Idaho to Mexico

Nasdravi

2008-02-26T12:16:00.000-08:00

So I'm in Prague and wanted to post my last blog...da, da, da. It's been a very difficult last month. And hard to leave beautiful Mexico with daily sunshine and warmth. Prague is more dreary, for the pensive souls. Change is inevitable and because of that, I am here.
A quote that I read this morning describes some of how I feel:
"Whatever is heavy and difficult, as long as it is only borne properly, also marks the precise weight of life. It teaches us the measure by which we may know our strength and which we may then also apply when we feel blessed with happiness."
Jack and I have bid each other farewell after a beautiful and epic adventure by bicycle. I will never forget this time and will look back on it with (mostly) fond memories. Goodbye Mexico.
Goodbye Jack. Goodbye pollitos.

The End

2008-02-23T12:32:00.000-08:00

The theme song to "Idaho to Mexico" is a song by Vicente Fernadez, called Estos Celos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4ZViNUx6pQ

I crossed Nogales with little more than a hurmphuff from the boarder cop, easier than crossing the Canadian boarder. Soon I will be in freezing cold, then in cold rain.

Yes, I miss Mexico.

2008-02-23T12:22:00.000-08:00

Dominoes

2008-02-17T21:34:00.000-08:00

I just learned how to play Dominoes from Poncho the Great. He beat me, really bad. I mean, who would think it was a game of skill and cunning?
Also, he gave a bottle of cologne. Avon "Wild Country" Colonia para Caballero. Watch out ladies, I'm going to smell flammable.

Tomorrow: good byes and carne asada.

Vamos

2008-02-16T21:16:00.000-08:00

Leah left Mexico yesterday afternoon on a jet plane. She left me for her Mother, who lives and works in Prague. Lucky girl.

I am alone with Maggie the dog, house sitting Ken and Roberta's place in Colima and making plans to travel North, while at the same time drowning my sorrows in over sized beer bottles and choking my breath with cigarette smoke.

Good bye Leah.
Good bye Mexico.
Good bye hot sunshine, delicious food, cheap beer, and delicious food.

Hello bus ride from hell. Colima, Col. Mexico to Helena, MT usa, what took Leah and I two and a half months will take a grueling 61 hours on a bus.

Ginger Rock

2008-02-10T08:00:00.000-08:00

I was in Guadalajara gaining inspiration by the Ginger Ninjas and their pleasant revolution. Holy crap these bikers rock. They are completely self contained, including sound system, cello, full drum set, tools, costumes, todos. They started in Northern California and are leaving for Mexico City in a couple days, maybe. They travel by way of magic and their force is a powerful one, attracting attention from radio, newspaper, and elected officials.

They pedal by day, rock out by night. Their shows are pedal powered by 12 volt motors that audience members are encouraged to pedal as the Ninjas rock their funk-folk-booty-shakin-mountain-groove. Electric and legend making, they speak from the heart and move by people power. Their impact is huge to the physique and minimal to the environment. Check them out: http://www.gingerninjas.com/

So, I got to hang out with them for a couple days; very inspirational. The Ninjas performed the night I got to Guadalajara until late-ish. The next day we awoke early to ride with the mayor of Guadalajara on the Sunday-shutdown. Every Sunday Guadalajara shuts down 25 kilometers of city streets to bicycle and pedestrian enjoyment. The city lends out 300 bikes for free and thousands of people turn the 25 kilometers into an all day parade of happy folks. The Mayor is interested in expanding the program and has sent delegates to witness the success in other areas. In addiction, a bicycle summit has been organized to further the dialogue of improving bicycle travel within Jalisco. Also encouraging is the fact that Guadalajara is sister cities with Portland, Oregon, a world renowned bicycle friendly city.

After the bike ride, they Ninjas set-up and performed a show in a government owned structure along the closed off road. Then, they tore down and loaded everything on their extracycles and biked over to the next venue, where they played a long set.It is completely inspiring for me in terms of entertainment via bicycle. Or education via bicycle. And both.

Thank you Ginger Ninjas for your Pleasant Revolution.

Sharky goes to Mexico

2008-02-04T20:13:00.000-08:00

Mark, Leah's Dad, flew into Manzanillo last Saturday. Leah met him at the airport and I guess they hitched to Melaque.

I hope they are having the time of their life.
I am in Colima, watching television and getting a beer gut.

Pollita

2008-01-23T10:39:00.000-08:00

I bought a chicken. Not a whole delicious rotisserie chicken from a tasty rotissoria, no I bought a live little pullet, flesh, bone and squawking. It might be a rooster because it makes noise in the mornings. Still to soon to tell. It lives in our "patio" a closet sized space with a dirt floor and re-bar ceiling. It is a pet project that would make my father proud.
We have a chicken pet/livestock.
I am going to buy a couple more so the one we have does not die of loneliness. Plus, we will probably move before they get to be full-man-meal-size.

Secretly I have hopes that it infuriates the landlord for making us sleep (if you can call it sleep) on a broken, old mattress and eat dinner around a card table while sitting in plastic lawn chairs. "Furnished" now includes chicken shit, pendejo.

Mexico is awesome.
We have a chicken pet.
Is it wrong to name your food?

Second Attempt

2008-01-19T15:59:00.000-08:00

I think the next time I try to surf I will rent a long board. Leah says it is a lot easier than the short, surly little boards that so many people make look so easy.

Leah worked on her day off and then demanded that she have two days off in a row. Everyone in the restaurant gave her hell for it, but it gave an opportunity to go to Tecla. An hour and half south of Tecoman, we got off the bus in the middle of no where and walked down the road to the beach and small indigenous town of Tecla. I found a guy that trusted me enough to rent his board to me, and Leah and I tryed for the second time to surf.

I stood on the board. I caught a wave. I got dropped on my head. I got worked more times than I can count. I am not famous.

Surfing is a majestic sport of grace, timing and is also terrifying. For someone who grew up in a landlocked state, the ocean is scary. Big walls of water crashing over me is "fun" is "cool" and a "workout". I went into fetal position and covered my head with my arms, scared that I would smash into the rocky beach after a huge wave crashed on me. It was kinda creepy to hear the waves bouncing the big rocks after been thrown underwater by a wave.

Now we are back in Colima. We moved into a different apartment because of the overbearing neighbors at the last place. We were required to notify the owners of any visitors and it was difficult to have anyone over for beer or socializing. The new place is less aesthetic but is more convenient for hospitality, and the owner's sister is not watching our every move. Double plus.

ps. the new address is

Madre Selva 268-A
Colima, Col. 28000
Mexico

The Check Cleared!

2008-01-11T17:19:00.000-08:00

Thank you so very much, dear sweet Grandmother of mine! You have made my Spanish dreams comprehensible. I will start the very next week with classes four times a week two hours a day and private tutor to boot. Thank you brave, strong Grandmama. Your love for us all, or Leah and I, is strongly felt and deeply appreciated.

Butt Vomit

2008-01-10T18:12:00.000-08:00

It was only a matter of time before it happened to me. I braught it on myself. I washed the radishes with tap water, but did not wait for them to dry before devouring half a bushel. Now I pay the price, squatting on porcielin thrown, contemplating the direction I should take my life.
There is a shimmering glint of hope, the flickering light at the end of this fecal washed tunnel. Poop pills from a family doctor in Orofino, the honorable Kelly McGrath. Thank you thank you thank you.

Working in méxico...

2008-01-07T10:39:00.000-08:00

So my latest update is that I am now a waitress at a restaurant called Los Portales, working 40 hours a week busting my behind taking orders, serving coronas and keeping the place looking clean. Apparently it´s common to work at least 6 days a week, if not 7 and they do not take breaks. We get to eat one meal during the 8 hour day and only when there´s a slow moment with few customers...tough stuff! And we only make $5 (per day!) plus tips, which have varied from $3 to $14 so far. So I´m not sure how long I will last in this business...but it´s been a very interesting experience so far. It´s given me a window into Mexican life and culture that I wouldn´t have necessarily seen from afar...and the extra money helps quite a bit.
The other news is that we´re moving to another apartment close to the old one but with less restrictions...this place definitely has an extra room for visitors and we don´t have to worry about our anal landlord wanting to know who is coming in and out all the time. I think it´s going to be a good change because more friends will hopefully come over, it´s easier to find and I think we´ll be more comfortable there...so that should happen by the end of the week!
Anyway, much love to all of you and please send news from afar!
xxoo

more pics

2008-01-02T10:06:00.000-08:00

Here´s a link to more pictures of the great adventure, for those of you who are interested:
http://picasaweb.google.com/leahbrandt/IdahoToMexico

Happy new years and love to all!

¡Feliz año nuevo!

2008!

2008-01-02T09:26:00.000-08:00

Happy happy New Year!
I feel like this year is a year when the hopeful changes will be realized and goodness will be achieved, because we are certainly past due on for some of that. Signs that point to goodness: election year.

On an entirely different note: our landlord, and owner of our apartment, is an ass. He wanted Leah and I to come down to his office and talk to him about hosting a visitor. The owner wanted us to pay extra rent for the extra person who stayed a total of two days. Poncho, the coolest caretaker and all around rad dude, stepped up for us and calmed the situation. Later, over carne asada on New Year's Eve, Poncho said the owner does not tell renters until after they move in about the extra fee for visitors. What a dick. The owner is not in need of cash, he leaves the apartments empty most of the time and his son uses them to have parties, which Poncho has to clean up. And when we have told people about the cost of our apartment, they gasp at the price. The owner's sister lives within the same complex, so she reports anything and everything we do. It sucks to think we cannot have an open door to our friends and family. Lame.

We are looking for a new place to live.
I am going to miss Poncho.

And New Year's! Roberta and Ken have a famous party every New Year's (travel article that makes mention of their party: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B01E1D8153BF93BA35751C0A9629C8B63). They hire a Mariochi band that plays well into the morning, while Ken makes strong margaritas that keep the dancing feet moving. Fantastic party fallowed by a burguies breakfast of fresh papya, empanadas and passion fruit juice. Good, good and great. Leah and I were the intraduced as the bikers who rode from Idaho. The usual questions fallowed, how long did it take you, where did you sleep, how many hours a day... yeah, I am still wearing the same shirt.

not famous

2007-12-31T13:55:00.001-08:00

I did not succeed in becoming a famous surfer. Playa Pesculas is for professional surfers and I am not. It is crushing. But tomorrow is a new year.

¿Quien sabe? Who knows?

Christmas and after

2007-12-28T09:58:00.001-08:00

The Christmas eve dinner with Julio and family did not work out. Unfortunately, Leah and I had to eat two and half pounds of fresh shrimp alone. Bummer.

Christmas day we dressed up in elf/super hero comstumes, well, the best costumes we could patch together with our limited wordrobe: tights and silk scarfs. Then rode around Colima on our bikes delivering cookies to friends whom were working on Christmas. We were laughing at ourselves and most people did not seem to understand why, they stare at us even when we are not dressed in silly clothing with silk capes yelling "feliz navidad" in cartoon voices, why should they understand our humor anyways? Our friends seemed to enjoy the cookies though. That is what is important.
That evening we feasted at the lovely Roberta and Ken's house. They prepared the juicest turkey I have ever eaten, along with cranberry chuttney and mash potatoes. So delicous and filling. Their guests came from all parts of the globe, including a 70s rocker from Finland and his wife, a social worker who spent 6 years in jail. She said, "I am out now."

Alex, famous gituar player for Sid and Fancy, graced us with his pressence the last two days. Yesterday we all met up with a new friend, Carlos, who drove us up to the Colima Volcanoe and took us on hike and tour and fancy lunch and other generous curtousies. It was fun to get out of Colima and walk around... plus we got to practice Español all day. Alex leaves today for Guadalajara. Rock on dude.

Leah and I are going to find a surf shop on the beach that rents boards. I hope to become a famous surfer in the next two days.

¡feliz navidad!

2007-12-24T09:47:00.000-08:00

Hey everybody,
so we´re not going to be having a white christmas this year, although that god-damn song has been stuck in my head for the past few days :) No, this year will be different...I´m excited to go to our friend Julio´s house for christmas to see how his family celebrates. When he invited us, I figured we´d go over in the evening for a couple of hours but he added that we should bring our sleeping bags and any dvds that we have...so it sounds like we´re in for our first Mexican slumber party! I wonder if Santa Claus is as fat and jolly in Mexico as he is in the states (he, he)

Jack and I celebrated last night with champagne and a whole kilo of shrimp! It was delicious...today and tommorrow there will be more festivities, which will hopefully distract me from being homesick during the holidays. It´s a comfort to think that we´ll be back stateside by the summer. I feel like I´m just starting to meet a few people here and settle in...I may even have a job interview this week, thanks to Julio! It´s at a restaurant downtown in the main plaza called la Plazacita (do you recognize that Rodrigo?) so hopefully I would make some good tips because it turns out minimum wage is more like 7 dollars a day instead of 8...ugh!
Anyway, that´s the news for the day. I hope you all have a wonderful christmas and new years celebration with lots of good food and good company!
Love to you all!

more Colima

2007-12-21T12:00:00.000-08:00

That's right, we live here and life is much slower now that we are not riding our days into the sun. Therefor, the blog entries feel as though they lack the same pissas and tone of life in the bike lane.

"Jack, let's get a hot chicken before they close." Rotissorie chickens, sold whole, some sell 2 for 60 pesos. They a treat and I love them. Someday the states will learn. Whole Rotissorie.
chillo, weh.

At the very same time, we are meeting people. Talking to them. Drinking coffee. Watching telenovelas. Bob Espogna rules. 5 o'clock, everyday.

Last night we were invited to a house party wherein an Egyptian chef was going to prepare all the food. The problem was, the building where the party was going to be never got the electricity turned on and so instead of being a house party, a group of us went to a random bar. The bar let us in after paying a cover, but it was rented out for a private party. We left that bar and went to another that had more ambiant music and a better atmosphere for conversation. Then one of the dudes in the group started ice breakers and I felt like I was in high school. Leah would not translate into Spanish that I put on tights late at night and fly around the city looking for other gringos.
The Egyptian is a cool dude. He wants to open a shisha bar in Colima but says that the people here are lazy and so he needs to find a place that has plenty of parking.

The streets are filled with Christmas shoppers even though it is the heat of the day. We are eating a whole chicken with our bare hands.

Home

2007-12-16T13:53:00.000-08:00

So now if you happen to be in Colima, Colima, Mexico and need a place to stay you can go to 79 A, Francissco Villa. Ring the bell and either Leah or I will let you in. Roberta called the new apartment a regular "club med", I wouldn't go that far, but it is really nice.

We spent all day looking and (Leah) asking the shop keepers and corner store owners about apartments for rent. Little known to gringos, asking shop keepers is better than checking newspapers. We managed to find this sweet place next to the river, off of any main streets, in the second story with a view of the volcanoes and a ladder to the roof. We had to find a place that was furnished, right? But not just for the bed, in Mexico an unfurnished apartment does not come with a fridge or a stove.

We now have a double bed, a futon, a four burner stove, a shower with mostly hot water, running water, a fridge capable of making ice, a big living room perfect for yoga, a couple chairs, a tv and a DVD player, a table and a high chair. It is really nice. Below our apartment is a big court yard used for secure parking and parties, there is a karoke machine and some awesome speakers. I want to get some chickens. Like I was saying about needing a place to stay, come on by, we can put you up.

The apartment we are renting does not have a contract, we can leave after Janruary if we want, or we can pay for another month. Our thinking about renting is to have one place to be for a while. Sink into the town and get involved at the orphanage, start taking Spanish classes, make new friends, go to parties. The thought of renting a place is a financially motivated decision as well. Not being on the road and having a kitchen and a fridge is a huge help in cutting down the cost of living, we hope. We'll see. We have gone from a twenty dollars a day food budget to a five dollars a day food budget. I hope it works to be here a while and get to know Mexican culture more completely than we have so far... if nothing else, hanging out with Rodrigo's Grandparents is awesome. And Roberta and Ken are great. Plus there is Julio who works the swank coffee bar. And my Spanish seems to be improving the more Bob Esponga I watch...

Should we stay or should we go?

2007-12-13T07:45:00.001-08:00

If we stay it will be trouble. If we go it will be double. Should we stay in Colima? Beautiful, beautiful Colima city with it's hustle and bustle, it's university with private language classes, the casa hogar with a socially rewarding volunteer opportunity. Should we stay and volunteer with troubled Mexican children? Try to rent an appartment for around 2,000 pesos when some of the locals tell us the average is 3,500 to 5,000 pesos? Should we stay in a city when we want to swim in the ocean? Should we settle and rest even if we yearn for the rythm of biking and the thrill of adventure?

We like the feel of Colima, but ...

Pictures?!

2007-12-11T21:46:00.000-08:00

What blog would be complete without pictures? right.
I wish I could figure this out, but this is as close as I have come:
http://picasaweb.google.com/catalystculture/IdahoToMexico03

My appologizes.
Send suggestions to the techniquely ilterate at:
catalystculture@gmail.com

Check out the locations of some the photos, it is kinda neat to look at them from that prospective. It is a long ways from Idaho to Mexico. wow.

Ken and Roberta's

2007-12-10T16:46:00.000-08:00

We are now staying in the luxurious residence of Ken and Roberta's in the city of Colima. It is really friggin' nice to have a shower, kitchen, and visit with Rodrigo's grandfolks. That's right! Leah and I got to meet Rodrigo's Abuelos. They are awesome. The family resemblance is apparent in the entheusasism of Rodrigo's Grandpa. He is overflowing with generosity and kept repeating how highly Rodrigo had recommended us. His Grandma treated us to lunch of delicious fryed fish and beans. We are going back tomorrow. I have to know how she makes those beans taste so good. I hope to hear some stories of Rodrigo's past.

Leah and I talked about why we are in Mexico. This question is more and more prevalent as our money dissolves. I want to learn Spanish more than I want to learn how to surf. Leah wants to work somewhere with more purpose than selling crap to gringos. Colima might be the place, it has a university with language classes and Roberta knows of an orphanage that provides housing to volunteers. Again, quien sabe, who knows. Colima might be the place.

Colima city, Colima

2007-12-09T14:13:00.000-08:00

The city sits at the base of a giant volcano, could be two, the air quality here is not like it is in Montana. The city is somehow smaller feeling than Manzanillo and we both enjoy that. The streets are paved and there are friendly people here. Also, a great friend, Rodrigo, has grandfolks here. We hope to find them. And we have some family friends to stay with, Ken and Roberta, which is good because my ass is still killing me.

Regroup and rethink, that is the current plan because who knows what tomorrow will bring.

Also on the randomness of adventure, last night we stayed with Rosa on the beach. She has a little stand that sells seafood and such. She generously invited us to her sister's birthday party, also at the stand on the beach, and gave us fish and shrimp and beer to our hearts content. Then one of her drunk cousins walked us over to a live band that was playing at the church. The celebration of the Virgin of Guadalupe goes for twelve days. Today we saw runners carrying a cross along the highway. They go from Colima to Manzanillo in the Virgin's honor.

We ate some Cantalope and thought of Dave and the crew in Sandpoint.

Manzanillo Shmanzanillo

2007-12-07T18:03:00.000-08:00

So we´re moving on tomorrow, heading inland to Colima. Manzanillo is a beautiful port-town with vibrant colors and friendly people...but it just isn´t quite what Jack and I were envisioning for a place to settle for a while. I got as far as looking at job lists and talking to people about renting an apartment but it didn´t feel quite right so we´ll be moving along again. The highlight of my day was finding a sweet little bike shop down the road from our hotel owned and run by Juan. He´s a maestro when it comes to bicycles so I felt very happy to leave my treasure in his hands for a little tune-up...and now she purs like a kitten. It´s amazing how much shit collects on your bike after 2 months of riding! But it´s also amazing that we haven´t had any major technical difficulties (knock on wood).
My greatest fear is the end of this trip because I´m not sure what the hell we´re going to do...and this fear is becoming more close to a reality since we´re running out of $$...but something has worked out for us before and I´m convinced that it will work out this time too. Biking rules! Anyone who hasn´t taken the time to do a trip should go for it!
Love to all of you!
Will write again soon

Manzanillo

2007-12-06T09:26:00.000-08:00

Now what? The whole time we have been on the road, more than two months of adventure, I have had this little voice in the back of my brain that keeps repeating,
"Why? Now what are you going to do? Why? Now what are you going to do?" For the past two months it has been easy to tell that voice, "vamos a Colima, Let's go!"

Now that we are here, ... well, it isn't like it is a surprise that I do not know what to do, but I was kinda hoping for balloons and confetti, a parade maybe. Then diplomats to take Leah and I by the elbows and direct us to our dream jobs. Where we would work, effortlessly, curing the worlds ills. Then, we would feast of giant shrimp and surf the famous waves of Playa Oro, everyday.

That has yet to happen. Yet.