Cuando Calienta el Sol
An unforgettable tune.
1966, Newly wed. Honeymoon.
Destination: Acapulco.
We stop for one night
in a silver mining town, Taxco;
we sample the local cuisine,
rich with chilly peppers
and plenty of Tabasco.
There’s a magnificent view
from the roof garden
of an old Mexican villa
and everything is still, until
the mariachis wake us at midnight
playing a romantic serenade
for the señorita in the room above.
The place is imbued with love.
We imbibe the sweet fragrance
of the hibiscus and bougainvillea
which in the garden abound.
And now there is silence
broken only by the occasional sound
of a solitary bird or a cicada.
The Greyhound Express takes us
to Acapulco, all the way.
We are now with friends with whom
we will share a pleasant stay.
Isabel prepares a Tequila Sunrise,
Manolo plays a Spanish guitar
and to his artistry we are in thrall.
The song ‘Cuando calienta el sol‘
proves to be a fitting choice
as the sun is truly scorching
but we shelter under shady trees.
Isabel sings with a delicate voice
the words of that remarkable tune
that reminds me of my honeymoon.
© Luigi Pagano 2019
Pleasant memories of this beautiful land. I loved the town of Oaxaca, but when I came home I kept thinking: Donde esta el Sol?
I absolutely loved Mexico in those olden days but I understand that nowadays things are not so rosy in that country. Of my stay in Mexico City one thing still sticks in my mind: the ‘one-peso’ taxis which took as many people as possible for that sum and deposited passengers to any locations, on request, along the way. The driver would show one finger out of the window to show that he had ‘vacant’ seats even though we were already packed like sardines. It was during one of those journeys that I met a neighbour and close friend of president… Read more »
Luigi, please note title: Cuando calienta el sol. I don’t think I’ll ever get to Mexico.
Regards, Gerald.
Quite right, Gerald, it should be ‘Cuando’. I’ll never make it as a proofreader! Corrected it now. Thanks for pointing it out.
Doesn’t a visit to Mexico appeal to you? I know that the political and economic situation is not very healthy over there.
Regards, Luigi
You would surely have screamed at the mariachis strumming their guitars round your table at the restaurant or below your hotel’s window but we, newly-wed, found it quite romantic.
The Mexico we read about these day does not seem so attractive but we enjoyed our stay. Our journeys nowadays are not so long distance.
Nice to hear your nice words, Trevor.
Best, Luigi