Things that I have seen in Mexico so far

by philg

Here are some random things that I have observed so far on this trip to Mexico:



  • eight Mexicans speaking English to each other all night at a dinner party so that their one American guest (me) would not feel left out
  • a family gathered around the grave of a loved one offering me a drink of whiskey
  • families staying up all night with musicians and refreshments
  • two Japanese tourists, complete with nametags and three cameras, marching in Santa Maria del Tule’s “Parade of Death”
  • three tall white Americans dressed by REI and bedizened with cameras in a small village’s graveyard saying “we’re not tourists, we’re photographers”
  • tens of thousands of flowers for sale in an open-air market with upbeat Latin music playing
  • enormous banners hanging from the sides of churches and cathedrals arguing against the legalization of abortion (abortion is currently illegal in Mexico but if you have USD$3000 you can get breast augmentation, laser hair removal, Viagra (“30% off” according to the big signs in Oaxacan pharmacies), and a procedure in a discreet private clinic)
  • Spanish-speakers cringing in pain when I pronounce Oaxaca “Oh-axe-a-ka” (to be consistent with the English pronunciation of a hard “ex” in “Mexico”)
  • multi-acre downtown cactus garden from the balcony of one of the world’s best prehispanic art museums
  • a brass band playing and costumed locals dancing for hours underneath the balcony next to my restaurant table on the main square in Oaxaca

In addition to seeing a lot of interesting and fun things I found a good job to apply for once I get my commercial helicopter rating.  It seems that on the north shores of the Hawaiian islands there are surfers who pay to be dropped from a helicopter into the middle of a swell.  From there they get onto a jetski and are towed to the top of the 18-24 foot waves that are typical in the Hawaiian winter.  One would need an endorsement to be legal to carry surfboards externally strapped to the helicopter skids but otherwise it didn’t sound too challenging and you’d be meeting cool people all day.

8 thoughts on “Things that I have seen in Mexico so far”

  1. good luck,

    given that its HI, you’d probably
    be competing with ex-military guys w/ 5000+ hrs of helo time. Military helo time.

    when your in HI, check out the ads for helo
    tours. The pilots are all ex-Vietnam era
    salty dogs w/ beaucoup hrs.

  3. Philip-
    That does sound like a fun job and the people would be very very cool. My question (to you and your readers) is related to this part of the entry–

    “From there they get onto a jetski and are towed to the top of the 18-24 foot waves”

    How do the guys with the jetskis get into the middle of the swell? Are they Heli-lifted there also? If the answer is obvious– forgive me as I am just a stupid woman who thinks this is ultra cool.

    Also– what did people in Mexico say about the election? 🙁

    Helen

  4. It is interesting how people get used to things and don’t notice them anymore.

    I am Russian living in Cyprus (Greek-speaking island in Mediterranean sea) for several years now. Any time there an English speaking person in Russian company, everyone starts speaking English full time. Same happens when in Greek/Cypriot company – they all start speaking English.

    In the worst case scenario, when there is someone who doesn’t speak Greek – people translate everything to Greek and English, so that EVERYONE can understand EVERYTHING.

    I guess that is just polite behavior…

  6. Alex did not miss me! He spent the week with my downstairs neighbor whom he adores. She took him surfing in Rhode Island and for walks in the woods in the Boston suburbs as well as to his usual Cambridge dog groups.

    We’re reunited in Cambridge as of this evening…

  7. Wally: The air tour operators in Hawaii and in most other parts of the U.S. have insurance and FAA requirements that force them to hire only people with a minimum of 1000 hours of experience. Giving a short ride to a surfer is regulated differently (always within 25 nautical miles of the departure point) and you can do it with a cheap helicopter for which most people don’t bother with hull insurance (liability insurance is fairly inexpensive). The ex-military guys are good pilots but they usually can get real jobs flying Medevac. There are plenty of helicopter flying jobs for lower-time pilots willing to work for free or $15/hour.

  8. Doesn’t your girlfriend Kyle take care of Alex when you are gone? Did she go with you this time. Things must be getting better.

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