Track 8 Manuelo on the Beach 19 November, 2009

We had already had such a full day, but there was more to come! After the commemoration, the entire park moved to 
the Main Street, to watch a parade! We found a good spot and bought a Boil Up lunch from a street vendor. The Boil
Up was an overflowing plate of fish, chicken, yucca, plaintain, boiled egg and salad, perfect for Jason and I to share
(Me a vegetarian and he a carne eater)



We watched group after group parade by, with floats and banners exclaiming everything from "Men's Reproductive Health!" 
to San Succotz, Belize to an after school group promoting awareness about the affects of drugs and alcohol.


They had stiff competition, as along with the handfuls of candy thrown from the floats, there were also plastic bottles of
Rum! Free Rum! A pirate's dream come true!



We watched the parade with our new friends-Mateo and Antone from Tulum, and KT and Yan from England and Slovakia.

After the parade we were all ready for a rest, so we ambled through the back streets of the town, taking a break.
We finally made our way back to the beach near the park and settled in for a relaxing time. My siesta was cut short
by the arrival of 3 kids who were interested in my Hula Hoop. I started playing with them and learned they had come 
from Nicaragua with their teacher. There were 2 little girls, and one boy. We invented games with the hoop and they showed
me how to make a jump rope from a beach root. The boy, Manuelo, started to get especially inventive and, when the hoop 
broke, he played it like a trumpet!


Manuelo sang me this song and I was so moved, I had him sing it again so I could record him. I wish I had a picture but I was too
busy playing and learning to snap. He was no more than 10 years old, with a composure far beyond his age.

I think the song speaks for itself. Thank you Manuelo.