The Weird Juxtaposition That Is Monterrey
Two San Pedro municipal workers recently gave me yet another example of how this area is a bridge between Latin America and the US. I was walking the dog on the Calzada a few days ago. I passed a worker using a backpack leaf blower to clear the leaves and dust from the sidewalk, a scene I've witnessed countless times in the US. I reached the end of this branch of the "cross" (where the two Calzadas, del Valle and San Pedro, intersect) at the statue of David and turned back towards home.

A few minutes later I encountered another worker. This one was probably 15-20 years older and he was clearing the sidewalks with a large dead palm frond, sweeping it back and forth. I'd say this method was just as good for the leaves, seeds, and twigs, though probably not for any dust or dirt.

A few days later I saw this same older worker using a backpack leaf blower. Maybe he lost the rock-paper-scissors or coin toss that determined which worker got the gadget the first time around.

Modern and primitive, high tech and low tech, Hummers and donkey carts - this is Monterrey, Mexico.

P.S. I finally saw the tangerine sherbet colored Lamborghini that everyone told me about about a week ago. I can add that to all the Ferraris and Porsches I've seen tooling about. Have I mentioned that San Pedro has one of the highest per-capita incomes in Latin America?