Vultures and scams here in Mexico!

We are staying the huge Grand Mayan resort. The building, resort, golf course, restaurants employ many people and even the building that services the resort is very large.  Waiters and staff are more than generous and involved in our daily life. It is very nice. People introduce themselves and love to talk to practice their English. I feel very much at ease.

So when we visited Playa del Carmen I was not surprised when a man approached me and acted as though he knew me and told me he had waited on me on the resort. It seemed very possible. But, after a visit with fellow shuttle travelers I am finding that this is a new con in this area.  The story goes like this:

Hello, how are you? Don't you remember me? I waited on you at the resort. It is my day off. I am working for my grandfather. He is getting ready to open a new shop. Do you want to see it before we open? My grandfather is at home/in a wheel chair/very ill. He makes the jewelry by hand.

Then they go on to try to sell a piece of silver jewelry at an outrageous price.

Doggone it, everywhere we travel we run into this kind of thing. Talk about mistrusting everyone you meet! I really don't trust anyone anymore.At the airport they trap you inside the lobby of the exit room and promise to get you free shuttle to the resort (you are entitled to a free shuttle that you can get it yourself.) These people are breeding I swear! It makes me kind of cranky!

This is what I hate about travel...really. I suppose that people like tours for that very reason. The tour groups will protect you from the vultures.

It rained today and we sat under an umbrella in the rain with two men that clean the pools. I love talking with the people. I suppose I will always be an innocent in the woods but why would I change that? Life goes on!

b