Post June First

Happy Sunday ....

June 1st has come and gone, and although I have not ventured far from the house, I haven't heard of any crisis that occurred, at least nothing serious, like loss of life or limb !

Boats in the procession were beautiful, no guitars or loudspeakers this year.
And no BBQ.  Big disappointment for me, especially since I only got the courage to savour
it a few years ago.

I heard people talk about Dia de Marina for quite a few years before I ever had the chance to participate, and the BBQ was always raved about by BBQ lovers ... BBQ Mexican Style...
Descriptions of pig parts, or cow parts, big and small, recognizable and not, poking over the cauldren, the grisstle , the fat, the smoke, etc.  It all sounded absolutely horrorrfing to me, which only encouraged the the tellers of tales !!

After approximately 7 or 8 years of this, I saw the scene with my own eyes.

The Giant Family Size, ( tin ? ) clothes/wash/ bath tub, positioned on flaming rocks;
4 or 5 wood planks shoved under and around, sticking out 2 meters, like fireguards.
keeping it steady and burning with a fury; flames licking up the grease boiling over the sides, just enough to get that Special Mexican Gritt.

A large ring of fire, spread out on the playita, under Martita's house.
Pipala looming on the paddle, stirring and smiling and licking his lips.
A large crowd of people, standing close but not to close, ( it's 32 celsius in the shade )
doing the smoke shuffle, backwards forwards turn around, repeat...
smoke pouring over them like fog banks.

I never ventured too close, or looked too hard for 5 years, until i did.
Not look, just eat, and I never turned back after that.
It's not the same party without it. 
Like a Newfouldland homecoming without the Jiggs Dinner !!
Perhaps I will now become the vocal BBQ advocate.
How things change !!
   
There was no shortage of people, ( a little less this year being Wednesday ) , fun , music, beer, ( temporary ) dancing.  Fun to watch the men fall off the Mechanical Bull, for a few minutes.  I only was there 6 hours out of 12, missed the pole climb, ( it fell down ), and
the tug of war and bag races, if there were any. 

Last year the Glass Liquor bottles hanging from the pole !?,  were replaced with plastic ones, holding your chit to claim your prize.  One too many concussions over the years !

I had to leave when the horn section set up. Two too any Tubas for me !!
But I loved it all.
It's a special day with a special meaning for everyone in this town.

It's a marker for end of season, beginning of summer, intense sun, prayers for rain.

I'm looking forward with excitiement ..