TIME FOR A BREAK

The peace and quiet has returned to Cofradia now the group of volunteers have left. We enjoy our day at Casa Gatos, even if it means having to cook our own meals again. At least we won't have to get up at the crack off dawn for the next week. 
We use the first day off to relax and catch up on e-mails. Ron and Vivien Grue from Camrose, Alberta arrive and spend some time with us. We make plans for the morning to go for a long walk to the restaurant down the road.


We leave at 11:00 am and as we walk by the sweat lodge in the hills, we have chance to see the natives at work preparing for a large ceremony this coming weekend. They explain how they make the little dome shaped "sauna" structure with mud and bamboo sticks. They then draw some beautiful designs onto the outside. An elder is busy constructing an altar from wood.
When we ask if it is alright to bring our next group of volunteers here, the response is very positive. They are most friendly and  invite us to take part in the event on Saturday. but we have other plans.

 

After a good hour and a half we reach the restaurant and wait for Ted who will meet us there for lunch. He offers us a ride back, but the country side is so beautiful, that we decide to walk back again, through the pastures and over the small dirt roads.

 We are getting used to having three hot meals a day and for the evening meal we indulge in some sinful deserts. Well, Joe and Ramiro do. Those two have a bad influence on each other; They  both have a serious sweet tooth.

Ramiro and I drive back to Roca Azul on Tuesday,  to spend a few days at the Motorhome.  The idea is to relax, but there is only so much sitting around one can do and after a few days on our own, we are happy that Ted is dropping Joe off for a visit over the weekend.


It's November 20; Dia de la Revolucion. We hear at the Rotary meeting in Jocotepec, that there will be a parade; Now, that's entertainment. Although I am not a big traditionalist, I love the way the Mexicans keep their traditions in so many different ways. Every single school in the city is present and donned in some kind of Revolutionary costume. Many have spent hours and days practicing their routine for this parade.
As we stand on the street corner, we watch the little kids in their outfits. Some with painted on mustaches, others with home made rifles.


It's difficult at times to take pictures. The mothers of the smallest ones walk along with the float fussing over their kids and feeding them snacks and drinks. They just can't leave those little ones alone.

The señoritas who traditionally road on horseback are now in the parade on quads. It sure is an odd sight.


 

 

Every group has something special to entertain us with. I particularly enjoy the young ladies who at every 100 meters or so, do a little dance routine, then, in a very synchronized method, reach in their basket and throw candy into the crowd. Seriously; No one is concerned about any safety hazard' It's harmless. I love it!!!   This is Mexico

 

 Of course a parade is not complete without the firetruck and the rescue team. A pretty good message comes across with a totalled car on a truckbed with two - just pretend -  dead bodies inside, who are being rescued out of the still burning car.

The firetruck in the parade is a donation of a Rotary Club in California, as the decal indicates.  
 
The festivities continue with entertainment on the malecon along the lake.  The police is stationed here in large numbers, but seem to be more occupied with stunts on their motorbikes then in catching the drug dealers, who I see exchanging white little plastic bags, right in front of my eyes.

  

One of the Rotary members has invited us to the wedding of his son, which takes place at 6:00 pm. It's quite a long ceremony with complete mass. There is standing room only and as I go outside for some fresh air, I see just as many people (especially the younger ones) outside on the plaza than inside the church.  Although we are invited to the reception, we decide to go home instead and play Rummikub.

Joe is all game when I suggest to get up in the morning before seven, to go for a walk and see the sun rise over the lake. If there is anything I will miss at Roca Azul it is the beautiful sunrise and the many birds. 

Monday morning we are up early again for the 3 hour drive back to Cofradia. We unpack everything and prepare lunch. Even the boys help. Tomorrow we'll be busy again with meetings and preparations for a special event.