Lent at Last

I never really thought that I would look forward to Lent.  Pagan that I am,  in my previous life,  I never really even thought about Lent.  But here....Lent is like the relief you feel when they stop jackhammering outside your window,  like when you're told you can go home from the mammogram waiting room,  like remembering that elusive word just when you think you're going senile.  Not that Mardi Gras is not just heaps of fun -- because it is. It's just.....INTENSE.  And now,  Lent gives us all a chance to draw that breath, sleep in without the din of cahotes,  and dwell on the beauty of spring in Ajijic. We know it is spring because the swallows are back, the jacaranda trees are a vibrant purple and there are three aisles of flip-flops on display at Walmart.  With the subtlety of the change of seasons in our village, Walmart is usually the true indicator of where we are climatically.  One day down vests, scarves and snow boots.  The next flip-flops.  See, it's spring.

This blog will be long on photos and short on text.  The highlight of the week of Carnaval was the Carnaval parade.  The Village People like this parade SO much that they do it twice -- both morning and evening of Fat Tuesday.  The parade is the same both times but by evening a sizable number of people are falling off floats, shedding even more clothing and generally behaving badly.  A number of Type A people manage to behave in that manner in the morning parade which is a bit startling (see photos).

Carnaval is a time of colorful figures on colorful floats.

It is also a time of strange & interesting creatures parading in the streets.

Part of the Carnaval tradition in Ajijic is throwing flour  at the bystanders.

More colorful costumes on these individuals.

Even an angel gets involved in the Carnaval celebration.

These two characters chose to stand rather than sit on their thrones.

This character dwarfs all the others in the parade.

Only in Mexico at Carnaval!  You know.  WILDLY inappropriate.  Where do they come up with these ideas?

Some of the local establishments use the parade to advertise.

Even Vino Blanco was recruited to appear in the Carnaval parade.  He got a bath and is fluffy.

No Carnaval parade is complete without some scantily clad individuals. Of advanced age.....

This shows the lengths to which people will go to decorate the floats for Carnaval.

Not only are the floats colorful, but so are the people...

and the more colorful the better.

Tom of Tom's Bar is in the foreground as the cave men are chased by Tyrannosauras Rex approach. (A little creationist history here perhaps?)

Notice how Tom covers the top of his beer bottle with his thumb. (He must know what is coming next.)

The cavemen proceed to cover Tom in even more flour. (And you thought he was well covered before this.)

Despite being covered in flour Tom continues to protect his precious beer.

Now Tom is truly coated in flour, but still protecting his Dos Equis.

Even this jeep is creatively decorated for the parade.

This float looks like Chinese New Year met Carnaval...

as it can only in Ajijic.

There are strange characters....

and even stranger characters that all come out for Carnaval.

This being Ajijic, even the charros are represented in the parade.

This gentlemen was featured in the last blog dancing by the malecon while balancing a beer on his head. (He is still dancing even with his cane.)

The ubiquitous Tom joins in the dance.

This young charro can't wait until he can trade in his juice for a beer.

Our new friends Doug & Charlene obviously enjoyed the parade and also ended up covered in flour.
(All of the Carnaval photos were taken by Deirdre with photo editing by Michael, since Michael was occupied with The Lake Chapala Society business on that day.)

Our son Alex arrived just after the Carnaval parade and has been able to partake of the quiet and laid back aura of the Village.  Only one field trip (he requested "rustic") was taken to a charming village called Comala.  It is one of the "Pueblos Magicos".  I will not insult you by providing a translation of the term.  We spent an idyllic day sopping up the ambiance along with Margaritas and delicious tapas type food.  Well, Michael was driving so no sopping for him.

The government building by the plaza in Comala.

The plaza is always the heart of any village or town in Mexico. It offers a place to gather and relax in the shade.

Even the colonnaded government building allows a shady area.

Looking into the plaza there is always a church very near the plaza...

and every church has a bell tower

Every plaza also has a bandstand with elaborate flourishes.

Which was good, because on the highway back we saw multiple accidents probably caused by too many Margaritas.  Well, actually one was caused by a tolvanera.  As we were driving to Comala, we passed through a long area of dry lake bed (only water in the rainy season).  We saw sign after sign that strongly suggested that we reduce our speed should we encounter a tolvanera.  We opined on what that might be for several miles until the threat receded and we lost focus. On the return trip we found out the answer.

"Why look!" said Alex.  "There is a dust devil."  And there was.  It was a little big for a dust devil but it was far away and we were very excited and intrigued.  The sky was looking quite peculiar and there seemed to be a lot of dust in the air.  It became quite clear that tolvaneras were dust storms replete with dust devils of some magnitude.  By the end of the lake bed we had seen three (one of which was very large and looked like the smaller version of a tornado).  A car had gone over the embankment and the signs made perfect sense at this point. (Since Michael was driving and we were on the high speed cuota, there are no pictures of the tolvaneras.)

We arrived at the casa in one piece and have been basking poolside and trying to catch up on the more boring, yet critical,  aspects of life.   Alex leaves Wednesday and Maggie and Bob arrive Friday. Always fun to see people come and always sad to see them go but we are lucky that we get to have so many people visit.  Take care.  Will blog again when something happens-- but remember, it's Lent.  Could be a while.