Cartel

 A few days ago we were wandering looking for a shoe store for C as her sandals caused her nothing but misery. After going from store to store we gave up and C resigned herself to going to the local version of Wal-Mart. I declined the adventure and sat down in a cool bar on a side street to have a glass of wine and view the comings and goings. It was only after about 20 minutes that I realized the roped off establishment across from me was where the cartel cross fire shootings had happened on October 25th, killing a German woman and a young "social influencer" from California. 3 other turistas were shot. 

The cartels, formerly absent from the region, when we were here 7 years ago, have taken hold, When COVID shut everything down the only place you could go, if American, was Yucatan, and they held raves and dance parties unfettered.

With raves etc...come drugs and then the cartels. 

A few nights ago in a small restaurant a group of American turistas looking as nervous as mice waited drinking Coronas until the Mexican woman with the bunch introduced them to some guy, very hyper, with a back pack. Lite talk and small introduction. 

I knew what was going down.

Behind them 7 NYC undercover drug detectives ate 3 courses of food each while telling 'on the beat' war stories from the different detachments they had been assigned to. I assume they were here to do American-Mexican drug enforcement training. 

National guard soldiers in white camoflauge, bullet proof vests and significant guns patrol the street in armoured carriers the way the Brits did in Northen Ireland during "The Troubles". 

The beach resort area swells with rich white girls suffering from extreme eating disorders and their more plump muscle bound boyfriends. 

In a state where the poverty rate is 49 percent, remember a Mexcian poverty rate valuation, half the population lives in dismal shanty towns, cheek to jowl with huge new timeshare condos. One might see the attraction of cartel life. 

Kyle Rittenhouse acquitted today; guns brought down from the States and the only music played here in bars is the worst of gangster rap.