A 72 Hour Visa Run Mid-Pandemic

Fresh roses surround the Virgen Guadalupe as she looks down on the travelers, me included.

I sit at the SMA Transportes San Miguel bus station on a Sunday morning, at the height of the pandemic. And the holiday week of Thanksgiving. Not a time to travel. Virus rates in the US continue to skyrocket. Mexico wins the award for having the most cases in the world. Previously, frequent travelers like me would scan a travel site, book reservations and be gone. Now, we develop new plans.

I feel I have little choice but to make this trip, unwanted as it is. I have told no one I am taking this trip. I am aware how foolish it sounds to many but again, I feel I have little choice other than to soon be an illegal immigrant in Mexico, action I loathe to take. I do not like hiding plans, especially from my partner, currently in the US with numerous medical issues. I do not always understand his anger about various issues and given a round we had about this topic a month ago, I choose to keep things calm. Especially this week I want all to be calm. He has another skin cancer procedure along with a prostate cancer biopsy.

I text and email, giving nonverbal assurances I never lie to him about where I am or what I am doing. I try to keep conversations focused on him. A telltale slip could uncover my location and intent. I want harmony only, not a double life.

Mexico is little different from other countries. Visas are given for tourists, for work, for diplomacy, and for longer residencies. I’ve been here on and off for…