Tijuana Gringo |
Michael Thomas |
12 December 2000. |
lit light lite laity
late latte lot of
Lot's wife
Lotto
Lo
Low
Slow slough slew
sleigh sleight slit
salute slut sloop slop slopeslatternly slipshod slowed
slippery celestial celebrateslink slunk skunk skank
shrink shrank shrunk
shush shucks shacks shakesslush lush loose louse
blush blouse blues
bush booze
It was the night of Guadalupe last night. Maria and I walked down to the cathedral with cousin Daniel and his landlord Carlos. Two gringos from San Diego and two Mexicanos from Tijuana and Sonora. Kids were setting off fireworks in the street. Traffic had been shunted around to other blocks and the crowds filled the intersection. One whole block of Niños Heroes (C Street) in front of the cathedral is full of tents and shops and little cookshops, food food food and market market market oh yes yes yes Mexico !
We wandered through the stalls and mini-diners, had fried bananas with jam and powdered sugar, and hot chocolate.
Then we peeked into the cathedral -- what a mob!!! Hundreds and hundreds jammed into the building, and up at the altar -- a mariachi orchestra !
Yeah. A mariachi mass with the band playing and singing song after song after song. "You realize, gringo," Carlos said to Daniel, and also airily waved at me, "well, gringos both, I suppose; you realize they'll go on until after midnight."
"Yeah. I used to watch it on television from Mexico City every year. It's happening right now in every city and town across Mexico. I think it's... inspiring."
"Oh dear. Poor gringo. You've got it bad, haven't you -- that obsession with Mexico? Just like your cousin here, no?"
Maria snuggled closer against my side, urging me to hug her a little tighter.