Kelly-Swaney Ajijic, Mexico: Jocotepec

There is much to see and do in Mexico. Sometimes it requires a bus trip or rental car or even a flight, and other times you just head a couple of clicks down the carreterra (freeway).

I do not typically give specific dates in my blogs, but in this case, it is relevant. It was Saturday, January 10th. The Pats were playing my old friends the Ravens. It was a late afternoon game, so we made a plan to explore our neighboring town during the day and find a satellite TV in the afternoon.

Jocotepec is similar to Ajijic that it is a lakeside town with windy roads, shops, and restaurants. I continue to marvel at the beautiful colors and the people here. Although I will never tire of exploring this countryside wide eyed and enchanted, it did feel like we would spend the afternoon killing time until the big game.

I could not have been more wrong.

Jon noticed cowboys on horses all heading in the same direction. Being Jon, he insisted we find out where they were going. We walked until we were surrounded by Mexican cowboys and a few cowgirls of various ages, the police, and a traveling Mariachi band. Sticking out like sore thumbs, a nice man who spoke English told us that there had already been a long ride, and now they were all going to head a little ways up the road to a ranch and drink and eat and hang out and that we should come along. Well, alrighty then!

It was at this point, that he asked me if I wanted to ride the horse. He assured me that it is a good horse and I have nothing to be afraid of. I was delighted to take him for a short spin around the area - like a kid at the fairgrounds. (I have ridden a horse, horses do not scare me, and this one was great.)
I did my loop, and as I was heading towards Jon, and who we now know as Gill, they were yelling at me to "Get in the parade!! Keep riding!!" I confirmed that they actually wanted me to get in this parade, and off I went.

This is David. Throughout the parade I rode my own horse.
This pic was taken at the end.
David still had to make his way home,
and didn't want to get off his horse.

Almost immediately, my guardian angel David pulled up along one side of me with his friend on my other side and began to adjust my stirrups. Let me give you the full picture: I have my jeans all cutie cuffed at the bottom with my barefoot running shoes and my Patriots baseball cap,. Yah - which one of these is not like the other?? Also, they knew something I didn't. The parade had not just ended, it had just begun. I would spend the next two hours riding this horse!

This experience will forever be remembered on my Top Ten List of Lifetime Moments - IT WAS AWESOME. We road for miles through ranches and on trails. Over 80 cowboys and a couple of cowgirls. So once again, I did not blend. People were taking photos of me, asking how I knew to bring my horse today. Turns out they only do this a couple times a year, and I was there for it! Throughout the parade, I had no idea where Jon or Gill were, but I knew Gill would eventually need his horse back.

There were stops along the route for Tequila, which I refused the first couple of times and then David insisted it was part of the experience. We also stopped so the band could play, and horses could dance. Not mine, thankfully. I must take a moment to mention that my sweet boy took such good care of me. To this day I have no idea what the horse's name is (you'll learn why later), but we called him Amigo during the ride.

Tina, Amigo, Gil, Jon

David spoke enough English and I spoke enough Spanish that we chatted the whole ride as he explained all the places on the route and we talked about his country and my home and how my mind was just completely blown by this experience.

After the ranches, the parade marches into town on the main street with everyone videotaping and photographing. As we pulled into the main square, David waited with me until Jon and Gill found me. At the start of the parade route, Jon and Gill had immediately jumped into the pick up of a police truck and rode the whole two hours right behind me.

And now for the background on Gill that will clear up all the confusion. Gil had just arrived in Jocotepec the night before. He spent the evening catching up with his family over one two many libations. His brother informed him in the morning that he had a horse for him and told him where to head. He really had no idea what was going on. He was thrilled to have me take the horse, because he was in recovery! He spent the entire time in the back of the pick up asleep. Lucky break for me.

After the photos and thank you's, Jon and I headed to San Juan Cosala. This is a small area bordering the lake with hotels and large lakeside restaurants. We found one that put on the game, and had an evening that lived up to our afternoon. Margaritas, ceviche, sunset over the lake and mountains, Mexican music, and a nail biting Pats win over the Ravens.

OFFICIAL: Top Ten List of Lifetime Moments - That awesome day in Jocotepec.