Tourist Exodus: Bus Terminals Add Departures

(Acapulco, AN 10 January) After an intense, three week-long year-end holiday season, the tourists have packed up and left Acapulco. Estrella Blanca, one of Acapulco’s two main bus lines, reported that they doubled their usual capacity since the week before Christmas, providing 180 arrivals and departures, and carrying 3,000 passengers. The holiday period ended without a single incident of crime aboard the buses.

Departing tourists speaking to the press frequently mentioned the main attractions of Acapulco: the sun, the warmth and the sand. Most also mentioned the sunsets, but several said they did not go out at night because of the “security issue” and because they came to Acapulco to rest and relax. A few mentioned that the hordes of beach vendors hurt the sense of tranquility a visitor has while sunning on the beach. Once again, La Quebrada and Pie de la Cuesta (for the sunsets) were popular objectives over the holidays.

When asked by reporters, taxi drivers relied that the vacation time was “weak.” “It seems like it gets less and less every year,” said a veteran of 22 years at the Estrella Blanca taxi stand.