My son and I did a "Samaritanos Voladores" (Flying Samaritans) trip this weekend. This one was my 3rd volunteer trip. You'd think the Mexican authorities would be making things more efficient but it's sadly it's going in the opposite direction. It's always a little nerve wracking crossing the border in a GA plane and hoping you've done everything correctly. Then you land and are greeted by 4 guys with guns and dogs, then you do the commandante shuffle where it feels like shuttling between 5 people who are bored out of their minds but need to justify their job. See guy #1, give these documents, stamp. go to guy #2, pay this fee, stamp... back to guy #1, another stamp, and round and around you go until finally you have a flight plan to a place we're not even going because the place we're actually going is not officially approved for us... so tower asks your destination and you say the official one and then turn in the completely opposite direction and fly wherever you want. Whole process going in took 1.5 hours and we were the only ones there. It's bureaucracy at its finest but I've learned when it's not my country not to complain. I just smile and try to be patient and act grateful. Contrast to coming back to the USA where it's like "can you stand in front of this camera please? Can I see your passport? Thank you have a nice day!" Oh well hopefully Mexico will figure it out some day.
We had a great time though! My son volunteered in the eye clinic and got to practice his Spanish and they served 45 or so patients. We had street tacos and fish/shrimp tacos, swam and walked on the beach and I even got some time to teach him how to drive a stick shift old beater Subaru. He also got to eat the biggest lobster I've ever seen.
