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Hola amigos y amigas,
Donnie here, deep in Mexico once again. Unfortunately I’m flying solo on this trip. The hot wife couldn’t fit me into her schedule and those with a desire but no passport didn’t qualify. My TWO friends with a passport decided I was too dangerous to be around. That was possibly a good call on their part.
So I am in Catemaco, the state of Veracruz, Mexico. I flew to the city of Veracruz on Friday, stayed the night at a poorly kept Howard Johnsons (thanks Priceline) then bussed it over to Catemaco for 3 ½ hours. I must admit that it was pretty nice not driving for once. Plus I got to watch “Tinkerbell”, “Air Bud” and “The most dangerous catch” all in Spanish overdub on the bus’ entertainment system.
This is but one more journey, searching for interviews with the witches of Catemaco. And why not. This is the week of Dia de los Muertos. Today I found a witch that talked my ear off. Um, not literally. It takes a “spell” to do that. But he did take the time to light incense and candles, spray me with rose water and generally walk me down the path of the “brujo”.
By the way, the brujo (witch) is why I am here. Catemaco is well known internationally for its’ brujo culture. You can get a healing, a cleansing, a death spell, warts all over your ex-wife, whatever you want for the right amount of pesos. Boy did I spend a lot of pesos.
Ok. Just kidding. Couldn’t help the ex comment. But should my ex get Ebola any time soon….
Catemaco sits next to a fairly large lake, created by a volcanic
sink-hole. There is an island on the lake that is inhabited by monkeys from a long abandoned college project. There, monkeys rule. I rented a private boat to go see the monkeys, yet I could care less about this tourist thingy. Instead, my intent was to interview the captain of the boat; the person in charge of my well-being, the dude that turned the motor. Ok. It’s just me and Manuel and Las Islas de Chongos.
Actually, the plan worked out quite well. He talked endlessly about the city and the funky brujo culture. He invited me back to the lake at 6:30pm. Then he would take me via his scooter to visit a brujo that dealt exclusively in “magia negra”; Black Magic.
GOLD MINE!
I was sooooo there. I was so there early. And I remained there for a
while.
Manuel showed up a bit late. With deepest apologies he regretted to
inform me that his brujo could not see me at this moment. He was in the
middle of turning some lady’s’ boyfriend into a toad or something like
that. It’s Halloween. He’s busy. However we are to meet tomorrow, quite
freakin’ early, and then we shall see what the “Black Witch” has in store.
After the brujo I intend to spend the day and night at the
cemetery. It’s
Dia de los Muertos.
Hasta manana…
