San Diego Union Tribune Diplomacy, sightseeing top Bush's Mexico trip By S. Lynne Walker and George E. Condon Jr. COPLEY NEWS SERVICE March 30, 2006 CANCUN, Mexico – President Bush arrived in Cancun yesterday evening for two days of diplomacy and some rare sightseeing, finding the beaches, roads and waterways of a city best known for spring breakers now bustling with security forces bracing for protesters. As helicopters flew over Cancun's posh tourist zone and Navy ships patrolled the pristine coastline, roadblocks slowed traffic to a crawl in front of Le Blanc Spa and Resort, where Bush will stay during his meetings with Mexican President Vicente Fox and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Despite the fears of Mexican authorities, though, few protesters had come to Cancun before Air Force One arrived with the U.S. president. For one of the few times in his presidency, Bush even agreed to do a little sightseeing. After being criticized for bypassing the Taj Mahal during his recent trip to India, Bush set aside time in his schedule today to see the Mayan ruins of Chichén Itzá and the Pyramid of Kukulkan about 100 miles from here. But even while he will don his tourist cap, he promised to leave his swimsuit behind. Declaring to an audience in Washington that he had to depart for Cancun, Bush jokingly said, “No Speedo suit here.” He added, “Thankfully.” With his stay less than 48 hours and several rounds of talks scheduled, the president will have little time for swimming anyway. Instead, he will be tackling long-standing issues of trade, migration and border security with Fox and Harper. Fox provided further evidence that the leaders view the problems – particularly immigration – as resistant to quick fixes. The Mexican president was asked by Reuters how long it will take before Mexicans do not feel the need to illegally cross the U.S. border in search of work. After a long pause, Fox responded, “Generations.” »Next Story»