Tepic

The US government has an extreme travel warning against  any travel toTepic. Also some Mexicans I know warned me that it was a very violent place and I should never go to Tepic. So I went to Tepic. This wasn't some kind of danger quest. The Toll road I wanted to take lies ten k north of Tepic. I thought I would  just find a way to go around the town to my road.  As it turns out this was not possible. In my attempt to find a way around Tepic I briefly found myself driving the wrong way on a one way street. The first car coming the other way was a police car. He stopped me. Now these guys are not like cops you see in other places. They are very heavily armed and well trained. I rolled down my window and said. Very sorry about that but I am lost. I thought to myself I really don't want to see the Tepic jail. They started telling me I was on a one way street. I said I realized that and thats' why I turned down this street. They asked me where I was going and I said "Mazatlan" They gave me directions and wished me a good day. Three blocks later I am headed straight downtown. I hear sirens and 4 pickup trucks with four cops in the back of each came wheeling around the corner with automatic weapons drawn. They were clearly looking for someone as they pointed weapons at the people  who always crowd a Mexican street, They pulled into a light manufacturing plant and joined 3 similar trucks as they continued to aim around as if on a rabbit hunt. I was stuck at an eternally red light. It turned green before the suspects were found.  Dodged another bullet. Now in the centre of the town I've been so correctly warned about I find myself in a police road block.  These police were special forces called Fuerzas contra la corrupcion.  I thought wow a police force looking for corrupt politicians. But of course they are another anti crime outfit. They waved me trough.
Finally I see the sign to Mazatlan. I was very happy when I hit the toll booth. After 2 months of bouncing around mountain roads and pot hole filled little towns I am on a super highway northward bound.

I always talk to the people I shoot but this one was hard. 

Church in San Cristobal

Always use your sunblock