Every August we travel south to Mexico to a small town called Cenotillo, Yucatan which is about 3 hours inland from Cancun, Quintana Roo to celebrate the annual “Fiesta” for the town’s Saint and to visit his parents. The normal population for the town estimates less than 1,500 during the Fiesta there could be anywhere from 3,000 to 4,500 populating Cenotillo.
Going back to the town every year is like stepping into a different world, no one worries about time, you work for what you need and spend most of your time with family and friends. Cenotillo is a very rural area with no general store or restaurants that you would normally see in Cancun or Ensenada but a small store similar to what you find at a gas station, small food places that are ran out of people’s homes. You would not know it but they have best Chinese food ever, the biggest avocados (the size of footballs) and the best cheese. Most of the shopping done is in the capital Merida or Cancun but either way it’s over an hour’s drive. Some of the locals live in huts made of trees and palm fauns with dirt floors and with hammocks hanging inside for beds; it’s to hot and humid to sleep on a bed. Many do have small homes built of cinder blacks, concrete and wood. The food, I think it’s one of my favorite parts of visiting the town.
The food isn’t what many would consider to be Mexican food; it is a style of its own with influences from the local Mayan culture, as well as Caribbean, Mexican, European (French) and Middle Eastern cultures. Throughout the two week long fiesta; many who visit enjoy the corrida (bullfights), the bailes (dances), the harrana (traditional Mayan dance) and a carnival. Most of the fiesta takes place during the late afternoon till early morning, 4:00pm – 4:00am, usually the cooler hours of the day. All the dances are held in the center of the town known as the palacio, big band groups and DJ’s travel to each of the towns in the Yacatan to play. Each group brings its own stage, sound system and audio guy. Much of the entertainment starts at 12:00am or 1:00am and will end between the hours of 4:00am – 6:00am depending if the crowd is still dancing away.
The corridas also known in English as bullfights begin at 4:00pm (or when the sun is lower) every day throughout the fiesta. The corridas takes place in a temporary stadium, at first sight one may not want to enter especially knowing that it is only constructed for the fiesta and taken down after the party is over. The stadium is built of wood, palm fauns, rope, tarps and lattice and holds over 2,000 people, a few bulls, a lot of horse and a local band.
For most of the time spent in the town you never really pay to much attention to clock rather the sun…I love going every year, I enjoy my new extended family and how relaxed I feel when we come home. Plus it’s always nice to head down to Cancun when we want. I feel fortunate that I can visit such a place that not many get to experience.
Jose and I in Cancun
One of the houses on the same street as his parents
Band night
The Welcome sign
My sisters friends in the pool house
We are now Mr. and Mrs. Diaz, our family was established on December 6th 2008. We moved to Corona, CA in October of 2007 and we are enjoying every minute. We have our little one Leo, our dog who we just adore. We hope you enjoy our blog!!
