new condo development. We also worked for the brand new Hard Rock Cafe, and we were both in charge of training the team of waiters. It was interesting to say the least... we basically worked in a construction site, and had little uniforms which made us look like a bunch of kinky fantasy nurses... but there was a big buzz in town about the place, and it was fun to be part of that. I had the honnor for driving the pink Cadillac to it's final destination in front of the main entrance - engine removed and lifted to rest on top of a big pillar.
With all the buzzing and booming developments, there was frequent cashflow glitches and our pay was often late by a few days. We were paid in cash because we were foreign workers. We were at the youth hostel and eventually, we had to consider moving out of there because they were getting nervous about our frequent lateness in paying the bill.
A good friend of mine, Luis Macuzet, was living in an apartment which a friend of his was letting him have for free (he owned the building), and had promised to live there on his own. When he learned of our situation, he decided to take a chance and invited us to move in, until we could find an apartment of our own. We had to be extremely discreet, and try to come and go unnoticed so that his friend would not know that we were there. He eventually found out, and evicted Luis at once.
I felt terrible of course, but luckily Luis found another place immediately (and my friend and I went back to the youth hostel...). He always told me that he did not regret taking us in, because he was lucky to have friends who did the same for him when he needed help. We tried to stay in touch over the years, but he got married and his wife is terribly jealous and would not tolerate it. He told me to pretend that I wa his cousin from Verracruz the last time I called him... it got him in a whole lot of trouble... and it was the end of that. It's sad... he was a good friend.
Luis had started a little business called 'Fumigadora Mac', an insect control and extermination service. He had invented the product he was using, got a tank and spraying hose which he carried on his back, and serviced as many hotels as he could - keeping the cucarachas in check. His nick name was the ghostbuster - because welll... he looked like one! Today, his little business has become El Grupo Mac, an international corporation specialised in chemical treatments, and with a division which manufacture ice cream machines (not sure why he operates that under the same company...). I ran into his brother in a grocery store in Tulum about six years ago, and Luis now has three children. I still hope that we can see each other again some day, and catch-up on the past 25 years. I would love that.
I share these memories because Luis's friendship also shaped my opinion of Mexico, and Mexicans. He's a great, kind guy, with an amazing sense of humour. Saludos!
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