Monday 16th January
Last night Ian, Debbie and I went in to town to go to the free concert. When we arrived in the main square it was packed with people dancing to a large band. It wasn’t long before Debbie had been invited to dance with a young man and then he asked me. You step from one foot to the other, there is no gliding across the floor but you do get the odd twirl. He was very patient and said that the most important thing was to enjoy yourself. And we did, I danced with Ian and drank my first margarita. It was salty and sour. I had forgotten what it was like after so many years. Did I really like it? I didn’t finish it. I’ll have to find another local brew.
The concert was classical music with some Bach and Holst. There were two trumpet players, two trombones and a French horn. An unusual combination but it worked well. Afterwards we walked the dark empty streets to Passeo Montejo to admire the grand Spanish mansions lit up at night. It was spectacular after walking through the surrounding poverty. My legs were aching from so much walking and we made our way back to the house, passing a charming little theatre where a performance was well under way. This is a remarkable place.
Yesterday when we went to the beach I had to buy a swimming costume, mine was in England. I asked several women in Merida but there was none to be found. Eventually at the coast in little shops on the way to the beach I found what I didn’t really want but it was the only one that fitted me. I was squeezed behind a makeshift screen and was passed several two piece costumes in garish colours which were shapeless and baggy. ‘Mas grande?’ No I had the biggest they could offer and believe me some of the women in this country are big, small but big, and I couldn’t get a costume to fit me. Finally a lady gave me the largest that she had in the shop and it slipped over my British curves. ‘Stupendo!’ she declared and I bought it. I look like a fifties beach babe in my multi coloured suit with a flap of circular skirt to ease the eye on my ample hips. Once in the sea I felt as if I as swimming in my dress.
Tuesday 17th January
Yesterday was my first day working with the project. Pia, Ian and I went to the library; we were joined by Carlos, a local lad who Ian met last year. He is great to have along as whilst we are conducting English classes it was helpful to have someone who spoke Spanish to support us. Pia led the group as she is using the experience as part of her thesis at university.
We went to the beach again in the afternoon; a cruise ship had come in and it was crowded with Americans but you only had to walk a little way up the beach to find a quiet place. The jetty is the longest in the world and was built after the seisal trade died in order that container ships could land their goods. It was also an opportunity for cruise ships to arrive. You can see the lorries and the coaches trundling along the endless jetty backwards and forwards.
Today I went with Ian and Pia to where the girls. We caught a battered local bus at half past seven and it wound its way out of town and in and out of suburban areas giving us a chance to get a glimpse of Mexican life. When we got off, and God knows how Ian knew when it was, we turned onto a wide white dusty dirt track that stretched as far as the eye could see and I was told that we walked to the end and then around the corner and the house was secluded in amongst the trees. The sun was quite high by now and getting hotter. A car came along and was dawdling as it approached. We said that we were walking up the road and would be okay. The lady in the car was in fact the director of the project and gave us a lift. I was so pleased. I enjoyed working with the girls and because we broke into small groups I was determined to remember the names of the girls I was with; I go again on Friday and so time will tell.
Ian and I did a food shop on the way home and then caught a taxi back to the house, it is really hot today. We cleaned the kitchen after lunch and then we packed ourselves off to the Trinidad Hotel where they have a lovely secluded swimming pool. This is a like the old colonial days, the hotel has an ageing charm and I love it. I forgot my swimming costume and had to swim in my knickers and a tee shirt that I happened to have in my back pack. Not the most stylish outfit for this stylish pool. We were the only people there and we lounged about chatting shaded from the sun by huge trees. A plant I have in my sitting room at home is happily winding its way up one of the trees, no wonder I have to keep cutting it back.
I’ve just got back from dancing in the square. A big band played whilst three couples, with numbers on their backs, took to the floor and danced competing against each other. In the interval a young couple took the floor, the girl in the skimpiest of outfits and they showed us how it should really be done. Basically seduce each other. The trio returned and danced some more. It is an elderly competition and once the competition ended we were all invited to take to the floor, Ian and I led the Westerners and the locals showed us how. A local couple split us up and the man showed me how to make those short static steps and twist and turn whilst Ian slogged it out with his wife. We’re going again on Sunday night to the main plaza to try out our moves!
