Mexican Fiesta

Arch of red, white, green

Drinks with layers of color

Welcome us inside

Mariachi band

A Mexican fiesta

Great food awaits us

Salads of all sorts

While entertainment begins

Delighting the crowd

Few Americans

Many Mexicans present

A night of culture

Five hundred years back

Aztec dancers entertain

Flashy, bright costumes

Time for the main course

Tamales, rice, beans, fish, beef

So many choices

To the crowd’s delight

A young singer emerges

Lovely with talent

We gringos just smile

While Mexicans sing along

To songs they know well

The dancers return

In costumes from Veracruz

Six dancers in all

Their feet move quickly

And colors swirl in turning

Bright smiling faces

While costumes are changed

The announcer leads contests

We laugh at the kids

Dessert bar is next

Cakes, churros, plantains, and flan

My plate is too small

More dances are shared

From all over Mexico

Colorful costumes

The party now ends

Celebrants full and happy

Smiling as they leave

Written on 7/24/2013

Experiencing Matzatlan

On our second full day in Matzatlan, we decided it was a good day to go downtown.  After riding the shuttle to the downtown resort, we found a cab to take us to the old part of Matzatlan.  These cabs are really more like big golf carts with back seats, a top, a windshield and with the sides open to the air—natural air-conditioning which felt great on a warm, humid day.  Matzatlan is more spread out than we had realized; it was another 5 miles or so to our destination.  We drove along a beautiful stretch of beach with a walkway.  The surf was great to look at but too dangerous for swimming.  Our driver, Jorge, provided bits of tourist information as we rode; when he dropped us off at the Cathedral we found out that he also does tours for $20.  The inside of the Cathedral is ornate.  I tried to be discreet in my photo-taking (no flash) so as not to disturb anybody praying.  I think I could have sat there for a while in that peaceful, holy setting, so full of history.  I was able to read bits of the writings on the wall, but my Spanish is limited.

Our friend took us through a modern department store (with AC!) to show us that it looks just like one in the U.S.  From there we walked to the busy marketplace where you could buy tourist trinkets, clothing, jewelry, food and drink, raw meat, chicken, and fish.  What a contrast.  The colors and smells awakened my senses.  I am a pin collector but had no luck finding one.  I did not know the Spanish word for pin which might have helped.  I did find a purple Matzatlan T-shirt.

We walked through the old streets, visiting the Opera House and museum.  We enjoyed beer and chips with guacamole at an outside table at a restaurant next to a square with a gazebo.  Finally, we caught a cab to another part of town.  Our friend took us to a shop with a myriad of delightful items—I bought a bowl, small dish, and an ornament.  When you go shopping with two men, you have to make choices fairly quickly, especially when the next stop is food.

Don took us to Pancho’s, a good restaurant overlooking the beach, one with which he was familiar.  My shrimp fajita was tasty and filling plus the breeze through the open window was refreshing.  We watched people playing on the beach, vendors, parasailers, and sailboats.  I took photos of it all, including some of the beautiful tiles inside the restaurant.  After a while we caught a cab and then a shuttle back to the resort.  We took a dip in the pool to cool off and watched the sun set, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink.  Another day in Matzatlan had come to an end.

Written on 7/24/2013

Adjusting to Humidity

I wake up in the morning and I am sticky.  This is despite the fact that the suite has AC and I showered the night before.  For the past 30 years I have lived in a desert climate.  Recently the humidity there actually doubled—it went from 3% to 6%.  Yeah, it’s dry.  When the humidity surpasses 20% people start complaining that it’s muggy.  Matzatlan weather, with 55% humidity, is a bit of a change for us.

Since we are at the height of the Mexican tourist season, it seems that the resort doesn’t worry so much if the shuttle buses have AC.  With the coastal breezes, I’m sure that Matzatlan is much more comfortable than where these vacationers came from.  I look at the Mexicans on the bus with me and I wonder if they are as wet and sticky as I am.  Do their bodies adjust or are they simply used to it?

And then there’s the hair issue.  Mexican hair is much thicker than mine.  Most women seem to keep theirs long, often putting it up.  I look at my fine, short hair in the mirror and notice that it’s developed a new style.  No amount of effort with the curling iron can convince it to stay near my head.  I can “fix” it and within minutes it is doing its own thing again.  The sides and the back wave, sticking straight out, and my bangs curl.  At least it’s somewhat symmetrical.  I have given up.

I am learning that the best way to deal with the humidity is to take frequent dips in the pool.  It works quite well.  I think I could get used to this. . .

Written on 7/23/2013

First Days in Matzatlan

It is my second night in Matzatlan, Mexico, and I am sitting on our little balcony overlooking the ocean.  Soothing guitar and flute music floats through the night air.  The happy sound of people playing in the pools below is mixed with the pounding of the surf.  I have chosen the open patio over the air-conditioned suite even though I am rather hot and sticky.  I want to absorb it all.

This is my first time in Mexico.  We were invited to join my husband’s friend, Don, in his timeshare and we eagerly accepted.  We arrived yesterday afternoon and were able to get into our place around 5:00 p.m.  We quickly changed into our bathing suits and headed down to one of several pools to cool off.  The water was actually too warm for swimming but it felt good just to get wet.  We were all so tired that we fell asleep for a while on the lounge chairs.  We ate dinner outside at one of the resort’s restaurants.

For our first full day we decided to take it easy.  Coffee, pastry, and a banana at the deli for breakfast.  We found three lounge chairs under an umbrella next to a pool and that’s where we hung out the rest of the day.  We’d take a dip in the pool to cool off then return to our lounge chairs to read or watch the people.  Attentive waiters were around to take orders.  I started with ice water then later ordered a beer, Negra Modelo, and a quesadilla for lunch.  Bob and I moved down to the beach for a while to enjoy the surf.  However, we were back to the pool in time for two for one cocktail hour.  The mango margaritas were sensational!  We chose to take the shuttle over to the resort’s other location in downtown Matzatlan.  We enjoyed dinner in their restaurant on the beach, serenaded by a mariachi band which was standing down below on the sand. 

We noticed that we really stand out here.  I feel very gringo y vieja.  The people at both resorts are mostly Mexican and younger than us—lots of families.  I had expected more Americans since the resort really caters to Americans.  While walking downtown we met a guy (selling something) who told us that we are at the height of the Mexican tourist season.  Americans don’t usually come until October or November when it’s cooler.  Perhaps this is why we didn’t get the air-conditioned shuttle—the natives are used to the weather.

Because we stand out, we are the target of salespeople, from jewelry vendors to timeshare salespeople—this is especially true for Bob.  He seems to draw them like a magnet and they don’t go away.  The problem is that he is friendly, asks questions, and doesn’t say no.  It’s not that he ever says yes, or intends to—he just doesn’t say no.  Don and I are working on him to change this.  He is already improving.

Written on 7/21/2013

Fourth of July with Mom and Dad

This past week my husband and I drove to Lake Tahoe to stay with my parents at their timeshare.  It had been a year and a half since I had seen them.  I was struck by how much my dad, now 86, has slowed down.  He now walks slowly, slightly bent over.  My dad was content to sit on the small deck and enjoy the trees.  We spent a lot of time just talking.  My mom’s goal for this trip was to see the fireworks over Lake Tahoe.  My dad was not so excited about this and kept suggesting that it might rain, much to my mom’s chagrin.  It is a half-mile from the resort to Nevada Beach, the prime spot to observe the fireworks.  My dad insisted that he would be able to walk there—I pointed out to my worried mom that we were carrying chairs so he could sit if necessary.

We joined a crowd of people walking down to the beach (the road had been blocked off earlier in the day).  My parents were by far the oldest people on that path, but they did just fine.  They walked at their own pace, hand in hand.  Bob and I walked ahead, periodically stopping and waiting.  A woman approached me and commented how sweet it was to see them holding hands and suggested that I take a picture from behind—I took her advice.

We arrived at the beach and found a great spot.  The fireworks were fantastic and my mom was happy.  My parents walked back up to the condo, once again holding hands.

My parents have been married 63 years—that’s long time.  I watch how they support each other now that they each have some health problems.  My mom watches my dad like a hawk; he mostly accepts it.  Their simple devotion to each other is touching.

The most important thing I learned from my parents is love.  It is not only their love for each other but the love for us as children.  My mom was always there for us and was more likely to express her love verbally.  My dad was not demonstrative, but we had no doubt that he’d give us the shirt off his back if necessary.  We never doubted that we were loved—we were secure in this.  They also demonstrated how to treat others with respect and took us to church where these values were reinforced.

My parents were not able to give us a lot of material things but that didn’t matter. We had something much more valuable—love.