La Manzanilla and Gringo Days Rodeo

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When we first arrived in La Manzanilla we knew we had found our spot. The campground was very basic, bucket flush toilet and outdoor cold shower. But La Manzanilla is a small town located on Bay of Tenacatita. We had to camp at the back of the campground, next to the street because of the low hanging palm fronds. There is a lovely beach along the entire bay. Just down the beach is the center of town with several restaurants, stores and the town plaza. Our first day there we met Gary. Gary and his wife Debra spend their winters in La Manzanilla and are originally from Seattle. Gary invited us to join a small group for Sunset Happy Hour on the beach. We happily accepted and met several nice people who welcomed us and shared many travel tips with us, while we watched the sunsets and sipped tequila. Not a bad way to spend the winter.



There are more Americans in La Manzanilla than anywhere we had been. Primarily everywhere we go we have been surrounded by Canadians. La Manzanilla is the perfect balance between a Mexican village and just enough tourist that you have people who speak English and good restaurants. We had some of the best guacamole of the trip at a restaurant next door, right on the beach. Their specialty was Dorado, stuffed with shrimp covered in almond paste wrapped in bacon and fried. We had appetizers at Jolanda´s one night: guacamole, cerviche, Thai fish cakes and Indonesian meat balls . We went to dinner one night with Gary and Debra to Figaro´s, where I had spinach fettuccini with portabella mushrooms in an alfredo sauce with shrimp. The food in Mexico has been incredible, never mind the tacos and wonderful Mexican food which has ruined me for life, but the restaurants are better than what we get at home.



Friday we went to the market in town. Several of the small towns have a local market one day a week in the town center. No great finds, but we did buy a few DVDs to watch. Afterwards, I was so hot, I gave up and went and got a haircut. I just couldn´t take it any longer! It just wasn´t long enough to put up and it has been so hot and humid. It looks good and I am a lot more comfortable, and it was just $50 pesos! While I was waiting the ladies in the shop were talking about the Championship bullfights coming up next weekend. They are not far from here and I have never been. A bullfight …, looks like we have an addendum to our itinerary.



We stayed through the weekend so that we could go to the Rodeo over the weekend (and watch the Super Bowl). THe Festival was started when the Americans wanted to do something to help raise money for the community, so they combined a rodeo with the celebration of Founders Day. The Gringo Day Rodeo began at 2:00 with the band and a dance at the Casino (dance pavilion). It was a $200peso admission. What we didn´t realize was that the admission covered beer and lunch during the 2 hours of the dance. We were invited to sit at a table by Juan Antonio Martinez a rancher from a neighboring community. He made sure that we were kept well supplied with beer. The music was loud and fun. The young caballeros were doing their best to show off their moves. The kids were adorable; there were a couple of 5 or 6 year old boys who were going to be some young Romeo´s. They couldn´t keep thier feet from moving and were anxiuos to join in the dancing.



At 4:00, the band led everyone to the rodeo arena about a mile up the road. It was a small town rodeo, but very entertaining. The little kids lined the arena rails and were enthralled with the whole thing. Between bull riders, one of the caballeros would come over and grab one of the little kids and take them for a ride around the ring. There were 2 caballeros who would entertain the crowd between the riders with their beautiful horses. One was an Andalusia and the other was a palomino. Each would prance in rhythm to the music. The bull riders were different than what we see in the states, in that they use no hands. It was amazing to see how long they could stay on the bull. The crowd was largely Mexican families and they were there to have a good time. Everyone ate and drank the whole time. One of the favorites seemed to be potato chips covered in hot sauce with lime squeezed on top, and I mean covered in chalula! The band played through the whole rodeo. They were very good. A six year old, Christopher, was featured for 3 songs with the band. He was really cute. Just above the arena on the hillside there was a whole other crowd of people dancing. You could order beer from the vendor, or you could order a bottle of tequilla. Many people had thier own bottles and it was a great celebration. We left as the rodeo was wrapping up, but most people went on to another dance, which lasted late into the night. We went to sleep that night to the sounds of music and laughter. It was a fun day.



Sunday we got up and spent the day laying on the beach and catching a few rays. There were lots of families on the beach for the day and everyone was having fun. We even saw some Grey Whales jumping at the end of the bay. The guys in the camp next to us had built a raft that they took out into the water. It was made out of a couple of intertubes and 2x4´s. It was really clever. Then they took a floating ice chest in the middle of it, used a bigrock for an anchor and went out into the ocean. They had thier own little floating bar. Thier wife even swam out with a bucket carrying lunch for everyone. In the afternoon we headed over to Palapa Joes for the Super Bowl. We got there early and had great seats at the bar. It was a good game and I even won the Foot ball Pool of $750 pesos! It paid for our bar tab and to go to the dance that night. As we were walking out of the Bar, the parade was passing to head down to the dance. The band was in the lead and the crowd would dance forward and then everyone would surge backwards. It took us ½ hour to go 2 blocks to the Casino for that nights dance. Sunday nights dance was sponsored by the Mexican Community and was a very good band. We stayed for a couple of hours and even danced a little. Ed said it was the loudest music he had ever heard. But man, it was a blast!



I will always remember this fiesta and La Manzanilla. The people here have been so kind and hospitable. This is a very special place.

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Photos

Sunset
Happy Hour

Bullrider
How do they stay on?

The Kids at the Rodeo
The little ones lined the arena rails to watch the rodeo

Mexican Raft
These guys built a raft out of a couple of intertubes and 2 x 4´s anlong with a floating ice chest for thier beer.

Warning No Swimming- Crocodile!
We had to cross the one lane road where this croc lived at night- in the pitch dark!

Bullrider
The Bullrider is in the shute preparing for his ride

Bullrider
The Bullriders ride with no hands

Comments

[Lisa Irvin]

Looks like you're having a great time!
How wonderful! One day maybe we'll be able to travel like you guys do :)

[Marcia]

Your Blog
Hi Michelle, Just read your blog this a.m. Great job. Love your photos.