Saturday, November 24, 2007

The Evening Parade of Ants





Every evening just after dusk leafcutter ants come out of their hole and march beside our patio pad to a bush out front to harvest its leaves and flowers. I can't get that stupid song out of my head while watching them. Some of you know the song I mean...

Puerto Vallarta




We had the opportunity to head into Vallarta for the day and basically walked around looking at tons of tourist souvenirs and dozens of bars and resturants. One highlight ironically was the trip to Wal-Mart where we stocked up on some essential items like a couple of new bathing suits for Deb and a relatively decent map of Mexico.

Mexican Rodeo




The Rodeo is a little different than the CPRA in that it is done with a team of five against two other teams. The teams have to present the horses for inspection and to demonstrate that they and the horse are skilled enough to procede. All the baqueros are skilled in roping. At one point the baquero had a big lassoo circling around himself then he turned it 90 degrees and jumped through it twice and then got to throw the lassoo out to rope a stampeding horse. It was amazing. It was quite dark so I don't have many photos, but I do have VDO that I will try and post in the future.

Friday, November 23, 2007

Revolution Day Parade 5 - La Penita

November 20th is Revolution Day in Mexico and all over the country in small towns and large cities parades are held celebrating the event. La Penita is a village of about 1000 people and is located 60 kilometers north of Puerto Vallarta on the Pacific coast. For the most part this parade is organized by the schools in the area and includes colourful costumes, dancing, and skits demonstrating events from the revolution. The parade travels about eight blocks in total, down the main avenue and takes about four hours to pass. I can't imagine how long the staging area must be. This really is a community event in some parts of the route the crowd spilled off the curb and into the street twelve or fourteen deep. Oh by the way the temperature was 32C - these are some resiliant kids

Revolution Day Parade 4 - La Penita



Revolution Day Parade 3 - La Penita

Ana Karen is a high school student that works part-time in the RV park. She is going to graduate this spring and as I understand it, as present she is getting the opportunity to visit British Columbia for the summer. Since she is the only person we know in the parade we have to include her on the blog. (see, I told you I would)


Revolution Day Parade 2 - La Penita



Revolution Day Parade 1 - La Penita