Update & Request for Info re Gua-llywood

[colleen]

Well, this AM I was able to actually drive up Alonzo from the tunnel twd Juarez and the bookstore. It is clear that the movie production is going forward. But, gracias a dios, there are no fire trucks in Alonzo today. Yesterday around 10:30AM the tunnel was blocked by a locked and abandoned car just prior to the entry tunnel from Cantador. Those people could get to the the parking lot and as far as the turn down a short distance on Alonzo. I left my husband in the tunnel to walk to the store. Of course there was no pedestrian passage either. I stared screaming at them in Espanol but when they answered in English I was able to tell them where to go in English. Horrible. They think the fact that they are making a movie is permission to cause chaos in traffic.

Eventually everyone in the tunnel got out of their cars and started rocking the abandoned car, hoping to be able to break in and move the darn thing. Cops were called. People were helped to back out of the tunnel and a grua was ordered. The owner returned. Placas were taken. A cop got in next to him with a cop car in front and the tunnel was finally opened. Then in the PM all the traffic on Juarez was held up (who knows for how long?) while a grua was loading a different car in front of the basilica. I, of course, blame the movie crew for that also.

Given the closing on a main street (for road work) to feed Pocitos and Juarez, it is inexcusable that they have also closed Alonzo. Does anyone know how long they will be here? It is the beginning of week 2. One would think they could have shot a nice movie on Pastita and stayed out of the main traffic area of the city. Or many other places. Who are these people? Who OK'd this? Let me guess.

Seriously, I'd really like to know what else anyone has heard, read or experienced.

Thanks,

Colleen

[laconstance]

Last night and this morning, the movie crew was back on Alonzo. They seem to be centering the filming in and in front of the old houses between the ramp to the tunnel and the bakery on the south side of the street. Since we live nearby, we are aware of all of it constantly! This morning, the traffic (both auto and pedestrian) was flowing on Alonzo, but we had to wait maybe 20 seconds for the cameras to shoot a segment. No big deal. Only once in the last 10 days have we had to walk a detour to get home to Callej?n la Barranca, and that only because we didn't want to wait.

During the construction and movie-making there have always been one or two streets open to traffic. This morning, besides Alonzo which was open to traffic all the way, Sope?a was open to buses and other traffic. Even on Sunday night, when all traffic was closed around Plaza de la Paz for Illuminaci?nes, Alonzo was open for traffic, and buses.

I doubt that the movie crew had anything to do with your unfortunate incident of the locked and abandoned car. Movie crews know that they must make minimal disruption to normal life, even while on location, and they are pretty good at it, in my experience. But, you know how drivers and their vehicles are around Guanajuato -- they will park in the tiniest spot, without regard to others. Since the traffic has been diverted because of the construction, I have seen cars parked nose-in right up to the tables at the restaurants on Plaza de la Paz! I have seen cars parked nose-in at the caution tape for the movie location on Alonzo, even though it partly blocked the ramp to the tunnel which was supposed to be kept open for a detour -- this had nothing to do with the production company. And, don't get me started about the people who park on the sidewalks!

I just wish there was more enforcement and penalties for parking infractions by people who are determined to drive their cars (and park wherever) in the Centro.

[mr bill]

The Transito will respond and the Capit?n up near Pipila is quite helpful "call me anytime". .

Once in the Privada where I live a car was blocking our gate. I took a foto and drove around in my other car until I found a Transito on a moto. Showed him the foto and he called in the grua. He had to wait almost two hours by the car for the grua in case the owner showed up and wanted to drive away - which would not be allowed.

Later this afternoon I'll be ready to call the Capit?n and have an idiot's car towed was it is parked in my single lane driveway [two cars long] in front of my station wagon. Until then I have pasted -with lots of glue stick- a "No estacionarse aqu?" on the jerk's windshield.

An interesting side note about how the transit law is written: Having a garage door opening onto a street do not give you the right of access. The law states that a vehicle cannot block access so all those private have no legal force - but do serve as a reminder to common sense and courtesy.

[Heather]

We have found this information on the road closures etc re the film LUNA ESCONDIDA:

http://www.quanaxhuato.com/filmaran-peli...erradilla/

I suspect the authority that gave permission and the authority that organises road closures probably need to work together more closely.

[colleen]

Heather - you are an angel to find this info. It looks like we'll be spared much more aggravation. It can be shared w/ others in the city. Thanks.

Interesting chat re parking. Where I live, Privada de los Arquitectos, the road in the "privada" is 1 1/2 lanes, approximately. People from CFE and the kindergarten park across the street from me. I couldn't care less. But there are "no parking" signs and ones that say they will use a grua to tow the cars. Too bad that the signs face the wrong direction. As you climb the hill you could look to the left side of the road and read the sign but if you don't do that and go to the end of the privada and turn around to drive down and park on the right side of the road, (heading down) you will see the back side of some sign on a pole. Too bad it doesn't share any info w/ the person driving the car. They've never towed anyone and it isn't an inconvenience to me or the neighbors. Just another example of not having a clue what the heck is happening. All they need to do, if they actually care, it to nail the signs to the opposite side of the pole. Gimme a break!

[raquelita]

complaining to the city: I understand that the various city departments hold open house Monday mornings in the Presidencia Municipal starting I think at 9:30. At least you could get an opinion on the most effective way to make your voice heard. At the most, who knows?

[toli]

Well, I am really sorry to hear that you had to go through a series of events just because of the lack of fire trucks in Alonzo. First of all, it was really shocking for me to hear that a place like Alonzo does not have fire trucks and all. It is hard to imagine a movie production caused such chaos in Alonzo!