The remote places of Mexico were easier to find in 1973. Three students, of which I was one, traveled down a beach road to a time forgotten. We spent a week with a family who was eeking out a living on the Pacific coast south of Acapulco.
Probably the most memorable activity of the week was drinking cold rum and coke. There were glass bottles of coca cola stacked against the house. One day, the fishermen were taking a run into town for supplies and asked if we wanted anything. Thinking we would provide a little fun for everyone, one of my fellow students gave them some pesos for a bottle of rum. When the rum arrived, we discovered to our surprise that none of the guys wanted any.
We bought our coke from Maria and proceeded to pour ourselves a drink. It was then that one of the fishermen casually asked us the most amazing question … “Quieres hielo?”
It doesn’t take much Spanish language skill to know that hielo means ice. ICE? With no electricity and no running water, how could he be asking us if we wanted ice? My brain imploded with confusion.
Then this fellow proceeded to walk over to a large pile of wood chips that I hadn’t even noticed. And there, buried deep underneath was a block of ice. He pulled out an pick and hacked us off enough to fill our glasses. Voila! Cold rum and cokes. Talk about having to pinch yourself!
I sat with my companions and watched the sunset, feet in the Pacific, miles from anywhere drinking cold rum and coke. We later realized that the ice was used to keep the fish cold for its trip to market in Acapulco. Wood chips provide adequate insulation. Who knew.
We three students from California, Connecticut and myself from New Jersey would never be the same. I think this is the first time I really talked about the experience in detail. The three of us went our separate ways after our adventure and never hung out again. For me, having met people with so few possessions who appeared so happy changed me. I realize that I was only there a week. I don’t want to glorify poverty as I’m sure they had their own problems. In the repaired van we said our goodbyes to return to classes having to force money on them to cover our stay. And like the 1954 musical Brigadoon, the veil closed and we went back to our student lives. Forever changed.
DOS TORTAS
the adventures of dos tortas 
I love this, Alex – and I wish I had a memory like yours: happiness with so very little. Thank you for yet another wonderful blog:)
I leave for Valladolid in a day – will be there until Thursday night. Then back to Bacalar for a few more days. We had a sad thing: a couple of days ago Marissa didn’t realize pirate was under the car and ran over him – he didn’t make it. He died on the way to the vet in chet (they needed xrays) The dogs have always know to stay out of the way of the cars…but for some reason Pirata changed his behavior and it had a very sad ending..
Hoping you all are well and enjoying Sunday morning..sending love, Lorrie
Lorrie Jones Simple Serenity simpleserenity.comhttp://simpleserenity.com/ 253.312.3117 there
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Sorry about Pirata. That is heartbreaking. Come by please.
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Rum and coke was my drink of choice in my teens!
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Teens? 🙃 I was raised by non drinkers. I learned the hard way. 🤮
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I really enjoyed this series — thanks for sharing your memories. What an amazing, formative time you had.
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Just writing about it brought back memories.
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A block of ice under a pile of wood chips. How very creative.
Mexico in those days was so wonderful. Still it, but in a different way.
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There was lots more smoking and drinking then. Today people drink coke and struggle with diabetes. Young women didn’t go out without a chaperone. Truly a lot has changed, some good, some not so.
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