Lynch Mob Mexico Style (not for the faint)

So the other day Scott and I were hiking with two elderly couples who were in town visiting. We took them up the the chapel on the hill behind my dad's house. you know, a nice leisurely hike. On our way up, Scott took a wrong turn with one of they wives and noticed something odd in the bushes. He quickly realized he was off course and took the wife back the way they came and found the correct trail.

Now Scott, being the gentlemen that he is, does not inform the lady of what he saw. But rather comes up to me and whispers it in my ear. I am shocked, disgusted and eagerly want to check out what he had found.

Yesterday we find the same trail, through a different route I might add, where we had to navigate through 80 degree incline dirt landslides, thorn bushes and literally had to carry my dog through and over a broken down barbed wire fence amongst the roughage. Not fun!

After finally getting to the trail head we walk a few hundred meters and look up to the left and there it is... My jaw drops, my mind races, my camera comes out.




Now it may not seem like it, but this dog is as big as a small bear. I have no idea why someone would want to lynch their dog from a tree 20 meters off a commonly used hiking trail but this was fuckin creepy. But not creepy enough apparently to prevent me from getting up close and personal to take a few pictures. As I walked up there the flies started to swarm around my face and body and the smell was god awful. After a couple quick snapshots I was more than ready to get the hell out.

on a side note, the dog must have been there for at least 5 days or so which leads me to believe there are no large Predators/Scavengers in the mountains. Good thing for me.

Safari De Mexico

It has been 20 days since we left Ajijic but we finally made it back. And neither of us got arrested or killed. Not that there was no lack of effort. I'll try and sum up our road trip as it was quite a sprint.

After a long week in Mexico city we cruised to Oaxaca which is known for its Mescal ( a type of tequila), mole (a mexican chololate sauce) and Chapulines ( grasshopper tacos) We feasted on all of the above. But let me tell you, grasshoppers go way better with mescal than by themselves.

We then drove to Huatulco where my friends from boulder, Greg and Wes live. Immediately after we got their we hopped on their boat and motored off to a secluded bay where we docked, swam to the beach and feasted on the freshest seafood i have had in a long time. A perfect way to get welcomed into a town. Not to mention that these guys are in the real estate business so we got styled out in a pimpsky pad the first night. There are pictures in the slide show. If you are ever in Huatulco and are looking for a place to stay check out my buddies. www.RRestateservices.com

Next we drove up the coast to a little hippy town call Zipolite where there is no shortage of bungalows you can stay in, weed you can smoke, or naked people to encounter on the beach. Although all of those do sound appealing, we only checked this place out for a night as it was a little too mellow for our needs.

So we headed farther north to Puerto Escondido which is considered to be a THE surf spot in Mexico. The waves were small and perfect for us since we both suck at surfing. After arriving at 8 am and spending 3 hrs in the water we checked into our hotel and got ready for Friday night. Apparently the hot bar in town only starts getting crowded at midnight and the disco tech opens at 2. So we knew we had to pace ourselves. After a 9 pm dinner we went to the bar which gradually filled with international travelers of all types. After staying there and partying till 2 we checked out the disco which had still not even opened yet. Fuck that. it was time for bed.

Acapulco was next on the agenda which was perfect since my cousin has a place there. A sick place right next to the yacht club. We partied all night when we got there then went out on a sailboat the next day. Perfect for a hangover. That night Gov and I decided to get some American culture back in our blood so we hit up Hard Rock Cafe, got burgers and shakes, and watched Sunday night football.

The last stop was Zihuatenejo which holds a special place in my heart. You see, Andy Dufrane ends up in this small town after breaking out of Shawshank prison only to be met by his good friend Red at the end of the movie. (Maybe the best movie ever). I went to a bar there and grabbed a pen and marked my presence with "Gut was here"

Now we are back in Ajijic and looking forward to having a home base for a while. I know this last post is not full of interesting anecdotes, but i tried to keep it brief. So much has happened in the last 20 days it is too hard to capture it all. Enjoy the sideshow. These are pics starting from just before thanksgiving until yesterday.

Click on the Slide show to enlarge it

Mexico City...Chingoneria!

After a few low key days of exploring Mexico City's tourist attractions

-Frida Kahlo, Trotsky, modern art, national history & anthropology museums
-The pyramids/ruins at Teotihuacan
-The historical district downtown
-and the 10 peso prostitutes located every 10 ft away in all directions right next to the vegetable and chicken stands (of which i assure you we did not take part in, but was a good indicator that we were walking in the wrong part of town)

We moved on to pursue more constructive endeavors with my Mexican friends Bobby and Jose and their amigos in town. Thursday night we got to bobby's house and had a jam/sing along session for about an hour before we went out to some live music and reggae bars. We randomly started talking to some girls at the bar, one of which was the slut on the first season of big brother out in Mexico. Paola something i think.

That will be my only name drop for some time.

The following day we hooked up with one of bobby's friends who knew of a day party. We first stopped by grano's house (grano means zit in spanish) which looked like a decent place from the outside but let me just say i was glad i had all my vaccinations before walking into to that shithole. After Zit's house we drive out into the middle of nowhere looking for this party. We park the car in a fairly poor neighborhood and start following the high school kids down an alley and into a to a field. The field of dreams as far as i am concerned. There were roughly 150 people there, aged 17-27 (we were the oldest by 2 yrs), all drinking from a bar that serves only 32 oz cups of michelada's (which are beers with clamato juice and chili powder)listening to Mexican disco techno.

Mind you this is 2 in the afternoon and most of the people there were in high school. Scott and i were the only whites there but we made friends quickly and hung around till about 7 at which time it was necessary that i go to sleep until 9am the next morning. I wish this existed when i was in high school.






Tonight is our last night in Mexico City and we plan to go out on the town. This week has flown by. Thanks to the family and friends I have out here, we were able to view the city from a multitude of perspectives. It is a city full of contrast that hosts both the beautiful and the ugly all along the same line. I have to say that we have been dancing around this line during our stay which has granted insights into a day in the life. Although we have felt very embraced, 1 week is enough time to get lost and found while appreciating the journey in between. It is time to start pressing on.

Thanksgiving... in Mexico?!

No, Mexicans do not celebrate Thanksgiving. Nor does my Mexican family. However a few years back my mom decided to force my cousins, Pablo and Lisette, to let both her and my dad come to their bed and breakfast to celebrate Thanksgiving. That year there were 5 people at the celebration (not all of them family).

This year there were at least 25 of members of the family in attendance. I say "at least" because we were all to busy drinking, laughing and getting to know each other that we did not have time to take a formal head count.

I am just starting to become acquainted with my Mexican relatives and I must say they are Fuckin Awesome.

Below are some pics of the weekend that my cousin Peter took. Mostly of family, Nature in the surrounding area and of the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary.

The Butterfly Sanctuary is worth noting because for some reason (scientists are unaware of) every year the Monarch Butterflies fly from Canada to Mexico and congregate in certain parts of the forest in the mountains near Zitacuaro, Mexico. It is an incredible site to see. Now i am pretty petrified of bugs, and i sometimes (all the time) scream like a little girl if a spider gets within 3 ft of me, but i had no problem letting these butterflies engulf my personal space. Truly a magical and spectacular event to witness.

Click on the slide show to enlarge it


I am writing this from Mexico City, where Scott and I plan to hang for the next week. My cousin Pablo gave us his house to chill in. Last night we met up with my old roommate from Australia (he is Mexican)and drank some beers in the hood. I hadn't seen him in 6 yrs and it felt really good to catch up with an old buddy. We'll stay with him over the weekend where we will get the insiders tour of the all the dirtiest dive bars in Mexico City. Maybe even catch some live music too.

On Sunday the plan is to drive to the coast and get some sand in our shoes.

Cock Fight = Awesome

You have never REALLY been to Mexico until you attend a cock fight hosted in a cleared out parking garage. Gov and I tapped into this uncharted goldmine of amazingness 2 nights ago. We heard about it from a local mexican guy and when we wandered in there (6 pack in hand) and had no idea it was going to be this good.

Picture if you will. As we entered the garage we noticed it was completely lined with cardboard cock boxes especially designed to carry fighting cocks (breathing holes included), dead cocks laying in the blood soaked corners of the garage, and a 50 peso entrance fee at the gate. We gladly paid.

As we hesitantly saunter in, it becomes immediately apparent that we are the only weto's (white boys) in the place, which just ups our street cred even more.

We take our place atop the bleachers, which consists of a few metal supports and some 2/4's, crack a modelo especial, and are ready to watch the action unfold. I did not realize it, but you know how everyone in mexico has a machete right... well, so do all the cocks. The trainers keep the cocks' machetes in a small machete cock box just next to ringside. They then tie the cock's machete to the back of the cock's leg and this little saber helps the cock kill the other cock. Or just wound it to the point that it can no longer keep its head up, thus a victor is declared.

Did we bet on such festivities...? YES. Did I loose 100 pesos by betting on a cock that had a good 3 lbs on its opponent, yet managed to get its entrails spewed across the already blood soaked dirt arena floor..? YES. Was it worth every centavo...? YES.

We entered the cock fight arena as boys, and left feeling like kings of our time.

Now we are off to my cousins' B&B for Thanksgiving after which we are traveling to mexico city, then oaxaca, then huatulco.

stay tuned...

The madness is over...for now!

This last week was a whirlwind. All my friends came in. We drank, and ate and explored and laughed and had merry times.

Some of the highlights were closing down the bar on Wednesday night, BBQin on Thursday with just my dad and my crew, exploring Guadalajara on Friday, playing tennis with the old folks on Saturday, and having a party at the house on Saturday night.

There is a slide show below that captures the moments.

I have to say that it was amazing for all my friends to come out here. Not just because it was a blast having all of us hanging out together in one spot, which only happens a few times a year (if that), but because I was able to share a part of my life with them which they had not previously been exposed to. I love coming down to Mexico and it was a real treat for me to play tour guide. I think they all genuinely had a good time.

Plus I know it meant a lot to my dad. He has not had this full of a house since passover of this year when my mom was still alive. There was a ton of energy and life passing through this house this last week and I know he was basking in it with smiles all the way.

Alas much of the madness is over and playing tour guide for a week can be exhausting, so I am happy to have some quiet time right now. Gov, my dad & I are relaxing and unwinding from all the debauchery. I am looking into some art classes out here and am getting ready to leave for my cousin's b&b for Thanksgiving on the 27th. By bro and sister in law are coming out and we have a blast out there. After which, Gov and I will be cruizin Mexico City with my old roommates from Australia. I haven't seen them since and they are gearing up to show us a great time. Here we go again!

Till then I plan to work on my man tan, hike and explore the mountains in the area, catch up on some reading, and maybe even take a nap or two. Rough life.

Click on the slide show to enlarge it!

My friends are now trickling in. Kevin arrived at 6:30 on Monday morning. I was obligated to drink a couple of beers with him and play a few games of pool when he got here. all before 8am. and when i say obligated, i mean privileged. and when i say privileged i mean, i made him.

There are 6 of us here now and i pray that by the time this is all over, my dad's reputation will remain intact. I don't think this town has ever hosted 11 gringo 27 yr olds at 1 time. I am being serious.

This morning, in order to shake off some of the dust from the night before, we went for a hike up the mountain behind my dads house. There is a small chapel up there where every Easter, the locals have a procession and carry the cross to chapel. It is a pretty cool hike. Not to mention there are markers along the hike that tell the story of the different stages of the procession of Jesus before he died on the cross. So we got a small biblical Spanish lesson as we sweat out tequila. How's that for clash.

There is a beautiful view from the chapel that overlooks Lake Chapala, Ajijic (my dad's town), and a few good looking 27 yr old guys.

I plan to take my friends above and beyond this chapel within the next few days to a corn field at the top of the ridge. Pretty cool spot.

Interesting Dinner

Just got back from dinner tonight at my dad's friends house and let me just say that this town is full of interesting people. The friend happens to be the chief scientist for prop 7, the renewable energy bill, in California. I'll just say that there was plenty of good dinner conversation.

Not to mention one of their friends gave me an art lesson while I was stuffing my face with cheese and bean dip.

Not to mention my wine glass was never less than half full.

Last night I went to the theatre and saw The Hollow performed by some local actors.

Never a dull moment in this town. Even if it is chalk full of 50 + yr olds. I will say though. the good thing about hanging around all these old folk is they have definitely lived full lives and can relate to plenty of experiences. I am not bored.

Tomorrow I consult a local realtor in the morning about marketing his website online, then I'm off to an art show in the afternoon.

Does this all sound just a little bit pretentious? Cuz it does to me. But I guess that is just how I am rollin right now. Even if it is with a mohawk and handlebar mexi mustache.

I MADE IT!

I literally thought this day would never come, and now that it is here, it feels surreal. That is the only way for me to describe it. But my Mexican mustacheo reminds me of just how real it is.

I got in last night at 8:30 and immediately went to an Obama victory party, cracked a beer with my dad, and watched as one elderly woman made it her personal mission to pop every balloon in the entire place. I wanted to shoot her.

But alas, there is no room for such negativity.
I slept till 11:30 this morning, woke up in time to go out to lunch with my dad and his friends, the ROMEOS (Retired Old Men Eating Out) where we proceeded to discuss the state of everyone’s prostate and the results of their latest colonoscopy. But they are good guys and like to have a good time. So after the 2nd beer, I was game for any/all conversation.

Tonight my dad and I will celebrate my postponed birthday. Remember Remember the 5th of November.

And so begins my adventure.

Last day on the job

Last day on the job. I am working from home. I feel AMAZING. I decided it would be best if i commemorate the complete abandonment of responsibility with a new hairstyle. check it.



Now it's all about getting all my shit together, putting it in storage, tying up loose ends, and spending as much time with the people i care about before i leave.

Fuckin A. I feel like i am cutting my shackles of responsibility and taking breaths of free air for the first time in a long long time.

2 Weeks to Go

Is this real...? is all the shit i have been talking about for the last 5 years of my life really going to happen? It's Fuckin weird man.

When you've been dreaming about doing something for so long w/out actually living it, you get used to the fact this dream only exists in your mind. As my dreams slowly transform into reality, there are these strange sensations of fear, anticipation & happiness. I am on the brink of an amazing adventure. One I have been yearning for a long time.

All i know is that the "RIGHT NOW" is all can wrap my hands around.

right now, this very moment, i am wrapping my hands around the aftermath of eating 5 lbs of all you can eat Indian Buffet, in honor of the "Gutman Farewell Lunch" my work family took me out to.

I call them my family cuz they really took care of me this last year. It has been a rough one and they were there the entire way through. I will never forget that.

I told em so today at lunch too. That felt good.

My last day is Thursday. Wizard!

1 month to go

Every day is a new adventure. Last Saturday i woke up at 9 am and started drinking bacon bloody mary's, after which time I decided it was a good idea to get dressed up in a full body spandex suite (booties, gloves, and hood included) and dance my ass off all day. Tonight, who the fuck knows. probably something awesome will happen.

It is weird, the more and more i let go of control the more awesome my life gets and the more awseome i feel. Sometimes you drive the car and sometimes the car drives you. I am taking a break from driving for a while. I hope i don't crash.

Selling my Truck Sucks

I love my truck, but it has to go. i figured I'd put an ad for it up on autotrader and that would motivate me to fix everything that is wrong with it. I figured, i should probably get the spray paint off the side and the number the tow truck guy put on the upper left hand corner of my windshield. Both of which have been there for over a year. both of which have prevented the neigborhoodlums from fucking with it in fear of the repercussions of vandalizing a gang affiliated vehicle.

7 weeks to go and still way to much to do. These last few weeks i have drowned my worries with 1000's of ounces of booze and cigarettes. Last night I was up all night with a cough and figured it was time to bring myself back down to reality and face my responsibilities. Too many loose ends left untied will leave me caught in a web of shit. Better to take some scissors to the end of that rope as opposed to letting it fray out of control.

anyone want to buy a truck, or insure my vaccinations shots, or buy me a water purifier.

2 months to go

I have been trying to get out of the country for a long time. I mean a real visceral traveling adventure. Right after graduating college was my ideal time, but there were a few issues: no money, and a girlfriend I didn't want to loose. The girlfriend is out of the picture for now, and my bank account is ready to launch me into the unknown.

The plan is this:
quite my job, sell my truck, throw all my stuff in a storage unit, take a week's supply of essentials, strap it to my back and start the journey.