Philip Kirkland gave up the delights of Radstock nearly 4 years ago and, - with his mexican wife - Margarita - went to live in Mexico City. He has agreed to share some of his experiences with us on these pages.

 

Public transport is supposed to be the future but when you are sharing it with 22m people, believe me, it’s not much fun. So, it came to pass that after two years in the great metropolis that is Mexico City, I acquired my first car here, a brand new Chevrolet “Chevy” C2 in “azul metálico brillante”.

But first, the licence. Given Mexican bureaucracy, this would be difficult, no? No. “Do you have a British licence?” They didn’t ask. “Can you drive?” Didn’t ask. “Can you even see?” Didn’t ask. So 30 minutes and around 400 pesos later I had a Mexican licence, for life.

 

Philip Kirkland's Chevy

Networking is very big in Mexico, so it’s who you know that counts. I knew an executive director of HSBC, who had just taken over BITAL bank, so getting a loan was pan comido (piece of cake). Official ID? Well, my passport has expired. No hay problema. You need an FM2 (migratory document). I only have an FM3. Tampoco. I don’t have a credit record here. No problem. The process will take about three days…

…three WEEKS later I drove my Chevy off the forecourt of the dealer and started to put into practice the rules I had learned about driving in Mexico. Roughly speaking these are as follows:

1) If you are going to make a left turn, make sure you are in the right hand lane (and vice-versa) so that you have to cut in front of the other traffic.

2) A red light means that you have approximately five minutes to stop.

3) Drink driving, speeding, etc are serious crimes which will be punished thus. The policeman will tell you that you have committed a crime. You will give reasons why you can’t pay, accompany him to the station etc and ask “What can we do about it?” At this point we can offer him 100 pesos (five pounds) and continue on our way.

4) Indicators are very pretty decorations on the car but don’t really have a practical use.

5) One way street means that you can only drive one way, doesn’t it? Yes, but it doesn’t matter which way.

Free parking exists on many streets but those streets belong to the out of work guys that see you into your space for five pesos. Quite a bargain really as they will wash the car for another 15 pesos (something you never do yourself) and once they know you, will even move one car out a space to let you in, and call you patron (the person who pays their wages).

Despite everything, driving in Mexico is a lot of fun and the lack of rules, and the lack of nanny state systems such as the speed cameras of Britain, are very liberating …
- and gas, sorry, petrol, is only around 30p per litre.

Hasta la próxima.

Philip Kirkland