by Joe Duclos
Nancy and I had been living in our travel trailer in Paamul for a month,
having arrived via the short-lived Tampa ferry on New Years Day '03. We had
been enjoying morning swims, walks on the deserted beach to the north,
snorkeling the reef just offshore, Spanish classes with Carlos at the
library in Akumal, finding new foods to prepare, meeting new friends, and
generally having a wonderful time. We decided it was time to explore the
interior so we decided to head to Merida for a weekend with a stop at
Chitzen Itza on the way.
We left on Friday January 31 via the Coba road, heading up to catch the
old Highway 180 in Chemax. It was a gorgeous day and we enjoyed a leisurely
drive through the small towns we encountered along the way. It was early
afternoon when we reached the center of Valladolid so we decided to stop for
lunch. Parking on the west side of the Zocalo we made our way to the patio
restaurant at the Hotel Maria de la Luz. We sat watching the activity in and
around the square, tucking into terrific lime soup, and taking in the smells
from the kitchen, the fumes from the city buses, the hustle and bustle of a
busy town in the middle of the day.
Suddenly we heard a volley of gunshots that seemed to come from the
other side of the parque. We watched as a line of people came into view
across the way, Mayan folk in traditional garb, many holding colorful
banners that waved in the light tropical breeze, and the wheezy sound of an
off-key trumpet band wafting through the air. Amazingly the frantic traffic
came to a holt, with no Policias to be seen. It was if the entire town
suspended its busy day for this event. The procession wound its way around
he edge of the square and passed along. We didn't see it but we assume that
they wound up at the Eglesia el la Candelaria just a few blocks away.
The official date for the Dia de la Candelaria was two days away but
they find a way to stretch the fun.
I love Mexico....
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