2003-10-14 - 10:33 a.m.
In Patzcuaro (where I am right now) and generally throughout Mexico, I recommend that you not engage in conversation with strange Mexican kids who know enough English to say 'Hey! I haven't seen you in a long time ... oh, you're not ...'
In general, I recommend that you not continue with the conversation when he says, 'Anyway, there's a party tonight. You wanna go?'
But if you do choose to continue, the best answer is probably: 'Maybe. Tell me where it is and maybe I'll meet you there.'
Of course, he will likely counter with: 'I'll meet you in the plaza at 9:30.'
This I do not recommend. Not because he will be dangerous, because he will almost definitely not be dangerous. But because he will be late. A half an hour at least. And that's just a drag.
If he can tell by the look in your eyebrows, that you have no intention of meeting him in the plaza or any place else for that matter, he might try something else. Like: 'Do you like music? Because I'm about to go play piano at a private home. With a beautiful garden.'
This might give you pause. Because in Mexico, invitations to private homes are rare and beautiful gardens are truly incredible.
Nevertheless, be prepared. Because the garden might be extraordinary and the home might very well be private. But it also might be rented out by a girl from North Caroline. And the piano recital might turn out to be band practice.
If you've been to band practice before, you know ... if you've got a crush on the guy, it is fun for about 7 minutes. If you've been tricked into coming, not so much.
Then again, something cool might happen. For example, the woman might invite you to stay at her 'other place.' It is a little pricey at $20 a night, when you're used to $8 - $15. But with a private bathroom and access to the kitchen, it might well be worth it.
So what you are you waiting for, goofy. Go check it out.
Because if the bathroom and the kitchen make it worth the $20, the total package makes it an absolute bargain. Because the room is gigantic and has a fireplace. The house has three huge courtyards full of lush greenery. A vegetable garden. A recording studio. A yoga room. A performance and gallery space.
Because one of the owners is a photographer who might be able to fix your broken camera. And the other is a musician and community arts activist who takes you an informal tour of the surrounding towns and cool people's homes while he's conducting business meetings.
It might turn out that you've stumbled upon an artist's residency that is temporarily without artist-in-residence and so you've lucked into a soft place to rest your weary head. And a beautiful place on which to rest your care worn eyes. And a peaceful place in which to rest your heavy heart.
And so maybe it is not necessarily such a bad thing to talk to the strange Mexican kid who knows enough English to trick you into going to band practice with him.
