Mind Scraps: Random Razorbacks

25.02.10

Spin Pizza with Bob. First, Sonoma salad complete with red leaf, spinach, raisins, goat cheese, grapes, apples, glazed pecans and Blood Orange vinaigrette. My caramelized onion and goat cheese pizza was sweet and savory all at once. Washed down the pizza with house Chianti. An excellent little wine and pizza joint in Kansas City, MO.

Karlos joins us. After a hearty chat we all head to salsa. With just the three of us, I had the luxury of two dance partners. ¡Que rico bailar!

****

26.02.10

Final scramble to finish packing before catching the bus. Knowing I’ll miss morning and evening talks with Kathy so much. A warm, heartfelt goodbye with Kathy. Bob meets me for lunch before I go… smoky, belly-filling KC BBQ. Yum!

****

27.02.10

Born to Run, Chris McDougall’s book about running and the seemingly mythical Tarahumara engages the reader through fanciful tales of mystery and near magical characters. But, I wonder if the truth has been too exaggerated? Excellent storytelling… yet, is it just a tourist’s rose-colored take on the Rarámuri reality? Still have to finish…

We cross the border into Mexico. Customs was easy and smooth. Surprising to know that Greyhound isn’t the only bus line operating with significant reach in the U.S. Los Paisanos is significantly cheaper than Greyhound. I’m the only gringa or gringo for that matter. Seems like the Latin community has its own network of more affordable transportation in the U.S. Who knew? Certainly not most gringos who are too afraid of the concept of getting on a bus with strangers.

I’m now in one of the world’s most dangerous cities. Yet, I encounter nothing that’s alarming. Other than the frequent truck filled with uniformed military rumbling by, Juarez could be any other dusty, underdeveloped city. Yet, just days ago, 13 young teens were savagely slaughtered at a private party. Other than barbaric drug grunts wanting to assert dominance, these kids had nothing to do with the current drug war. Mexico is finally starting to rally against the blatant disregard for innocent life. What can the people accomplish? Many are fleeing…

I look up from the wise words of the masters and find a dry, desert landscape out my window. Small, sharp peaks stick up from the ground reminding me of a more desolate Sonic the Hedgehog landscape: razor blade spikes randomly springing out from the flat and dusty earth.

Arrive in Chihuahua two and a half hours behind schedule. One of the film crew members, David, picks me up at the bus agency. We drop my bags at the house of my CS host before stuffing our bellies at Diferencias. As long as you order a beer or lemonade, the unending dishes of food keep coming for free. Stuffed myself with chips, salsa, veggie soup, small tacitos and two different meat dishes. Haven’t been eating much meat… Mexican cuisine is heavily based upon meat. Need to figure out a way to mitigate that. The meat is packed with flavor, but I just don’t think meat is a daily diet necessity, let alone a must for every course throughout the day.

Walk around downtown Chihuahua and visit the Palacio del Gobierno and Angel of Liberty, before visiting a couple of David’s friends.

I make it back to the house of my CS hosts (Koko, Polo and Ulysis) just in time to jump in the shower and join them for a friend’s birthday. By the time we arrive at the party, the warm shower has successfully reminded me of my less than adequate sleep. I end up being escorted upstairs to a bed to catch some zzzs while the rest celebrate below. Uh… that’s a first. I’m sure I made a most friendly gringa impression. Oh well… when exhaustion hits… one has to recharge.

Awakened to leave. Koko takes me to visit his friend Felix before turning in for the night. They’re both surprised with how much I know about what’s going on in the state of Chihuahua. Not that I know much, but, they point out that most travelers have no clue about the degree of violence. Cool people. Finally, we head back to get some shut eye. The breezy, 70-degree weather has now dropped to a brisk 40-something. Brrr… at 4 am I cocoon myself under blankets… head and all… curling as if bunking down in a swirling snail’s shell.

****

28.02.10

Wake around 11:30… everyone else still zonked. Venture out to buy water at a local super market. Catch up on notes. Hang out with David and two of his friends all afternoon. Easy company… very relaxed. Becoming yet more eager to get out into the canyon…

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This entry was posted on Monday, March 1st, 2010 at 12:03 am. It is filed under Latin America, Mexico, Musings, Travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.