Hoo-wee. Have you noticed that I've been making a lot of highfalutin' promises lately and not delivering? I promised more of Chris's photos of the music festival...but I haven't got to downloading them. I promised photos of the Circo de los Niños performance, but none of mine came out well in the dark, and the "official" ones aren't posted yet on the entreAmigos site. Shoot.
How 'bout we go to a rodeo, instead?
This particular rodeo was another benefit, this one for our local church, which wants to build a rumpus room or some such thing, surely a good cause. And a good excuse to spend Sunday afternoon down the road a piece having one fine old time, I'll tell you what.
Pretty much the whole community turned out for this one, which featured banda music (LOTS of banda music), food from many of our local street restaurants, plenty of beer, bull riding, and dancing horses. How the heck can you miss that?
Each horse had it's own particular favorite song to dance to, which the banda obligingly played at full volume.
In my opinion, the best part of the rodeo was the bull riding. Well, not the bull riding per se, exactly, as most of the riders managed to hang on for less than the blink of an eye. I did manage to catch one, still precariously seated atop his chosen mount.
The part that was really fun was in between, when the caballeros tried to recapture the bulls and reinsert them in their paddock thingy, which idea the bulls strongly objected to.
Then there was the other in-between part, where we all waited an interminable amount of time for the caballeros to get the next bull ready to come out and object to the whole operation.
I took advantage of the lull to wander around and check out the scenery.
Bet you didn't know you could make a cowboy hat out of a Corona box, did you?
There was also a lot going on over at the bull shute.
The act that brought the crowd to its feet was an unexpected one. A bull who just would not get back inside after it threw its rider (in one second flat) was proving impossible to control.
Suddenly, a slight boy in jeans, who couldn't have been more than fourteen years old, jumped over the rail, leapt onto the back of the bull, and rode it bucking all the way around the ring and up to the gate of the shute, where the youngster catapulted himself onto the fence, spread-eagled, after which seven or eight adult men were able to shove the bull inside.
This all happened so fast, and was so astonishing, that I didn't get a picture. The kid got a standing ovation. His was certainly the longest and most thrilling ride of the day. No doubt he is the only one of the whole crew with a future in the rodeo.
Okay, I'll leave you for this week with a lot more bull.
I'm heading out in the morning for points east. I'll have some reports from Tonalá, where I'll be shopping for more lamparas and mirrors and who knows what else...and from Ajijic, where we'll see what the pink señorita Tracy Guadalupe is up to.
Keep those comments coming. I love 'em.
Happy trails!
✎ ✎ ✎
Wowser chica. It's been too long since I've visited your blog. However it made catching-up that much more enjoyable.
/s/ 1/3 of the tag team
Posted by: Gary | April 19, 2011 at 12:28 PM
Fabulous stories. Unending stories! You girl are writing your own story-what many people know nothing about, which I LOVE! Choosing to move, build a house and LIVE!
Go Candice!
PS
I too agree with Gretchen's comments! Love everything you have written!
Posted by: Patty Chalupsky | April 15, 2011 at 08:14 PM
Candice
I love reading your blog, always putting a smile on my face envisioning your travels and adventures. I had not heard of the little miracles, glad you shared. And thank you for the pictures of my la hija y yerno disfrutar de el rodeo. Hugs, Julie
Posted by: julie christoffersen | April 14, 2011 at 09:04 PM
I had sent a previous comment, but it must have been lost in space! No doubt something to do with infamous internet connections..... Candice, you have become a Mexican... first of all you are putting off for tomorrow what you would have otherwise done already..... living in the present.... the first step on your mexican journey...... and I love the Boy Who Saved The Bull Roundup... enjoy your shopping spree in Tonala... we were just there last week... tomorrow we head for Mazatmitla for the day.... what an amazing country.. hope to cross paths...
Posted by: Gretchen | March 20, 2011 at 08:57 PM
Great photos! Those horses are gorgeous - and love the corona hat - what a hoot. I would love to see the young boy do his thing - I bet that was something else!
Have fun on your travels!
Posted by: Jeanne | March 18, 2011 at 09:45 AM