Traveling with Anders is akin to coloring inside the lines of a coloring book— each stroke exact and purposefully executed. Relying heavily on our Lonely Planet guidebook, he studies the map of each new city, finds the hot spots to visit, and then takes plenty of photographs so he can get just the one he is after. I’m annoyed at times with having to find the ideal eatery after a long day of walking, but remind myself that there are two travelers here and not just me.
This frogging ingrate sure has a way of exaggerating things— especially with the photo-taking mania— so I’ll give her that.
Here’s a prime example: Anders main quest in Guadalajara was to find the perfect surge protector. The People’s Guide to Mexico strongly suggested this purchase, and he took their advice and ran with it. I, on the other hand, was eager to walk amid layer upon layer of metropolitan people and sights in Guadalajara and then rest at a café and people watch. Trekking around for days to electronic stores was not my ideal, but four days later with a great deal of patience and deliberation we were able to locate what Anders refers to as “the jewel of the fucking Nile of surge protectors.”
Damn tootin’: ooooohhh... aaahh...
Day one: We decided to compromise our agendas. Whenever we walked by a store that might carry electronics we would dip in and see if they had what we were after. It seemed the perfect balance. Unfortunately, the stores that line the sidewalks of Mexico are filled with such a jumble of items that it was hard to know which store to enter. Eventually, we stumbled upon some sort of electronic Mecca with story after story of electronics, but each surge protector we found was either too large or too expensive.
Despite my limited knowledge of thangs muslim, it seems a sacrilege (am I already outed?) to refer to a joint that didn’t have what I wanted as “Mecca,” but that’s just a-‘ligious me…
Day two: Already tired of the pavement and in need of something green, we chose to visit Parque Agua Azul. During the bus ride to what Anders referred to as Guadalajara’s Central Park, we spied a Wal-Mart and gave in to its enticing promise of unbeatable prices. Although the surge protectors were cheaper, Anders was not convinced (as only he can be) so we headed out to the street vendors to see what we could find. Street after street we searched, Anders never tiring and me lagging along behind. When none of the stores had exactly what he wanted, he decided to give the Internet a try. He performed a lengthy search for the perfect Mac travel surge protectors in Mexico, how much joule protection was necessary, and if surge protectors were necessary at all. Eventually, he discovered the surge protectors of all surge protectors (the aforementioned “jewel of the fucking Nile”). Its slim body caught his eye, and he was ready to get his hands on it, but first he had to continue his search to see which stores carried it in Mexico.
In fairness, I’d intended to do the web research before bothering to check all of these stores out, but trying to keep my baby happy is already a full-time job. Did you catch those sweet little USB chargers?!? Oh, and Wuck Mal-Fart.
Day three: Apparently, the only store that carried our surge protector was Office Depot. It seemed a long shot to me, but he did not waiver. We had already made plans to head to tequila country for the day, so the hunt was put on hold momentarily while we sipped the drink of the gods during our tour of Jose Cuervo. With alcohol pumping through our veins (making us believe we could accomplish anything), we were off to find a friend at an undisclosed locale to take in the Jalisco Symphony Orchestra performance. And that is when it came like a shining beacon casting its light all over us. Far in the distance was an Office Depot sign. This luck seemed impossible in a metro area of six million plus, so I was ready to abandon our plans and go buy the surge protector immediately. Anders, however, decided we would come back the following day.
As I recall, I was purely an advocate of coming back later, what with the awesome-if-unlikely, free opportunity and all. Sally did spot the sign though ;).
Day four: Off to Office Depot we went. Keep in mind that we had no idea if this particular Office Depot carried our product of choice, but that did not matter, we were going there anyway. And that is what we did. We figured out our bus route and then went about our business. And the miracle is, they carried his precious Belkin surge protector. Purchase in hand, we walked away triumphant— to a Starbucks.
This, despite the ‘net being down at Starbucks, was a great day and great moment in our vidas mexicanas…
The journey was long, but the familiarity of corporate America somehow gave us a little taste of home that we both needed. And now when we plug that computer into the outlet there is no hesitation because we are protected. It is interesting how you can get so far away from home and yet always come back to it somehow.
And it’s a good thing too, ‘cos I’d be heartbroken if I couldn’t catch the MLB postseason on my sure-to-be-safe-‘n-charged lappy, baby! Also, to be kept in mind: during those four awful, arduous days, we didn’t have shit else to do ;).
Does this look like a jerk to you? ROCK THE VOTE!
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