The fire-eaters of Ciudad Valle

In any Mexican city, at the intersection of large roads, you will find some kind of “artist” plying their trade. From mothers carrying their babies on their backs selling chicle (gum) to breakdancers to the infamous window washers to Mennonites selling cheese (one day I swear, I saw the same girl at the same intersection early and the morning and at 10pm selling cheese. What an incredibly long day) to middle aged ladies selling the newspaper to mandarins to homecooked pastires. You really don’t need to shop; simply head to an intersection. It is rare to find someone who simply wants a handout; while they do exist, they are the rarity. In Ciudad Valle, there is a performer we’ve never seen before. A group of teen or young adult looking kids perform frie blowing and baton twirling before the captive audience waiting for a green light.

Today we took a trip to see the sights of the saltos and saltas and cascadas of La Huasteca Potosina. The Huasteca is a rainforest that extends through 3 states. We’re visiting the “potosina” (state of San Luis Potosi) area now and began our foray into La Huasteca back when we hiked around El Cielo. Well, I’m not sure we ever made it into El Cielo, but we tried. I have discovered tomatillos and have been making tomatillo sauce (garlic, onions, tomatillos, poblano chiles) and dousing everything I make with it. The kids LOVE it and it is an easy way to get greens in them. I had hoped to visit La Pozas tomorrow but the kids need a rest from today’s travels; we drove through most all the cane fields in all of San Luis Potosi, saw a cane processing plant and confused some afternoon field hands when we stopped to pick discarded cane for the kids. We even drove through a cane field on the way to Minas Viejas.

The weather is finally clearing but it is so tranquil and serene and easy here, I can’t imagine we’d leave in the next week. We’re finally settling into Mexico. I’m hoping to Yoga and work very soon. Maybe mañana.