August, 2013. We are traveling in central Mexico in search of fine artisan crafts for Chiripa.
Lurid newspaper headlines have scared tourists away from many parts of Mexico. Frightening stories abound. In our frequent travels in Mexico, we have encountered only smiles, courtesy, and decent people going about their everyday business. But in Mexico, as in any country, it pays to be alert. You just never know when something unexpected might happen....
I was reminded of that on a quiet Sunday afternoon, as I walked the normally peaceful streets of San Miguel de Allende. I was alone, but felt not the slightest fear or threat.
A Deceptively Quiet Street in San Miguel....
The first disquieting sign was an unusual traffic jam in the narrow street ahead of me. “What is holding up these cars?” I wondered to myself. When I got to the corner, I saw the police car and the yellow tape stretched at waist level across the street. Further down the block, I saw an unusual gathering of people and a flashing red light.
Just then, there was a sharp rattle that sounded like a string of fireworks. The report echoed and re-echoed from the limestone walls. “Gunfire?” I wondered.
At that moment, from around the corner, a hardened gang of giant puppets came careening toward me. The huge papier maché figures were out of control – swaying from side to side, nodding their big puppet heads, and swinging their long puppet arms in wide and potentially-destructive arcs. Some of the puppets were skeleton figures, but others were just big ladies with weird frozen smiles. The puppets were followed by a noisy and enthusiastic brass band.
A Hardened Gang of Puppets
My first reaction was to grab my concealed camera and shoot, but I fumbled my aim. As I struggled to get off a shot, I realized that one of the puppets (a smaller one with wildly tossing orange hair) was coming RIGHT AT ME – pushing her (its?) face into my camera and making loud kissing sounds. I was startled but strangely flattered....
Lovely but Unpredictable: Puppet Ladies
In retrospect, I realize that the puppet was attracted to the camera rather than me; and maybe that's just as well. In any case, I kept the camera between myself and the puppet, and thus avoided any possible contact with the puppet’s lips. Eventually, the puppet got the message and moved on. I think I did the sensible thing. After all, you can’t be too careful when it comes to puppet kisses…. -JM
Puppets and People in a Quieter Moment
