There is a lot of hype out there about the all-new Batman movie. It seems it hasn’t been to long after the recent Batman Begins that this new and improved Batman is hitting the box office. Regardless, Batman is an awesome superhero and he knows how to be an example to society and ward off the bad guys. One thing is for certain; he gets to drive the coolest cars. If you do enjoy Batman or even if you don’t, you probably know about Gotham city. I definitely would not want to live in Gotham City. There would be trash everywhere, people living in the streets, it would be full of darkness, and I would have to always be watching my back, hoping Batman would come and save me if I got into trouble.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have to go to the movies to see Gotham city. I saw Gotham City in the real world. On our 60-hour journey, yes that’s right, 60 hours from Miami, FL to get to Palenque, Mexico. I got to spend 95% of those hours on a bus or waiting in the bus stations and definitely saw a different side of Cancun. Riding in the bus, you can look to one side and see “hotel island” off in the distance where all of the resorts are and you know people are there wading in the gulf, swimming in warm pools, and ordering poolside appetizers and drinks. However, you look to the other side or stop anywhere outside of “hotel island” you see Gotham City.
To visualize, picture yourself in a small crowded town. The buildings are mostly a cream color and all connected. Some are old, some are newer, and some are in pieces. Street vendors and taxi drivers stop you on each corner and ask if you need a ride or something to eat. You swallow because you’re hungry from traveling on a bus all day and night, but you cant purchase his homemade food because your not sure if you will be sick or not from eating it. As you smell the food he is cooking a different scent fills the air and your not sure where it comes from so you start to hold your breath and hope it will soon pass but you soon realize you cant get away from it. While your trying to find your way through the dim lights and crowded sidewalks you trip a few times on old bottles, cans, and other trash laying against the curbs. So you stop and think to yourself, “man this is the real Gotham City.” Then your traveling companion says to you, “you haven’t seen anything yet!”
Hearing that wasn’t too comforting but at least I know I have the best superhero watching my back. The Bible starts of with Genesis 1:1; “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” During the 60-hour drive to Palenque, I asked myself, “How can people treat God’s beautiful creation so poorly?” I still haven’t found the answer yet, but I am going to seek it each day until it has been revealed to me. Until then, thank God you don’t live in a real Gotham City. And be sure to take care of the one earth we all live on and share.
