Noises that signal life in Mexico...and starting February with a party

Yesterday was Dia de la Candelaria.  This Mexican feast day coincides with Groundhog Day in Canada but because forecasting weather does not seem to be a priority item here in always sunny Mexico the focus is a mixture of religion and cuisine.  While the religious took their iconic baby Jesus's from their homes to their churches, we at Casa Ceiba celebrated by eating tamales and drinking my homemade Agua de Jamaica.  It is the followup to the cutting of Rosca de Reyes on January 6th and an opportunity for each of us as expats to learn a little more about our chosen winter home and each other. 

One of the things that I've learned is that each of us has a very different reaction and tolerance for the noises that make this Mexico.  And we live in houses that are designed for open air living.

Let me be fhe first to acknowledge that Mexico is not a quiet place.  The days start early and end late with the ever welcomed siesta occuring between 2 and 5 each afternoon.  For that brief 3 hours, that always seems to coincide with a trip to shop only to find the store closed when one forgets the hour, the town becomes still and the streets are quiet.  But outside of the afternoon, all sorts of noises signal the rhythm and life of our community.  Roosters, church bells and car engines start our days.  The itinerant vendors both on foot and in vehicles come next.  Agua, gas, bolillos, knife sharpeners each have their distinct horn or bell or vocal calls that bring the neighbours out to make their transactions.  The cars with their rooftop speakers that snake their way through our streets are either broadcasting news for those who cannot buy papers or access the internet, or they are advertising the latest sales items at a local tienda.

Every worksite has the portable "ghetto blaster" playing it's Mexican melodies, setting the pace for the workers laboring in the blazing sun.  Every home and most cafe's, no matter how modest, has a television always on, always playing one of the favorite Tele-Novelas that make up the day to day viewing for Mexican housewives.  Strolling balladeers and mariachis roam the streets each evening hoping to earn 50 pesos/song as they entertain diners in the various open air restaurants that line the waterfront.  Even my yoga class is regularly assaulted by the parrot who loudly calls out "Hola" or laughs repeatedly while we are holding our poses and attempting to achieve tranquility.  I have had people tell me that they could not sleep due to the sound of the breaking waves at various beachside communities in Mexico.   And of course there are the barking dogs...the dogs who always seem to sleep the day away and spend the night barking at the terrors of the night that only dogs see and hear.

But the noise that has brought some of my fellow condo residents to near tears is the soundsystem genius called Bananas.  Bananas is the DJ/sound technician/light show expert and spectacle creating business that entertained us last evening as we attended one of the events for Sailfest 2011.   There are at least 35 cruising yachts currently anchored in our bay.  Each are here to participate in the annual festival and fundraiser and we welcomed them last evening.                      Last nights' musical fundraiser featured some of my favorite local entertainers, each who donated their time to ensure that the poor children of Zihuatanejo get the schools with the services and amenities they need to feel secure and learn.  

The venue for our concert was El Pueblito restaurant and it is located a few blocks from our home.  Each musician was regularly applauded with bursts of bubbles or shreds of silver paper that exploded out of the special effects machine on the side of the stage.  The evening was fabulous!

The problem occurs when the concerts happen within the block we live on. 

We are lucky, we live on the quiet side of our complex,but for the neighbours who face the new Margaritas Restaurant or Casa Vieja, it has become a war between the peace and quiet lovers and these 2 popular partying venues.  Bananas is usually the culprit when we hear the loud bass boom and the light shows flashing up into the trees across from our home.   I have learned the value of earplugs and of course being dead tired after a day of walking, yoga, bike-riding or swimming rarely prevents us from sleeping. 

I don't want to offend my neighbours, but I do think that when you are in Mexico - you have to do as the Mexicans do...that is, relax, realize how very lucky we are, occassionally get really loud and party late and always, but always, LOVE the music and the life that is why we are here and what makes this definitely different than the noise-bylawed and regimented communities we live in Canada.