50° and Overcast
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It was the early 1980s and I decided to get involved in investing in the import and export business. A good friend was dealing with used truck and tractor parts and had a contact in Mexico. I had dealt with Mexico as a Border Patrol Agent in the early 70s. I spoke Spanish and thought this might be a good investment. This new journey took me to the National Palace, the Palacio Nacional in Spanish. The National Palace is located in Mexico City's historic center, specifically on the eastern side of the Zócalo, the city's main square. This historic building serves as the official residence and workplace of the President of Mexico. The National Palace is known for its murals by renowned Mexican artist Diego Rivera, which are inside the building. Diego Rivera's murals depict various aspects of Mexican history and culture, including the pre-Columbian era, the Spanish conquest, and the Mexican Revolution. It was quite a site, seeing the murals as you walked through the Palace.
We were meeting the commissioner of transportation in Mexico Guillermo Carrillo Arena. He served as the Secretary of Communications and Transportation (Secretario de Comunicaciones y Transportes) among other titles he had, during that time. He was a tall, very debonaire man with very impressive mannerisms. His office was huge and ornate. After introductions and some pleasantries, we were invited to dinner with him that evening.
It was an open-air restaurant. There was smoking as well as dogs allowed in the dining room. Commissioner Carillo was treated like royalty. There were waiters (camareros) surrounding us every minute. It was good to be a commissioner in Mexico.
Things went well until the end when the “bite” (mordida) was brought up after the commissioner left the table. Even with some dickering with his aide, it was much too much. The entire experience was an eye-opener. It gave me a perspective on how it might have been in the United States 50 years prior. In my experience south of the border, no matter what country you dealt with there was always a “bite.” I don’t believe much has changed today.
