Happy New Year Drive North
We had a lovely holiday on the Baja with our kids for Christmas. Everything was perfect and we loved the therapeutic drive after working non-stop with 2 jobs each in Vancouver.
The dry desert air, expansive cactus filled views and the blue blue blue waters of the sea of Cortez. But now was the time for the drive home.
As everyone knows there are numerous roadblocks in Mexico. Some for agriculture (similar to those in California) and others for documents. Driving North there are numerous inspections for contraband – drugs.
We were driving north from La Paz and hoped to get as far as possible. We drove north and hit about contraband checks between La Paz and Mulegé. We are the friendly gringos and would always wave, offer a soft drink or water and try out our Spanish as much as possible.
After we were detained for a few moments, we would wave and to these hard woking young men and wish them a Happy New Year.
“Feliz Ano Nuevo” we would say as we drove away North.
It wasn’t until we stopped for the night and ate at a small restaurant, we knew of in Mulege. “Feliz Ano Neuevo” we said to the waiter that we knew from many trips to the Baja.
He frowned and then laughed.“You just called me happy new asshole” he said. “What you should have said is Feliz Año Nuevo. Año – pronounced AN-Y-O”
We laughed and then thought about all those military stops and young soldiers with big rifles that we called Happy New Assholes.