New Years Eve, What a Night!

We love New Years Eve here in Mexico, it’s noisy, colorful and lots of light harted celebrating.  The fire works are  magnificent.  We had dinner at Puerto del Sol, a beautiful balcony type restaurant over looking the bay on the road to la Ropa.  I of course had a good seafood Relleno and the Senor the Pork Adobe. We danced to the music of Steve and Bryan and rang the new year in with whistles and horns.

Shortly after midnight, just as  we were getting ready to leave we met a very nice couple who stay in the condo that his brother owns.  A lovely place with the thatched palm roof right next door. It was late so we said our goodbyes and went to hail a cab. All were full coming up the hill so we walked down the hill a couple of buildings hopping to sport an empty one coming up  the hill. Finally there was an empty cab going up who said he would turn around at first opening so we jumped in. That was our first mistake, just as we passed the restaurant we were just at and past the next building we noticed a fairly small fire on the palapa roof.  The bomberos, (firemen) were already there and waved us on and our cab turned around to go back

down the hill only to come to a complete stop.All traffic was blocked both ways.  Over the next hour a few cars got out of line and headed back up the hill and we inched forward until we were to close to what was now a roof fully engaged. Embers were flying, falling on the street and the cab wisely moved off the street into a drive way. No traffic was moving on the only road in or out of this area.We decided to pay off the cab as he wasn’t going anywhere and decided to see

if we could safely walk past this conflagration and fine a cab on the other side. Surprisingly we walked right through the police and bomberos, (no yellow caution tape here) We got as far as the Puerto del Sol on the down side of the fire and went back in where we had just left a little over an hour ago  to discover the couple we had previously met had just enough warning to be able to get there things out before the whole building was fully engulfed. Our hearts go out to those who lost so much in the fire, be it personal belongings, a home away from home, but glad all were safe.  Fortunately the fire didn’t spread to any of the other buildings around with palapa roofs.

Earlier in the evening I had commented on how much I liked the “sky lanterns” or “Illuminarios”, as they were quiet and some times as many as 7 or 8 would be just quietly casting this red glow, floating across the sky.  But what they really are is a paper bag with a candle in it and exceedingly  dangerous.  It only took one to take out this beautiful condo. I will never look upon them as beautiful again, only as a dangerous, destructive weapon.

We only had to  walk about a couple  blocks before we able to catch a cab and arrived back to our apartment in El Centro at 3:00 am.  That is definitely the latest these old times have stayed out in years.  Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!   Signing off KO

Author: zihuathyme

I'm a traveler, not as frequently as I would like , but I plan on doing more. After working full time at Mount Rainier National Park during the summer of 22 I have decided to retire completely and forever. Prior to that I was semi retired as a Wedding Officiant I officiated at about 20 weddings a season, and with my small delivery service I handled the distribution of a local high-quality Home and Garden magazine . Prior to my "semi retirement" I was in corrections and before that I owned and operated a bail bond agency. I now plan to travel to new places and exciting places, getting ready to do that as a solo as the Senior is no longer with me, his choice, and I am OK with that. For hobbies I'm a reader and love my kindle. And I enjoy writing. View all posts by zihuathyme