The adventures of Chapman and Penman Part 2

Okay, so long time no write! Have come back from uni holidays flooded with things to do (but that is for my next post, first for a recap).


Chapman and I continued our adventures around Mexico, in one of the craziest times of the year - Semana Santa (Easter week) - when the whole country goes mad and floods to the beach! We made our way through the interesting state of Michoacan, passing through easter events on the way. Besides watching a good friday reenaccion procession (see photo below), we found ourself in a tiny town where a young man dressed in a very scary red mask was running around the main square terrorising the kids by chasing after them with a big rope. It's a tradition where the thorny looking devil guy represents Judas. Man, the mask was scary, especially when you saw the guy approaching you on the side of the road! (Joe has the photo of the mask dude.). We also went to a lot of mask making workshops, which were brilliant.

Anyway, zooming along - to our adventures on the central pacific coast - or the story as I would like to put it - 'THE APOCALYPSE, THE TSUNAMI AND THE PLAGUE'. (great title, hey?).

After jumping through a ridiculously packed beach town on easter saturday and partying with this lovely group of mexicans pictured below, Joe and I found ourself on what was supposed to be a very isolated and beautiful beach called Maruata. Sure, the beauty of the place couldnt be denied, but when we arrived it was certainly not isolated. The beach was chock-a-block of people camping, hammocks, cabins and a general feel of Byron-Nimbin drugged out seediness. We were not very impressed on first impression. But oh well, we slept in a cabin that night and over gin and tonics prayed that the next day there would be a massive APOCALYPTIC EXODUS from Maruata, with streams of holiday makers leaving the beach in a traffic jam of solemn faces.. while we would be relaxing in our little paradise. And that is pretty much what's happened! Easter sunday saw the place a lot more quiet, while all the hoardes returned to the city to work. Satisfied by being survivors at the end of the world, we rented a tent on the beach for $1.70 each and dug into fresh chili prawns, playing cards and books. This happiness lasted a couple of nights, until the biblical events kept happening, and next came what I am calling the 'TSUNAMI'. (not really). A series of huge waves culminated in a huge one coming right into our tent, and wetting all our stuff. Ha! all my important stuff survived in tact though, (camera and ipod thank god!). So, that night we slept in hammocks - the worst sleep of my life! at about 2am in the morning the breeze was bloody freezing, I had no dry clothes.... aaargh. So the next night saw us a few hours up the coast drinking margharitas and stuffing ourselves at a resort... until, poor Chapman was smited by a PLAGUE of stomach yuckness, or Montezuma's revenge or something.






Anyway, last weekend found us back in mexico city after a good-time holiday, but one that was certainly not without hiccups and rather absurd incidents. There is a lot more to describe, but hey. this is just a glimpse.

The last weekend was a great chill out of going to the soccer, enjoying such great meals in my neighbourhood, mariachi bands (pictured below) and a good jazz club.

Chapman is now in new york on his way to live in London for the forseeable future with his girlfriend and a great crowd over there. After this trip he has become my adopted brother! Love ya work Joe.