It was hot in Acapulco, Mexico, in February of 2004. Unfortunately, I wasn’t there to enjoy the sunshine and the warm tropical ocean. I was there to work because the specialty chemical company that I represented had decided to expand its reach south of the border. We found an opportunity through an agent who facilitated our meetings with Telmex, the largest telecommunications company in the region. The powers that be decided our best shot to earn the business was to demonstrate one of our most unique products, a rust neutralizer that stopped existing rust in its tracks. Telmex had numerous structures, and its Acapulco site would be the toughest test because of the ocean environment and humid conditions. So I was tapped as the one to meet with our potential customer and actually apply the product. After it was applied, we would monitor the results for several months and, if all went well, start doing business.
While vacationers teem eight stories below, Charlie Sacchetti applies a rust neutralizer on the roof of a telecommunications company in Acapulco.
My plane would land in Mexico City, where I would stay at a hotel and, the next day, attend several meetings. The following day, I would be driven to Acapulco for the demo. I was amazed at the condition of the freeway from Mexico City to Acapulco; it was in great shape, clean, and well lit. We would stay overnight in the resort town, at the Las Brisas Hotel, do the demo the next afternoon, and then drive back to Mexico City. The Las Brisas was famous as the favorite hotel of Frank Sinatra and his buddies. Every room had its own outdoor pool, and I remembered the lyrics of “Come Fly with Me,” in which Ol’ Blue Eyes mentions “we’ll beat the birds down to Acapulco Bay.” I could only imagine what those colorful characters did while staying there. If only the walls could talk!
The next day, we went up to the eighth floor roof of a Telmex-owned facility to apply Stop Rust, our rust-neutralizing product, to several of its metal structures. It was 95 degrees Fahrenheit on that February day, and my New Jersey body had a lot of acclimating to do, moving from the icebox to the oven in two days. All went well, and then it was time to begin the four-hour ride back to Mexico City. My Mexican companions invited me to pick a place for dinner. Prior to getting on the highway, I noticed a restaurant that looked interesting, so I asked to go there. The food was great! One of the dishes I enjoyed most was the tortilla chips, baked on site and served with various salsas. One of the salsas was green, and I was warned to be careful, as it was reputed to be very unfriendly to one’s digestive system. As I tasted it, I noticed it wasn’t even hot. I scoffed good-naturedly at my Mexican buddies, telling them it wasn’t that spicy, and, besides, I could handle spicy foods pretty well. I continued to enjoy the mysterious green salsa throughout the meal.
They just looked at me and smiled. So did the waiter, but he also gave me a Mexican chuckle.
After the delicious dinner, we drove onto the highway and sped away. About two hours into the trip, I felt a strange feeling in my belly. It wasn’t painful, but I quickly realized it had the potential to make the final two hours of the drive a little too exciting. By that time, the guys were laughing and conversing in Spanish. I, on the other hand, found nothing to be amused about, and – after an hour – I urgently suggested a visit to the next rest stop. We did so, and I quickly made my way past the heavily armed military guard toward the men’s room. I had heard that soldiers guarded public areas because of the drug trafficking, so I wasn’t surprised to see him, but it didn’t matter, anyway. He would have needed a cannon to stop me from getting to my destination at that moment. Ultimately, we stopped at three more rest stops along the way back to the hotel.
Throughout that night, I had no sleep but lots of exercise consisting of quick sprints from one room to another. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to make it to the airport for my 6 a.m. flight but somehow, I did. The flight was an adventure, and – I must admit – I violated the “fasten seat belt” sign a few times as I scurried hastily to the tiny restroom at the rear of the plane.
I learned a few things on that trip. First, I learned that Acapulco can be surprisingly hot in February. I also learned that our product would really benefit our customer in that humid environment. Last but not least, I learned, if you don’t know the territory, it’s best to listen to the locals! IAH
Charlie Sacchetti is the author of three books, “It’s All Good: Times and Events I’d Never Want to Change;” “Knowing He’s There: True Stories of God’s Subtle Yet Unmistakable Touch,” and his newest, “Savoring the Moments: True Stories of Happiness, Sadness and Everything in Between.” He was raised in Philadelphia and lives in Cinnaminson, New Jersey. Contact him at worthwhilewords21@gmail.com.