I see my path, but I don’t know where it leads. Not knowing where I’m going is what inspires me to travel it. – Rosalia de Castro

After working a steadily busy shift from 10am to 6pm, I’m free. Ready to travel the 5km and experience the small town of Poptun, Peten I climb into the fire engine red tuk tuk with Aldo and we are on our way. Not having the opportunity to explore the town when I first arrived fourteen days ago there is little conversation as I’m taking in all of the sights and sounds of this small community of just over 24,000 inhabitants. Our driver zips us around the northern end of the airstrip and I cannot help but laugh once again at the miniature air traffic control tower as we pass it. I am still surprised that there is no barbed wire, private property signs posted, or even a fence to keep individuals from walking across the street and onto the airstrip. The lack of security is somewhat baffling but then again when I see a group of people playing soccer and riding bicycles on the dirt where planes land I begin to realize this area seems more like a park or a playground than an airport. Unsure of where the supermarket is located I continue to enjoy our ride. Peering over to my right I notice a scooter passing us, normally this would not have even caused a second thought, except for the fact that a family of four was racing past us. All I can think about is how would the highway patrol handle observing such a situation. A small girl that appears to be five or six stands in the front between the legs of her father as his arms wrap around her grasping the handle bars, her mother sits behind the driver arms to her side and her older sister somehow finds space on the very back and looks to be at ease, as if each understands their designated seating position. They give me a look as if I am the uncanny image. No helmets for any of them, I cannot help but be amazed that there is not more traffic fatalities with how transportation lacks any type of safety regulations, but then again I think about how overregulated the laws in the States can be and wonder where the balance rests.
