Highlights from Mexico, Part 2

The first two days of our time in Mexico were our surfing safari days: we drove our rental car about 45 min to where the surf breaks are, stopping to rent a surfboard along the way. We strapped it to the top of the car which worked great except at any speed above 5 mph when it made an intense humming noise as the wind vibrated it against the roof of the car (through a towel, which would occasionally flap, adding some percussion to the performance).

The beach we decided to check out was La Lancha and the way to get there is to look for the bridge that goes over the La Lancha river, park in the empty lot near the cement factory and then look for the trail across the highway which meanders along the river, making it about a 15 min hike to the ocean through jungly terrain.


The path is good and the trip is well worth it: we were rewarded at the other end with a pristine and nearly abandoned beach right on a nice surf break. Total paradise.


The first day we went we did chat with some of the other people there. I chatted with a woman from Ottawa who was there so her kids could practice surfing (they'd been brought in by a surf guide). Eric chatted for a bit with three older dudes who turned up mid-afternoon, stood for a good 20 min staring wordlessly at the ocean, and then hopped in to catch some waves. We learned that two of the three of them were musicians and they were playing a gig in town that night. They invited us to come.

We ran into them again the next day having not made it to their show the night before ("Um, we couldn't find it"). As luck had it, they were playing again that night. This time we said we would make a more serious attempt to get there.

We did. It was at the River Cafe and it turned out to be a lovely spot along the Cuale River, half indoors and half out, with trees making up much of the decor. It was a way nicer place than we had been expecting, but I don't know why.

We were seated at a table right up front and the musicians were already playing. We recognized the two guys from the beach: one playing the violin, the other playing classical guitar. When we'd asked them what kind of music they played they had said "world music" and that's as good a description as I can come up with. They are Willie and the Locos and apparently they were number 2 on the world music billboard in 1993.

Willie is the violinist and he is one of those incredibly expressive musicians who contorts, flails and experiences a thousand emotions throughout each song, each emotion playing dramatically across his face.

I saw the guitarist notice us as we came in and smile, and when they finished the song he pointed us out to Willie who said a big hello. "Hello friends from the beach!" He exclaimed to the entire restaurant, looking at us. "From surfing La Lancha to music at the River Cafe. Amazing!" He seemed sincerely excited that we had actually showed up. They came to chat with us during the break and Willie in particular was very excited that we are having a baby.

After the show we went to say thanks and good night and Eric mentioned that I had felt Belvedere jumping around a bunch during one of the songs. Willie's face lit up: "I know! We were totally connecting during that song. He's an awesome kid!"

And the thing of it is, it is entirely possible.