Going In The Right Direction .....

You've just arrived in Mexico City after a long flight. You realized you lost your traveler's checks and need to get to a bank fast. You picked up a pocket book for english to spanish translation at the local bookstore in your hometown. Smart thinking! You manage to get a taxi, and tell the driver to get you to a bank that can help pronto . After fumbling through your book, you reluctantly point to a spot in downtown Mexico City where he can drop you off. You get out of the car, unsure of where to go. You spot a friendly officer hoping he can point you in the right direction. You walk up and say "Hello!". But the officer turns and gives you a puzzled look. "Oh!" you say. You pull out your handy dandy pocket book and begin to fumble through your horribly butchered spanish version of "Where is the bank?" It's "¿Dónde está el banco? ", for those of us who are not spanish literate. Luckily, the bank is sitting on the corner block just ahead of you. The officer turns and points in the direction of the bank and says "siga todo derecho", which means "Keep going straight". You see the bank and you are saved. What an ending!!!!

Here is a list of responses the officer could have given you depending on the bank's location:

• "todo derecho" which means "straight ahead"
• "siga adelante por" which means "continue on"
• "siga la carretera" which means "follow the road"
• "siga todo derecho" which means "keep going straight"
  
• "doble a la izquierda" which means "turn left"
  
• "doble a la derecha" which means "turn right"
  
• "el cruce" which means "intersection"
  
• "so'lo a una cuadro de distancia" which means "just a block away"
  

Just think how much easier life could have been, if you took the time to learn spanish. A little food for thought....