Been tearing your hair out lately over the pervasive traffic jams that plague our “paradise” community? I know I have. Well, buckle up and hang on to your hat. The nightmare is about to take a quantum leap.
Some may recall that back in August Chapala’s mayor promised that the Ajijic highway project would be finished before the start of the town’s annual San Andrés fiestas. While only the most gullible took him at his word, the reality of the situation is more appalling than expected. The hoopla gets under way next week and the work isn’t even half done. And that translates into a shortage of precious parking spaces along the roadway.
Per local custom, two of Ajijic principal north-south streets will be partially closed to vehicular traffic as of November 18 and for the duration of the festivities that won’t actually wind down until December 3. Calle Colon will be blocked off between Zaragoza and Ocampo to accommodate mechanical rides and taxis, while Marcos Castellanos is shut off from Parroquia to the highway to afford space to a string of street vendors.
With all that in mind, rest assured that any attempt to drive around town will entail dealing with multiple hazards and added confusion about how to get from here to there. So here are a few tactics that might help you avoid stressing out over the madness.
Park the car. Hop on a bus or hire a cab and let the driver do the coping while you go out on essential daily errands. Or put on your hiking boots and walk. It’s good for your health as long as you manage to keep from stumbling over the irregular sidewalks and rough cobblestones.
If you must drive, here’s a golden opportunity to mind your manners. With parking on narrow village streets at a premium, remember that leaving even a tiny car right at the edge of a corner creates an infuriating obstacle for other vehicles that might turn at that point. If you value your side mirrors and flawless body work, pull that big, fat SUV straight in and up tight to the curb. Pay attention to yellow lines painted along the curb which, however faint, mean it’s illegal to occupy that space.
Show common courtesy out on the highway by letting pedestrians cross the road. Make space to let other motorists execute turns on and off the highway. Do it with a friendly wave and a smile and you’ll provoke warm fuzzies for both the other driver and yourself. And for heaven’s sake, if traffic is backed up along the way, leave an open gap at the traffic light intersections until the vehicles start moving.
Go Zen. Breathe deep and relax. You’ll get where you’re going eventually. So what’s the hurry? After all, you’re in mañana-land, a place where you learn that patience is an indispensable virtue.
If all else fails, hunker down at home or hightail it to the Pacific coast with local anti-fiesta fanatics. This too will pass.