May
20
2006

Manny's

Friday Night Pre Show

(Add / View Comments) (0)Saturday, May 20, 2006 - 04:44:43 pm (Friday, May 19, 2006 - 11:44:43 pm MST)
(Posted Under: Travel)
We walked dow to the street, to hail a taxi, to go to Manny's. Not that we need to hail one - over the weekend, rather than hailing, you needed to decline when you didn't need one. Each time you walked out onto the street, and a driver would call out, looking for business. I can say this for Mexico in general - people are always trying to sell you something or a service, but they're gracious when you say no - unlike in the US or Australia, if you tell someone you're not interested, they leave you alone, rather than trying to convince you to make a sale. Another thing that is nice is having to exhert little energy to get a taxi.

We all piled into the back seat (as at this point I did not know whether it was kosher to sit in the front) and told the driver to head to Manny's. Of the whole weekend, this was the craziest taxi ride, and even this one, in my books was pretty tame. The taxi itself had a cracked winshield, and the driver, who was quite socialble drove somewhat eratically, but - I was hoping for something a bit more crazy. Not too crazy, but point being, with even that ride I wasn't concerned at all. I also didn't bother with seat belts - probably the place we're you need to wear a seatbelt the most, but it just didn't feel right to do. [wink]

Taxis in Mexico are great - where ever you want to go, it's $2 per person. Awesome! During this taxi ride we got to experience more of the dusty roads and abandonment of road rules and speed limits. I loved this - the Pincate condos were quite cosy and resorty. While that rocked, I was ready for some real Mexico experiences! [smile] One getting to Manny's, our driver told us where we had to go and told us to have a good time and get fucked up - he was a cool guy.

We jumped out of the taxi, and headed down to Manny's, which, well like everywhere we went, was right on the beach. This side of town was much much more Mexican. We did a lap of the bar (which was a bar, and a huge pergola type thing), and didn't see many people we knew. The place was packed, but it seemed like the majority of people were kids on spring break. We did spot a couple of Peacemakers shirts and familar faces though.

After walking around, we lined up for drinks, which was....quite an affair. Manny's definately needs to hire 7 more bar tenders - or even just 7 bar tendners. After a really long wait in the heat of a crowd we got drinks and headed to one end of the bar where there was some breathing space. We more or less secured this spot all night. This also happened to be next to the ladies bathrooms, which were closed, and hence I found myself answering the question "are these open?" a lot during the night! Those bathrooms were also became my one Mexico regret - a Mexican hooker came up to me, I lost my erection, hence I have to lie in the letters to the boys back home. No. But come on, I had to use that lyric somewhere!!! [smile] Okay, so my actual Mexico regret. Manny's is a drinking establishment for homosapiens, and pets are not allowed. So, the woman's rest rooms said "Ladies Restroom" and then beside it "No Dogs Allowed". My regret is that the batteries in my camera were flat. The most fucking hilarious photo, one I was going to be so proud of, but it never came to fruitation. But in anycase, I had a good laugh at that, and can relay the story. Even if I don't have my brillant photo!

On one of the drink runs (which we'd decided after the first one that not everyone needed to partake in every time), a couple camme up to me (yes, actually to ask what the deal with the restroom was! [smile] ), and introduced themselves, saying that'd seen us at the Last Exit pre-party in Tempe on Thursday night, and asked where the two girls I was with were. It was cool having someone there to talk to. We talked about the Peacemakers and Tramps and Theives, and seemed impressed we'd come all the way from Australia for the show.

The rest of the Manny's experience wasn't too eventful - Catherine drank more, and tried to get Katie to drink more - which thankfully she didn't. By 11, Manny's was pretty crowded, still with no-one we knew, so we decided to make a move. Though apparently the band showed up there later on. We stopped at the store outside Manny's and Catherine and Katie brought some stuff, before we headed down the street. We were headed somewhere, I think, but I don't neccesarily recall where. It was cool walking around the dusty dirty streets of Mexico slightly buzzed (so much more fun that walking around in Melbourne half cocked wanting to go home), though of course I had to keep a watchful eye on both of the girls as well. But - just really fucking cool! We walked past Around Da Corner, where Jack vs. Jose (The Peacemakers) was playing on the jukebox, hence it wasn't too hard of a decision to step inside. Actually, just after leaving Manny's we walked past a titty bar, but neither of the girls would let me go in! Hmmph. Narks! [smile] So anyways, we wandered into Around Da Corner. Aside from being an actual building, a very nice difference to Manny's was someone immediately asking if we wanted a drink, rather than having to wait in line! sweet! [smile] We got our drinks, and sat down at a table. The jukebox (which actually seemed to be a computer with Winamp on it - which was suprising. Most if not all places in Mexico had the older style electronic cash registers, so a computer in a bar was slightly out of place) seemed to be one Peacemakers song for each non Peacemakers song - who can complain with that?!? Not I amigo, not I!

We had a couple of drinks there, and ran into our friends from Manny's, before deciding to make a move. Katie and I were thinking of making a move to Pincate, while Catherine was quite obviously thinking of the next bar. [wink] Standing around outside of Around Da Corner suddenly the power went out across the whole town. Which again, sounds like it'd be more alarming that it was. I think this was probably being surronded by so many gringos, things like that didn't seem that threatening. Maybe it was the buzz to. Despite that, after not too long, Katie and I both agreed that it was time to hail our closest friendly local taxi driver and head back to Pincate. Well that, and convince Catherine that was the best plan too. [wink] We walked up to where we'd been dropped off earlier, past the influx of policia that had arrived with sirens flashing to deal with the town wide blackout, and before long were in a taxi heading back to the condo.
May
20
2006

Here Comes Another Post About Mexico

Travelling To Puerto Peñasco, MX

(Add / View Comments) (0)PhotosSaturday, May 20, 2006 - 11:21:34 am (Friday, May 19, 2006 - 06:21:34 pm MST)
(Posted Under: Travel)
"I just can't help myself, got my lures and my bobbers and now I'm gonna go..."

Another post about Mexico, but the all important one. We headed off for Mexico this morning. It was a nice drive south of Phoenix, the desert a lot more brown than it was last year. I also thought the scenary was suitably different to the Tucson / Nogales trip to the border last year. Sun beating down, Dead Hot Workshop playing on the stereo, really nice!

We made a pitstop in Ajo for gas, drinks and photos before continuing on down to the dusty Mexican border line. We made another bathroom stop literally outside of the border. This was cool when I realised we were in Gringos Pass, which there is a Whalen song about.

Photobox ImageWe continued a few meters down to the border crossing. Seriously a lot more low key than the one in Nogales. There was no passport check or anything, we just continued on. A little way into Sonoyta (the border town on the Mexico side), we stopped to give collectors some loose change. At this point we had Americano! playing, and Americano! (the track) was on. A policia was directing traffic as Roger sung "La policia's asking questions, say you don't know nothin' and you ain't seen a thing." Too freaking cool!

We continued on the Sonoyta, which did loolk suitably more like Mexico, which was cool. Obviously the landscape looked the same as Arizona most of the way to Puerto Peñasco (accents to be added at a later stage), and the highway seemed quite good. For the most part the only indication of being in Mexico was the road signs which we're in kilometers per hour, and of course...es spanole. [smile]

As we got closer to Puerto Peñasco, the desert became much more sandy. All in all it was about an hour from the border to Puerto. Hitting the town, to me, it didn't seem a that much different to smaller towns in southern Arizona. It reminded me a lot of Tucson actually. It was cool, just not the huge culture shock I was looking for! We drove through town, and then turned off the main drag onto the road that leads to Sunset Cantina and Pincate condos. "This is what I'm talking about!" This was the Mexico I was looking for - dirty dusty roads, people everywhere, and eratic driving! [smile] It was only a short way to our destination. Turning onto the short road that where Pincate was situated, it was packed with gringos there to see Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers.

Photobox ImageWe parked and checked in, and then headed over to the condos (right opposite of the resort checkin, next to Sunset Cantina). One of the first culture differences thing I noticed was that the boomgate for the parking lot of Pincate was not electric, there was a guy whose job is to pull it up everytime a car needs to go in.

We parked, got our stuff together, and headed up to the condo. It took a bit to find ours, and walking through the complex I looked out down one of the stair wells, where there was a window looking over the ocean. The view of the ocean and the dropping sun beaming of it was spectacular. I knew that once we got situated I was going to have to goo back and take a photo.

After working the full length of the third floor, we found room #315. Now, if anyone is going to Puerto Peñasco, I highly recommend the Pimncate Condominiums! $119 a nigiht for a 2 bedroom, kitchen, laundry, living room, TV, CD player fully furnished condo in my opinnion was awesome! The only complaint I had was the size of the balcony compared to some others, and that complaint did not last long. [smile] Also I expected more of an ocean view, though I got over that really quickly also! [smile]

Photobox ImageCatherine took off for a walk, and Katie and I got ourselves situated. Once Catherine got back, we grabbed the camera and took a walk down to the beach, and of course, snapping that photo I wanted on the way down the stair well. Walking out on the beach, someone who we didn't know said "finally, you made it!", which was weird. [smile] A lot of fans who'd gotten there earlier in the day were already travelling well!

We walked past the Pen Del Sol (actual name to be corrected later) which is next door to Pincate. There had been talk of renovation there on the Peacemakers board earlier this year, and it was interesting to see that the rooms were pretty much gutted. Renovations indeed! In anycase, we walked down along the shore to the beach front, past the vendors on the beach. A few small girls came up to Katie, selling shells or wanting to braid her hair. Funnily enough hearing Katie say "No gracis" was strange. "Si gracious" isn't, but "no gracious" sounds like half english and half spanish, although it's entirely full proper spanish. I certain was able to embrace this later on, but the first few times, it sounded strange to me.

We headed down to the water, and Katie dipped her feet in. We were asked if we wanted a ride on the banana boat, which we declined, and Katie promptly told me about her previous traumatic bananana boat experience.

After milling around at the waters edge for a bit, we made our way back to the condo. A little while later I made the same trip more or less with Catherine. On the way back we also walked down to la famacia to get - to get what I don't exactly remember. Well, I wanted some deodorant I think. I'd really found being in Mexico not a big deal. Turning onto the street that leads to Pincate was the first, and one of the very few times when I felt even slightly uneasy. Walking past Cocodrillo's (on the corner) there was a black van parked with it's doors opened, and that was one of the few times even images of the dangers of Mexico flashed through my head. Obviously though, it was not a big deal at all.

We walked down a bit further to la famacia. The place was filled with obvious Peacemaker fans, stocking up for the weekend. It was weird looking at the items, and seeing for example, a small can of deodorant for $45! Even though you know it can't be dollars, it's weird to see, and hesitance to even walk up to the counter with it. Though I guess this was a first time thing, it didn't take much to become acoustomed to it. As it turns out, a peso is 10 American dollars, which made it a lot more reasonable. [wink] Well, still $4.50 for a small can of deodorant was still pricy in heighensight. [smile] Given the dry head and consntant sweat, I didn't need to be frugal though. [smile]

Anyways, after our la famacia experience, we headed back to the condo, to get ready to go out to Manny's, the typical Friday night pre show hangout.

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