CARNIVAL!!

Carnivals are all about Food, Beverage, and various entertainment. This particular one had plenty of all. One of the tricky things to do is to allow your brain to accept all of the fascinating "amplified noise" and think of it is a strange symphony. Vast amounts of Tequila helped.

Who could resist a Burrito with ingredients from these colorful pottery containers, presentation means a lot. Wish I could get some of these containers home. Guess that I will have to get out the pottery wheel and make our own.

How about some Chocolate covered and or just deep fried bananas for starters

This was the Dancing Horse Contest. The Big Brass Band Blared out a heavy beat as the various horses danced in the square. To touch the white line was a automatic disqualification. The best of show, for me, was a Big Black highly spirited Stallion. He took his place in the square and started dancing on Q, after a few minuets, he reared up pawing the air in tune, came down and proceeded to walk on three sides of the line then stepped out side of the line in defiance and completed his dance. Definitely the best of show in my book, with out any explanation, you just knew what the horse was thinking and the rider was just along for the ride.

Back to Food and variety, how about Golden Roasted Baby Goat or hot dogs different than I have ever seen. And I did didn't try the hotdogs but the goat was delicious

How about some roasted Quail or for some strange reason, Rabbits with heads on, Barb said that was so you could tell that they were not cats.

Talk about a bunch of Screaming kids. The activity in this shot really deserved a video. Most of these activity things would be illegal in the over regulated USA. What a pleasure to go back in time to the "unregulated times" when people were responsible for their own actions and there were still such things as accidents.

A big part of the thrill of this whole carnival was watching the work progress in the week previous to the opening. Barb and I do a morning walk in the park that is literally on the shore of the lake. You can imagine our wonderment as we watched this Arena being set up in Two days by 8 men. These guys were hustling and moving every minuet. We also wondered how this Carnival could last from the 9th to the 20th of Feb. Well last it did and with the Grand fanelly coming last night with "Fat Tuesday" We left for our house, two blocks away at 10:30 and there were still lines of people waiting to get in. Sat on our front balconey and the people were still streaming toward the Park at midnight. That is when the main attraction started, Marko Solis. Would have loved to take it in but know one is going to keep me up that late.

This photo was taken on the morning of the third day. As you can see, the arena is complete and will seat 3,600 people. We seen it filled to capacity on two of our visits. The roar of the crowd in this perfectly round setting is truly amazing. I am certain that the roar of the crowd is a compelling force for most entertainers. I know that the matadors seem to thrive on it.

And of coarse there was the nightly chicken Bouts, but I won't get in to that again. Got too much static from the last description. However, it is a highly regarded activity and in the final rounds, the purse was for 50,000 pesos. Very serious business.

And of coarse there was an ample supply of beautiful young girls and you just know that they all loved Santa, and why just hug up one when you can hug up two.

How about a Night Cap. Tequila anyone, The popular exotic drinks were $3 and we had our share.

A popular serving was this vertical BBQ. They would stack this marinated steak on this skewer and slowly roast it in front of the charcoal fire. The would continually shave off the cooked outer layer and serve it in tacos, Yummy and again, what a great presentation. Actually we thought that it dried it out a little more than we would have liked it but the flavor was sure there.

What is a Carnival with out a parade? So for starters how about a real Unicorn and a Elegant White Angel. A great costume and a wonderful beginning for a parade. A big change from the fire trucks and politicians at home.

Rides, Rides and more Rides, I thought that this one depicting the Statue Of Liberty was very interesting. We were there this evening with hundreds of screaming children, flashing lights, blaring music "amplified noise" and the ambiance was thrilling and the battery in my camera was dead.

We also found this one of the burning sky scraper surrounded by emergency vehicles, to be of peculiar interest. Not really sure of the message here but none the less interesting.

How about the House of Crazy Women, another peculiar one. I didn't know that they had a house for them. But here it is.

Back to the Bull Fights, These two mounted Matadors are the best in the business and were the featured attraction. The grace and skill of their art was amazing. Moving in such proximity of serious injury of both horse and rider, was a true display of some amazing horse man ship. Horses were the main theme of the carnival and there were over 200 on the grounds, some worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

And what is a parade with a giant Clown. you should have heard the children squeal as this agile clown a full 8 foot tall ambled up the street dancing to the multitude of music.

How about two Giant Clowns. How they walk/dance on these rough streets, is more that I will ever know.

Then you have to have a bunch of young copper skinned beauties shaking there round little butts to the rapid cadence of this hot salsa music. Iee carumba

Not sure but I think that this group was advertising for a local night club. Great act with live jazz music.

This colorful group really knew how to "shake that thing" to a lively Percussion beat.

And then you have to have the Legendary Tiger Queen of the Jungle, looked powerfully convincing to me. Didn't see Tarzan but I know that he was near by.

This sure looked like a Float from Hawaii but I think it actually represented an indigenous Ritual. It sure was precious. We sure could use a bunch of these grass skirts at the Holler.

A real princes on wonderful float of young people, what a wonderful site and what poise for young children.

COST OF LIVING AND THINGS TO DO AND DOING

The only housing we could find, during high season, was $400 a month for this 1,500 sq. ft. apartment (way more room than we need) with three bedrooms, two baths, one balcony over the street and another out the back. The best thing is that it is within walking distance to everything. It is costing us $300 a week to live, so add in $100 for the apartment and we are living "high on the hog" for $400 a week. This includes eating out for most all meals (just as cheap as fixing meals here) and at least one activity every day.

Last week we invented a local Pub Crawl. Let me explain. Down the Lake a ways there is a stretch of about 15 restaurants, all on the water, with beautiful lake/mountain view's, one right after the other. They are all open air type pavilions with a kitchen at one end. All have their own very tasteful atmosphere and each one different and very enjoyable. There is very little business there during the week and their big day is Sunday (kind of like the Holler) Well, we actually enjoy having a restaurant to our selves, so we picked an off day, took a bus to the bar/restaraunt at the far end ($1.40 bus fare for two), and walked in and ordered drinks. They would be happy to get some business and shower us with whatever their specialty snack was (each one had their own). We would enjoy the snacks, have a couple of drinks (the beer cost $1.50 each, snacks free) and go to the next bar, right on down the line. We hit five bars, shot a lot of photos, then another $1.40 bus ride and we were home. Cost for the day: $30 including tips. Fun, Wow, experience, Priceless. Only Ten to go and we will have done them all and now can pick our favorites.

We have also been to a Cock Fight, great experience and very professional, Several Carnivals (in near by local towns), Night Clubs,(too old too tiring) and Artisan Centers (great photo opts). Each town has it's big market day where you can purchase anything from "soup to nuts" (also great photo opt's). Tomorrow we arranged a tour of a large Hot Sauce Factory. Told their salesman that we wanted them to ship a case of their hot sauce to our Resort in NY and he said that he would pick us up and give us a tour of his factory. It is very big here and they even supply Chulula with their sauce (our favorite back in the US. Things are about to get a lot more spict back at the Holler). Looking forward to the Tour, it should be a "Hot One", pun intended.

In a few days we are going way up in to the mountains to a village settled by some Swiss explorers back in the mid 1800's. They call it the "Alps of Mexico". They say that it is cold up there, but the Swiss architecture and quaintness of the village is worth the trip.

The local "sweet Breads" are as delicious as they look. We admired them from a distance for a while, till at one point one of the vendors offered us a sample. We were delighted to find they had a wonderful flavor and not over sweet, as we had imagined. The dollar-fifty loaf was half gone by the time we got home. Two loaves next trip.


The warm rich colors utilized by the local artist, have captured my heart for years. The are community here is vast, with fine examples of 2D as well of 3D, Music, dance Theater etc. Many more photo examples to follow.


Here is Bill delivering the laundry, Mexican style.


This is a painting on the bottom of a local wood fired ceramic platter. We are constantly awed with the incredible art work that abounds in this humble community.


Here is some more spectacular art work. This oil painting if life size and hangs in the foyer of a bank.

The vendor was asking $30 for this this wonderful mirror. Now just how could we fold it up and fit it into our backpacks?


Want to buy a chance on a Indian Blanket? The weaver of this blanket said that it took him 4 months to produce this beautiful rug. He was selling it for 2,000 pesos about $180 dollars. There is no way that we can leave this area with out taking along at least a couple of the smaller versions.


The aroma of Bougainvillea fills the air and the colors just happen to match Barb's hat. This is the picnic area in the park where Barb and I walk and exercise every morning, while getting into shape to explore the nearby mountains. Living a mile above sea level takes a little acclimating. This is the same park that will host the up coming Carnival.



A colorful fleet of water taxies, floating on a sea of vegetation, stand ready to ferry awaiting passengers to a nearby historical Island. This Island and the brave defenders played a significant roll in the War of Independence with Spain and is held in high regard with all of Mexico.



Chicken BBQ is popular and so yummy. Barb and I eat here often. A full chicken dinner for two, complete with cabbage salad, cucumber pepper salad, salsa, a stack of tortes and two drinks, plus a doggy bag that serves two more meals at home: $8. Can't cook at home at these prices.



This entire town is paved with these wonderful coble stones. No speeding here and I am sure that changing the shocks becomes a annual thing. The true charm is hearing horses coming and going. Right out of a Clint Eastwood Western.



In order to satisfy the masses, mechanical methods had to come into play. This definitely lacks the charm of the hand method but still fascinating to watch and very good tasting as well.


These ever present Mariachi Musicians are very enjoyable and really complete the Mexican atmosphere. This shot is taken at one of the many beach restaurant/bars. you can picture the view that they share.


This lady was making tortes at one of the beach bars on our Pub Crawl. She was honored to have me take her picture and giggled when shower her this picture. The fresh wood baked tortes were yummy.


We have been intrigued by these natural spire trees. I still don't have the scientific name of them but believe they must be a member of the Arborvitae family. They are certainly impressive and this is a spectacular grouping.


Street musicians are common and very entertaining. For a few pesos, out of this Harp like instrument, often hand made, flows a relaxing, medley of music resembling a piano. Wish we had one of these at the Holler for your listening enjoyment.


Cock Fights have long been given a bad rap. This weekly fight is very professionally handled. I think about Gladiators and modern day boxing, with two adult humans going at it, with the intention of knocking the opponent out, often resulting in brain damage or death. By comparison, I'll take Rooster Fights


This sign stopped me in my tracks, until I noticed the spelling which means Ticket booth. At first I thought that I knew that Mexicans loved Tequila but I did not know that they started them off as children ;-)



Next week we are going to a Chili Cook Off that has been running annually for 19 years. The best of the best, What is Mexico without Chili. The local Marti Gras (Carnival) The largest in the area starts here on the 9 to the 20th. It is just two blocks from our apt. That is 12 days of continual partying, colorful Parades, Equestrian Events (some of the finest horsemanship in the world), and various contests of every description. It will also host famous musicians and concerts all week, awesome fire works, action rides, and over 250 vendors of the best of everything the Country Has to offer. We plan on taking in every bit of it. Ok, how about just a lot of it.