el crispito

Every day, sitting here writing blog entries or mopping our balconies, I hear wacky sounds that indicate that a certain person with something to offer is making their rounds through Chapalita Sur. For example, when the trash is about to be picked up, you hear a cowbel ringing over and over. That is the guy on the garbage truck letting you know that they're about to show up at your place and that you should get your trash out, if you didn't do that already.

We also have a guy that comes through blowing a brief little jingle on something like a pan flute, and he sharpens knives.

The man that sells fried bananas blows a whistle that sounds like a train whistle.

Although they don't do this here in Chapalita Sur, I have heard the gas truck (a truck with a big tank of propane that can either refil your tank or sell you a full small tank) in el centro histórico and Tonalá, with a looping recording that says, "¡Está GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAS!" Yeah, it's pretty annoying.

These are the ones that go through on a regular basis. I have also heard jingle bells and gone out to see that it's a guy selling ice cream. Twice I have heard chanting and drums and discovered that it is a group of indigenous folks in full regalia dancing through and accepting donations. Unfortunately, we have not seen anyone in our neighborhood like we did at Café Madoka, who goes around playing the marimba for tips.

I'm still waiting for the person that goes around selling tequila, but that's a different story altogether which merits its own entry.