Mariachi Surprise!

Sunday is the day locals take over the beaches and parks, their day off for family. It's also the day when all archeological ruins are free --- we've been to some in the past at Tulum and Uxmal. So at 8 am we had walked down the road to El Meco and went in the open gate and unattended entrance. Then a guy appears and says it's only free for Mexicans, and asks for the $7. We knew that wasn't correct but how can you argue?? So we had a short look and went out ---maybe next Sunday a different guy??

Then an easier-and-easier 5km walk to the bus stop for a long ride (65 cents) on Ruta 1 (Route 1) through downtown Cancun the tourist hotel zone. Most of you can imagine huge hotels, tacky "genuine craft" shops, and the usual Fleecing Zone of bars, rent-a-seadoo, and Senor Frog. what was interesting is the hotel zone has spread for miles, and all are top-end monsters like at Las Vegas, Bahrain, or Shanghai. So no pictures of that, but it was an easy sightseeing ride.

Stopped at the Comercial Mexicana for a snack of BBQ chicken wings and Nestea on the steps, watching the local version of NASCAR drivers going around the traffic circle. Not a Carl or a Buddy or a Junior in sight, though!

Later at home there was this really sharp LOUD trumpet sound echo-smashing off our walls! Too loud to be a CD ---- it was an 8-man Mariachi band marching to our pool/beach and playing LOUD. Turns out our professor-neighbour Flavio was having a beach party for the mother of his girlfriend, and surprised everyone with this Rent-a-Mariachi. (Pat says he's trying to get in good with the mother.) Ever had a band stroll through your yard and serenade your mom?? Me neither!

It was great music and good singing bu guys in full traditional Mariachi costume. Everything but the sombrero! 2 trumpets, 2 violins, 2 guitars, and an instrument that looked like a fat guitar but sounded like a bass. We hung over our second-level railing and listened for a long time. Great unexpected Sunday concert!

So there are some pictures of the day posted, and I'll try to add the 20-seconds of music video too.

(This morning we went to Cancun to do some business at an Office Max, and to get some more of those chicken wings. Right now Pat's doing laundry and I'm waiting for the water delivery guy. Not nearly as much fun as Mariachi Surprise!)