“Let’s go!” she says, already sporting her swim shirt.
Big changes in the works for the Berry clan!
Despite our love for San Cristobal de las Casas (and I mean head-over-heals, favorite-place-we’ve-ever-lived kind of love) we’ve known for some time that we wouldn’t stay forever. There are just a few things that we couldn’t reconcile no matter how many ways we wove them…school options for the kids as they grow, the incompatibility of my mold allergies with the damp, cool climate (I sometimes forget what it’s like to breath through my nose) and the limited opportunities for Hunter as far as work is concerned.
So we put it out there a few months ago that we were open to change (though neither of us felt ready to leave Mexico) and what do you know – a door opened on the Caribbean coast. We’re moving to the beach! Hunter will draw from years of experience as a green-building, solar energy-peddling, people-loving jack-of-all-trades to manage the development of an off-grid eco-community in the jungles of Tulum. He was practically made for this job, or it for him – either way, it’s a pretty fine fit. The kids will attend a trilingual international school (half day English, half day Spanish with French thrown in for kicks) that appears to be equally fitting for the current needs of our family. I, personally, am beside myself with excitement that I get to continue my Spanish journey. I’m obsessed, I tell you…in love, in lust and intent on acquiring the fluency I dream of (if I’ve ever wanted something more intensely, I can’t remember what it was).
There’s not been much time for writing in the past couple of weeks, what with multiple trips back and forth, packing, garage sale-ing and the beginnings of many a sad farewell (Hunter’s already moved and we’re just weeks behind him), but I did want to share a few photos from our crazy Chiapan-style county fair experience a couple weeks ago. I’m normally not one for carnivals, but an old-school Mexican feria with wooly-skirted Maya white-knuckling hand-me-down death-trap Tilt-a-Whirls long since cast from the lawsuit-fearing first world? The irony was even more delicious than our fresh-fried chalupas.
“Fair of spring and peace…the festival that unites us.”
Evidently, the fair is a fine place to find bargains on whatever home wares you’re lacking. Interestingly, there were many more people buying plastic tubs, buckets and blankets than fancy high-peso galvanized soup pots and frying pans. Flowery pot sets such as these are likely bought once as wedding gifts, then used for forever and a day.
China and her plastics are big business in Mexico. I’m amazed at how much crap you can buy for a few pesos…
Refrigerator magnets, anyone? Helps if you actually own a fridge…
Hunter’s idea, of course…
These mannequin booties are everywhere. Actual bodies that would fit into pants like these are almost non-existent, however…
I have no idea who this guy is, but he must be quite the teenage heartthrob. There were three racks like this covered in his “autographed” photos…
It’s totally common here for mothers to have their babies with them while they work. It’s also rare to see a kid under three being carried without a sling of some sort…
View from the gondola. There must have been 10 times as many people once night fell…
Riding the Zyclon with Eli was the first time I’ve feared for my life since moving to Mexico. Not even kidding. Never again will I be persuaded to ride a 30+-year-old roller coaster made to be set up and taken down in a matter of hours…
Especially not in a place where this is totally acceptable…
Mayan families, a statue of liberty and a michelada tent…
Mamas watching their kids on the bumper cars…
By far my favorite part of the festivals here (aside from the people watching) is the fact that they still sell real, fresh food. It may be greasy, but it sure is tasty and the majority is made right there in front of you…
We opted for taquitos and empanadas at one of the many family-run food booths. Our señora made the tortillas fresh, filled them, fried them, then covered them with beans, veggies and sharp, crumbled cheese. SO good.
We have yet to acquire a taste, however, for the local ponche — a super-sweet pineapple drink with floating bits of cake.
And of course, you can’t have a proper fair without a Texas twister…
I’ve got about a million things I look forward to sharing with you now that the dust has settled a bit and our house is empty of distractions (quite literally). And I guess I’d better get to it, as the next round of crazy is just around the corner!
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Your crazy wonderful life where cake floats in a sea of pineapple juice. You can’t even dream that up!
I can’t believe that I never knew you were leaving in San Cristobal. That is one of my favorite places in Mexico. I got to travel to the outlying villages to see the crafts, particularly weaving, being done there. I was there over Easter–my was that special.
And now Tulum, the fortress over the sea. I broke my toe getting into that sea to scuba. But a man already in the water “set” if for me right then & there. That was maybe 1975–a lifetime ago.
Many, many best wishes for an easy transition and a wonderful time learning the particular dialect of this region!
Have a safe and happy move. Look forward to some beach photos soon.
The zeal with which you embrace this move is inspiring. With possible similar changes looming on the horizon, I’ve had some growing anxiety but this post has helped put me at ease. It reminded me that life just ain’t so complicated and if a big move comes, it comes.
Also, that area around Tulum is the only place Nicole and I have been in Mexico. We visited the old village and imagined what it must have been like to witness an early morning blood letting and then walk fifty yards to the crystal blue ocean for a dip. Also, I think the place where “Blue Lagoon” was filmed is nearby.
Peace and blessings to you on the next leg of your journey.
What a hoot! I so enjoyed looking at your photos of the fair and all its wonderful delicious zaniness. It is inspiring to read about your move and your willingness to embrace it as a positive. We would love to live overseas with our family at some point, but so far have not been brave enough to take that leap. Thanks for the inspiration and good luck!
http://theminddoeswander.wordpress.com/2012/05/22/catching-some-air-picking-some-glass/
Beth, I’m new to you and your blog. I found you via Mothering where I’m also a contributing blogger. I love your candidness and approach towards life. Good luck with this move and I’ll be following along as you make a life by the water. Best~
Officially homesick for Mexico after seeing those photos of la feria. I lived in Veracruz for about a year until around when you were writing this post. I’ve got to tell my husband about this job Hunter got, “green building and solar peddling,” it was something he was considering doing too, but we didn’t realise it was possible in Mexico (for pesos). This post has renewed my hope that we can return again very soon (before our youngest turns 2 and her airfare increases!!).