Usually one “Dr. Simi” is enough but four in front of this one pharmacy? Kind of creepy as they were kind of gesturing to each other but not saying anything. There wasn’t really many people on the street for them to entertain. Just them dancing with each other and gesturing. Weird.
Tomorrow morning I will ride out of Parral towards Durango.
Like I had wrote, Parral caught me by surprise. I wasn’t expecting to spend so many days here. I arrived on Tuesday, straight from the U.S., and now it’s Saturday night and I’m finally committed to moving on tomorrow.
So, what is it about Parral that grabbed me? It’s hard to describe accurately as there really isn’t one reason. It’s chaotic with peace, friendly and colorful, happy and noisy, busy and but with a system. It’s layers of different things and if you just stand still long enough it changes and surprises. It’s a quilt of culture, space and structure that has been woven my many over time.
Every place I look there are layers of design and life. Old and new collide in both the structures and in the culture itself.
collision of the old and new.
An indigenous dress and a Hurley sweatshirt mixed.
Old and young. Tradition and youth with cellphones.
The majority of my time here was spent walking the streets and observing. Every so often I would find a corner to stand on or a park with a bench and a view and I would just watch the locals.
Watching how locals live their lives, how they do their job, interact with people, spend their leisure time - I try to get inside their head from a distance and see what they must be seeing. Since there is such a great language barrier I cannot pick up on exactly what is being said so I must rely on body language, expressions, tones and interactions.
And, every once in a while I’m able to grab a photo of something I like, something I find unique or indicative of this time and place. And then, click. Hopefully I’ve captured it so years later as the luster of the now fresh experience gives way to a more dulled memory I can look back at a photo and I will once again be in Parral in January, trying to live through the locals.
Boxing practice in the streets of a neighborhood below Mina la Prienta. These kids were laughing and having fun sparring.
I never get the feeling that this is a town that hosts many tourists, at least not American tourists. It’s a shame but a blessing as well. I love to get lost in the side streets and alleys that climb up the hillsides because this is where the life is that escapes the public eye.
I love a one chair barbershop. Somewhere on la calle Ricardo Flores Magon. The pictures and crosses on the shelf above are a good indication of Mexican priorities - Religion and family.
The third priority, friends, was present but outside the frame of the picture as the barber was inside talking with an old friend. This drew me to take this picture from just outside the door.
Barbershop
The one chair barbershop from outside. This is so indicative of Parral. Just individual, unique family businesses that you can pass by without noticing if you don’t pay attention.
Music everywhere, all the time.
An alley off of the Vialidad del Rio. Local artists painting over what used to be graffiti.
As I was taking pictures of them they walked over and shook my hand introducing themselves. The one guy asked me, “You know this song?”. It was The Cure and I did know it, I told him. We laughed. Again, the friendliness of people from Parral continues to amaze me. I feel welcomed at times into a very large family, their non-Spanish speaking cousin from the U.S. At least that’s the way people here make me feel.
It’s amazing how patient Mexicans are with me as I fumble Spanish words and stumble over their language. I wish I could say the same for a lot of Americans whom lose patience with those that speak English as a second language or barely speak English.
I can say from personal experience that at times it can be pretty lonely or at least isolating to be in a city or town and not understand the language. You are basically left with just the thoughts in your head. It’s not always easy. But imagine if those same people in your space act aggressively to you because you don’t speak the language (well). How much more difficult would life be and how unnecessarily?
I’m lucky I’m treated with patience, understanding and respect here.
Selling candy. Guy walking away just bought some. Will she?
These guys were great to listen to. They were playing to each other, not for anyone else.
I like how this restaurant spills out onto the street between cars and motorcycles.
My new friend and tour guide on this day.
Shoeshines and friends.
Shoeshine.
And it wasn’t just the people of Parral that were so interesting. These are the buildings, structures and places that caught my eye.
Under the awning during the rain.
San Jose de Parral.
The exact place where Poncho Villa was shot. Near where the statue resides today.
This was an abandoned house that was once beautiful. The detail was amazing. Such a shame to see it in this condition.
In the picture above of the doors, if you were to peek in the hole between the doors by the padlock, this is what you would see. Could just about get my lens through but not completely. Creepy place.
Casa Griesen - Museo de Historia de Parral.
Catedral de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe.
Historic Teatro Hidalgo.