First experience in The Third World

It began in 1977, {not as how my novel starts with me waking up in a ditch in Chalatenango, Guatemala after another, crazy night, partying and not paying attention, in Guate City
this was maybe 1988 or so?}
so, lets think of one cold winter morning in Raleigh, and a week off and how we figured we could drive to Pasquales, Colima, Mexico where the largest wave in the western hemishere is, never mentioned even in Surfer Magazine, but we knew about it, and in 2 days driving , surf 3 days and be back in another 2 days, we were off.
So it begins, Wilmington to New Orleans,for some rice and beans and a AJAX Oyster Bar lunch, and which was a very good first introduction to 'THE THIRD WORLD' New Orleans, land of Anne Rice and voodo-hoodo.
then straight to Neuvo Laredo and THE BORDER..........
then that long strange trip across Mexico, to the Pacific Coast. first time.