We have come to learn that the Yucatecans are extremely clever people. They can make a saw out of a piece of iron and a blade. They can determine level with a hose and some water. They built giant pyramids without tools!! They can make a curtain opener out of our own bamboo and a forked piece of wood -- yup, our sweet Jose did that. So it has not surprised us to see some of the astounding means of transportation used here in Merida. In fact, we wish we had our an adult tricycle to zip around for grocery shopping. But we think this may be the most interesting. Here is a man who is in a wheelchair but driving a three-wheeled vehicle powered on one side by a part of a motorcycle and balanced on the other side with a bike tire. He has working brake lights. He is even wearing a helmet!! We assume he can back off this and the floor on which he is currently riding will tilt back slowly to allow his safe exit, but we cannot prove it.
It is Carnaval time here which means parades nightly and traffic snafus more often than that. This year's theme is wonders of the world and it highlights our Chichen Itza among them. Here is a picture from last year showing the bits of paper that get thrown from floats along with candy, drinks, and other products, and are all over the area after the parade passes by. We even find them in our garden, although it's 2+ blocks away from the parade route. We hear the parades and run up to the upper terrace for the fireworks and tomorrow will actually go and watch Sunday's parade by day.
