G20: And now, they’re gone
By Ed Kociela
I saw a lot of photos of the heads of state who were here for the G20 Summit and couldn’t help but feel sorry for them.
Here they were, in this tropical paradise, all spiffed out in business attire.
Is that any way to enjoy Los Cabos?
I realize they had important work to do while they were here, but it was sad to see them all gussied up in shirts, ties, jackets, and dresses.
I also felt sorry for members of the Mexican Navy’s infantry, who were clad in their camouflage fatigues with heavy Kevlar vests and helmets. They had to be uncomfortable as temps tipped up into the mid-90s.
That’s no way to enjoy La Baja.
This is a place where shorts, tank tops, and flipflops are the uniform of the day.
One of the many helicopters that flew over our house during the G20 Summit. Photo by Ed Kociela
On the whole, though, it was an amazing experience to have the most powerful men and women in the world gather here. It will take a few days, but I’m sure it won’t be long before the sound of helicopters buzzing by will empty from my head. It seemed like they passed over our house about every five minutes. It will also be nice to go to Mega without having to pass through checkpoints.
Our distinguished visitors are gone now, leaving behind a trail of goodwill, good press, a new convention center, improvements to our roads, and a pile of money.
This is all good for those of us who love this little corner of the world.
Millions were spent on all of these improvements for the two-day international meeting and we will reap the benefits for years to come.
Yeah, there were a few inconveniences, particularly if you live in the San Jose del Cabo area. But, they were all worth it.
The event went incident free, which means, hopefully, those media misrepresentations of day-to-day life in Los Cabos will be
Members of the Mexican Navy infantry were stationed throughout Los Cabos during the G20 Summit. Photo by Cara Curfew-Kociela
squelched. I mean, I saw the international press corps assembled here. They got a look, firsthand, at how safe and clean this little spot at Land’s End really is. They got a taste of Mexican hospitality, friendship, and culture that I hope they will share with their colleagues and audience the next time Los Cabos is profiled in print, video, or cyberspace.
Those of us who live here had to endure some inconveniences. There were checkpoints, road closures, and we saw traffic
backed up in areas that are normally uncongested. Our beaches were closed or restricted and it just all felt “different,” for lack of a better term.
But, it was worth it because it will all add to enhancing the image of one of the most beautiful places on Earth.
Ed Kociela is a writer for Los Cabos Magazine.
You can reach him by email at edkociela.mx@gmail.com.
Follow him on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/EdKociela.