Having a car here has been fantastic! And learning to drive here, where there are almost no road signs has been an unexpected challenge. When I do get lost I know I am just mixed up in a very small area but it's frustrating! The roads are on a grid and very narrow. Most are 1one-way streets, 1 street in one-way east, and a block over, one-way west and a block over, one-way east, etc. The same thing happens north to south. In lots of pockets of Chapala, the streets are not marked with names OR 1one-way signs. Maybe, on the side of a building, maybe not. There are no stop signs here. Every intersection is considered a 4-way stop. So, you merge, or the person going faster gets the right of way, it all works out. This has not been a problem for my brain.
The frustrating part is feeling like I am going the wrong way on a one-way and interrupting traffic. But Perry told me yesterday that the locals don't care. A ha! That's why no one shouted or told me I was going the wrong way, like they would in PEI! (I live on a one-way street and I yell at people if they come up it the wrong way!)
I also need glasses now to see my cell phone or to read a map. I have one map of all the 3 towns along Lake Chapala that I have been frequenting. I have been taking photos of Google maps with my phone and saving them in my Memos. One says Map TO Tepehua, another says Map FROM Tepehua, or SHORTCUT to Tepehua Treasure. Yes, I even learned 2 shortcuts!
So, glasses on to read maps, glasses off to drive...omg...so frustrating.
If I study the maps enough before venturing out, I am sure I won't get lost. I even walk around the towns using the Google guy but the maps were last captured by Google in 2012 and 2013, so I can't rely on landmarks there. Buildings have changed colors or stores have relocated.
Another challenge is the speed. When you or I come to a bumpy road we come to a crawl, but all roads (except the main roads) are cobble stone and all are very bumpy. But, you just go. You just drive normal. Repairing tires and shocks must be big business here!
Never the less, I would not let it stop me. I never hesitate jumping in the car. I just hesitate when I am trying to find something new. Today I told myself over and over, "I am not getting lost today, I am not getting lost today." and I found the restaurant where Perry's Shiner's Group was having a fundraiser and I found the Scandinavian bakery!
Today, I did NOT get lost!
You'll see what I mean! Here's a video of one street in Ajijic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLipreipzN4
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