Monday, February 6, 2012

Monday and it's time to catch up

Brother Charles left us on Saturday, but just before we parted at the airport we had to taste "the best burritos in the world" so says the champ of burrito munchers - Patsy's Sandy B. The tacos hang out in a small roadside cafe under the pedestrian arch at the airport, a quick and easy walk for us all. Marlin tacos are the speciality of the house and they were good. One odd thing was that the waiters directed us the store next door to buy the beer. Inside the terminal the place was just as crowded this week as it was last week. Saturday is a bad day to travel to and from PVR.
Sign advertising the Primary elections downtown

Sunday was the start of phase three - the next ten days are ours; will we be able to stand ourselves? Skipping the walk because we had to be downtown by ten o clock. We were off to see the Constitution Day Parade. Not knowing what it was we just hopped a bus and got off where we thought it might be. Arriving at the main square we saw hundreds of people neatly queued in a circular line around the square. As we stood the lineup grew and we were intrigued. Walking to the front and spying tables and ballot boxes political juices kicked in and interest was piqued. A fellow with a nametag identifying him as a candidate's representative appeared and I asked what was going on. He told us it was a Primary Election for the PAN party and all were here to vote on their selection for three positions - President, Governor and National Deputy. All we could think was that these were mighty committed folks. When we came back a few hours later we saw from the bus that the lines had become bigger. Congratulations to the organisers for getting out the vote; most people had to travel in to Town to do this.

It turned out the parade was the Annual Charros de Puerto Vallarta celebration. PV is based on farming and cattle ranching is a big part of this and any occasion that lets the industry dress up and parade is a welcome and festive  opportunity. This year was the fifteenth year for the parade. We had been told it was on the Malecon, but nothing was happening there at the appointed time. Seeing a family, on horses, coming down the street we decided to follow them to find out what was really going on - people on the street did not know. Over the bridge into Old Town we came upon the collection of horse trailers and 'charros'. Asking them about the time we were told "11am". Good, time for a coffee at the "Page in the Sun". Back at the Malecon an hour later the crowds had swelled but we sat down on the roadside step and waited.

The parade consisted of about one hundred and fifty horses and riders, two bands and a couple of roping exhibitions. A community and family affair the riders lined up by the regional associations that they belonged to. Except the women's team they rode as one. Loudly cheered by all on the sidelines. There were three roping displays, two charros on the ground and one on his horse. The parade finished with the cleanup crew armed with brooms and shovels picking up the "pucks".

Feeling hungry and knowing where there was a good place to eat, we walked over to "Fredy Tucan's" this restaurant specialises in breakfasts and closes at two in the afternoon, We arrived at twelve forty-five to see the usual lineup. This place is very popular with the Mexicans even though it is completely Americanised in makeup. Hearing the constant refrain - "fifteen minutes to wait" we knew it was going to be longer - and it was.

Completely fed and watered back to the Plaza Marina and into the grocery store to buy a couple of days supplies. Into the pool and called it a day.

here is a video of one of the ropers at the parade


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