“If you’re not in the parade, you watch the parade. That’s life.” Mike Ditka. former football player, coach and TV commentator.

A year ago I wrote about our experience attending the Ajijic Mardi Gras ~ Carnaval Parade. If you would have told me a year later I’d be riding in the ​desfile,​ as part of the equestrian units, astride my beloved Negrita and surrounded by my other riding partners … well then, I’d say you were crazy, insane, mad or completamente ​loco​.

The call to saddles came blasting across my Facebook Trailblazers group page. This last-minute roundup of riders intrigued me. Parades have never been my thing … just ask my old friend, Cyndi, as she tried dragging me to some over the years. I just had to “bite the bit” and enjoy the raucous celebration in my new hometown. Our small group felt honored, privileged and welcomed to be part of the town traditions.

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Participating in the parade you miss seeing the fabulous and outrageous ​Sayacas​, the cross-dressing, flour-throwing masked characters of Carnaval. They put on masks and dress in women’s clothing, stuffing them with shapely balloons, to overly accentuate womanly features … just think of an Anna Nicole bust plus a Beyoncé bottom and add in Farrah Fawcett hair. It’s a great opportunity to let off steam, chase after kids and cross the established boundaries of both age and sex. You sometimes wonder who’s lurking underneath all the costuming.

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Our large contingent of equestrians brought up the rear of the parade. This way we’d miss out on its chaotic, disorganized beat of the floats (flatbed trucks rustically decorated), costumed characters and marchers. Horses are revered and treated with love and respect by Mexicans. The equestrians were seen in kind and blessedly avoided any pelting of flour and tossed confetti by the spectators lining up both sides of the narrow streets, clogging intersections. I was able to catch a souvenir gold bead necklace thrown by a bunch of expats from a second floor restaurant.

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The large crowds all along the route enthusiastically waved and shouted from the curbs, balconies and rooftops. Who knew Ajijic was so populated! It was all great fun, exciting and a thrill … even from the back, with a very loud and sometimes-in-tune Banda following us as the final marchers.

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One aspect of literally sitting high on my horse was it gave me a new perspective of seeing the village. It was like being a voyeur peeping over high walls and gates to reveal gorgeous patios and in some cases whole family compounds. That was pretty cool.

The photos taken of the front of the parade are from our friends, Mike and Darryl, who always seem to be in the middle of everything that is happening lakeside. They cheered me on from the sidelines. Gracias, amigos. Veni, vidi, vici … I came, I saw, I conquered.

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Our new friends, Sue and Robin, joined us for an afternoon in Jocotepec at the west end of the lake. Joco is a lakeside town with few expats. Hence, prices are generally better here than in Ajijic and San Antonio. It’s also the agricultural center for the berry industry that surrounds the area. Produce abounds in its markets.

We enjoyed a leisurely lunch at El Rincón de Frida, best known for their tasty and generous sandwiches. It’s a lovely garden setting restaurant – tranquil, but for the kitty cats that like to drop by your feet and sleep. Then onto the town’s plaza and cultural center for an art exhibit. It was Ash Wednesday, but for some reason the church’s doors were closed, an oddity.

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The ladies wanted to check out the town’s Mercado. It’s usually bustling, but we were a bit late, so some vendors were already done for the day. I did stop by my bean lady and replenished our rice and bean inventory. Sue stopped dead in her tracks upon finding a shoe store filled to the rafters … finding herself a colorful new sandal to add to her wardrobe.

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David worked with a massage client, Dianne, for many years at Burke Williams Spa, always speaking highly of her. She introduced us to her BFF, Sheridan, who now resides lakeside. Sheridan is moving and put the call out for help, so Dianne and hubby, John, flew down for the weekend to pitch in. How’s that for friendship?! We invited the group over for dinner after their day’s hard work and finally met the oft-mentioned Dianne … serving up …

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​On the Menu​ … Tarascan bean soup, spinach and chicken tomatillos ​enchiladas​, guacamole. Also … Chicken tostadas, Salmon over a purée of sweet potatoes and my favorite vegetable, asparagus.

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