February 25, 2006 - Isla Mujeres, Mexico

Quiero sonrisas!

I want smiles! shouted the overly wound up director of the ladies' dance group that pulled up in the middle of the street alongside a pickup truck outfitted with a whomping sound system and a cooler full of refrescos. She appeared to be the only one in the bunch who was taking things very seriously. The casually chatting ladies were getting ready to perform for us, unsuspecting guests at a small dive that serves only roasted chicken, beans and rice or spaghetti noodles for lunch. Until that moment, carnaval in Isla had seemed very elusive to me. I had heard through the grapevine of a parade, which turned out to consist of one float with loudly playing music followed by a series of golf carts carrying quietly seated dancers. The whole thing passed me by before I could say That's it?, and a walk downtown revealed nothing but a town square full of empty chairs and tables gathered round an empty stage. But the smiling women in their elaborate flamingo-peacock hats and lovingly sewn bright ruffled dresses showed up right in front of my face when I least expected it. They had good fun dancing to three musical numbers and then moved on, out of our street. When we emerged from lunch, the whole town was covered in randomly scattered groups like these, with celebrating dancers in all shapes and sizes. It was a sight to see, and tonight the stage in the town square is going to be used for more fun. I can't wait!

posted by Mahi at 5:51 PM  

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