Solemne Fiesta al Patriarca SAN JOSE

On Sunday Quince and I went out to Rodeo de San Jose, the little town near Maria’s family’s ranch because it was their patron saint’s day and there was a big celebration that would culminate in eating the most delicious mole in Mexico, which Maria’s mother, Lidia, makes.

We took the city bus way out into the country outside of Guanajuato and got off at a little dirt road. We followed the road which soon became paved and found ourselves in a little tiny town, festooned with papel picado and all the vendors who are generally out for any celebration

There were lots of cowboys of all ages.

The main event while we were there was this jousting/golden ring type event where two guys race at a time and try to get a golden ring onto a stick off of a rope that they ride under.

When someone gets the ring they take it over to the queen and all the princesses who are standing on the back of a truck and give them the ring and give the queen a kiss. They were all a’twitter when this rotund fellow got the ring.

And a little more positive twittering when this handsome young lad got it.

Everyone else watches. Quince and I were wandering around poking our heads in the crowds trying to find good view spots that weren’t too crazy sunny and hot. A few times we found good spots just to decide to move away because of the super drunk fellows that would come and try to talk to us in no comprehensible language. I think we were the only gringas around.

We eventually found Lidia and joined her and a large group who walked across the road to the ranch to sit in the shade and eat the most delicious mole.

Horse Race

Last weekend our landlords took us to a horse race. They have a ranch outside of town and raise horses.

We drove out through the canyons and hills that surround Guanajuato, past mines, through a tiny little mining town, to some spot where people decided it was flat enough for a horse race. When we arrived we found out that we had missed the race, by just a few minutes. Then everyone stood around for a long time. As it turned out, our landlords’ horse lost, but they organized another race with their other horse, so we did get to see one.

They drew a line across the road and put a yellow rope across the road about 20 meters away. It was a very short race.

This is La Favorita, their horse that we got to see race. Notice the ingenious bareback strap. It is just a loose strap that is fastened around the horse and that the jockey tucks his legs into.

The race was over in seconds, and La Favorita won! Then we went home.

The thing that I came away from that experience with, is just how much more comfortable Mexicans seem to be with uncertainty and hanging out. Our inclination was to want to know what was happening, and when and for how long, but no one else seemed to be concerned at all.