Happy Mothers Day !!
We celebrate here on the 10th of May. What a Fiesta ! The Dance Hall full, I mean packed
with women young & old. The kindergarten class puts on a dance show, and food is served by the men. Another canoe full of beer, and dancing and games. It's impossible to keep up,
so I gave up trying....they were still going strong into the morning. The music stopped
around 4:oo am.
The women in this village work very hard, constantly. Now with electricity and some other
modern appliances life is a little easier, but not everyone has the amenities we are used to in the North, and even then there are still challenges other women would not be able to, or want to endure. That's why it was especially touching to see then all having such fun together.
Today is the wind up of Our Lady of Guadalupe Fiesta. No more bombs going off at 5:00 am. Not really bombs of course. More like a small, hand held cannon ! Sounds a little like
fireworks, without the lightshow. Some of us agree they don't seem as loud this year ?!
and besides Friday morning, which must have been the Main Event when they blasted off
quite a few, it isn't too bad. You get used to it.
Unlike the cats & dogs & birds.
The celebration today began at the pier, with people carrying a huge arch of colourful
balloons. The procession followed, holding streamers and etc. and they all got on the boat and made their way to the beach and along to the point, singing and playing guitar and across the bay. They were gone for a while, but came back passing right in front of my house singing ..... Viva Guadalupe Viva ..... Viva Yelapa Viva ....
Very special.
The town is decorated with colourful banners across the paths, even lining the pier which
I can see from my house. It all looks very festive. And as I said, the Church looks amazing.
The young people participating in the processions were so poised and elegant.
The costumes they wore and the floats and decorations were very well done. Obviously there is a lot of planning and preparation and hard work going into it all.
Even a schedule of events for the whole 9 days posted at the stores.
All this in a place where there isn't even a decent photo-copier !!
The School Library will be closing at the end of the month, so tomorrow will be spent organizing, packing up and waiting for books to be returned. There are 30 still out on loan,
if we get half back we will be happy. Such a great experience and I look forward to next year.
This is the first time the kids in Yelapa were introduced to a Library. What a concept.
It's going to take a few years for them to fully appreciate how it works and what it offers, but
you can see they are excited. The seed has been planted.
My brother in law is visiting. Always, always nice to have company. He's been to Yelapa
many times before. He was here before Craig, in 1968. Not too many people around back then, but people keep coming back.
He helped me rescue a butterfly who landed face up in my bucket of water. JJ came over to
see and picked it up, and we put it in a jar.
It was completely intact. Legs, everything, not a scratch on her, just wet.
It wasn't very colourful, mostly brown, but 1,000 shades of brown, and when we picked her up we could feel the tiny bones in the wings.
I was checking on her, moving the jar a little from time to time, and a few hours later she came back to life, and not long after, with my help, flew out of the jar.
That was special too.
The weather is perfect these last few weeks, but the ocean a little cooler than usual.
The wind has died down somewhat. I had JJ take the fan out of storage yesterday.
I turned it on today. By September there will be 3 fans in the house.
This is the time of washing and storing blankets, winter clothes etc. To have them all sun
dried to perfection, folded, and tucked away for the summer is a nice feeling.
I'm quite there yet, and now I have Casa Delfin on my plate, but will hire extra help for that.
May is such a great month here. Too long to describe the subtle changes, everywhere.
Yelapa time means many things , in a little village you become more aware of the minute
changes happening right under your nose, and above your head.
It's much easier to be in tune with Mother Nature and the cycle of life.
The river is only half as wide as usual, on the town side, but the lagoon is still full.
It won't rain for another month, at least, maybe less, God Willing.
Still a little water over the waterfall in town, but not enough in the pool to swim.
I am writing early today because we are going to Pollo Bollo BBQ restaurant tonight !
Good ribs & Margaritas !
Wish you could join me.
Until then ..... be good to your Mom if you've got one ...
k
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