From the beginning of my Mexico experience I was not surprised that manhole covers would 'pop up' missing. I was thinking that just a few pesos in scrap metal probably can buy a Mexican family of 13 muchos tacos for dinner.
I have been wanting to write about the missing manhole covers for several weeks. I noticed a pattern. As soon as it rained, the manhole cover near my apartment would go missing and a tire would be stuffed into the hole. After a couple days the manhole cover would reappear until the next rain storm. I didn't really understand this phenomenom until I read my new friend Lindy's blog. She wrote that the manhole covers are removed to allow the water to drain during and after a rain. Even after a little rain here in Reynosa, the streets are flooded. I thought they were being sold for scrap metal, but now it all makes sense. It also makes sense that tires are stuffed into the gaping hole for safety reasons. Uh, oh, I've only been in Mexico for a little over a month and things are starting to make sense to me!
Congrats - you figured this out quicker than I did! I have been here since Feb and didn't put the pieces together until July, after a few weeks into the rainy season. That said, I am just now discovering the virtual world of online mexpats to help with some of these things. :-)
ReplyDeleteThis is funny we don't see this here but we are in a pretty small town so they just let the streets flood. Its funny how if you pay attention the strange things seem to make more since. Like sweeping and throwing water on the side walk and streets.
ReplyDeleteIt IS scary what you'll come to rationalize living here. :P
ReplyDeleteI'm actually surpised that the did do some type of safety when they took it out, in my 2+ years in Mexico there were very very few safety precautions....
ReplyDelete