Now, a odd sound from the dark& lower streets of Colonia Cuahautemoc in the town of Comala. Night is setting in this evening, towering, glowing clouds with massive booming of thunder and incredible flashes of lightening. The cat took flyer downstairs from the roof and hid under the bed. Big, bad dog crawled under my hammock and whimpered as if he was going to be cooked by the evil devils in the sky. Let me tell you, I have seen lightening storms in the states that I thought were terrifying, but these make them look like matches. The incredible blasts of the thunder literally rattle your teeth, doors and windows.  One blast actually made the liquor cabinet shake and the glasses and bottles to rattle like an earthquake had hit. Then, as peace began to settle in, the Sapos (giant toads) began to sing, chortle and rattle their bizarre sounds into the night.  

Then, each group on each street, started the same beat and in time with each other.  I was able to take out my native drum and add to the cacophony of toadel tunes. Wow, what a trip. MJ or other mind-altering drugs couldn’t improve on these sounds. Now, Friday, after coming back from one of my exploratory trips, I can try to describe the Indian villages out in the outback of Colima. First, thru the little puebla of Asmoles, thru to Ix pan, down thru Los Ortices, then thru Las Trancas, Cerro Rincon, to an amazing village of IXLAHUACAN where I was treated with amazing respect.  These Indians said that I was the first white man that most of the villagers had seen and wondered how I spoke Spanish.  I was treated to mole, pazole, menudo (tastes like bad, chopped up tennis socks), fresh milk with tequila and wonderful, fresh goat cheese and home made bread.  I bought a short case of beer for the chief and his cohorts.  What a gas…..  Then on my way to Zincamitlan where the federales stopped me and checked for guns and drugs.  

Around thru Almadores, Los Temapes and back on to the highway and home.  THENNNNN,  in my rear view mirror, I see a pick up zooming my way: I am going 75 and he whips by me.  Then a Keystone Cop image appears in my mirror. Three local federales, driver and compadres leaning out the windows, obviously screaming at the top of their lungs, waving guns, siren screaming; their little white VW weaving in an out of traffic chasing the pick-up. 

They slow down on the mountain road, I pass them with a cheerful wave, one flips me off and on the down side of the mt., they whiz on again and finally capture their quarry taking a wee wee alongside the hi-way.  

I was awake at 6:00am today, walked out to look at the morning sky and found I had to put on my old ski jacket. Opened up my lounge chair on the front deck of the house and sat ever so quietly with my dog Chaco at my feet. The sky was crystal clear and the stars shown like diamonds. 

The Volcan de Fuego was putting on a wonderful, exciting show of  rivers of lava running down the south and southwest sides. First, a glow at the crown of the volcan, then a dark moving river began to move. 

As it hit obstacles on its way down, there would be gorgeous bursts of bright orange as it leapt and ran in rivers and rivulets in different directions. While this was happening, there were great flashes of lightening in the mts. to the north and towards Guadalajara. What a wonderful way to start the day. All during my hour and half in the chair, I could hear the river roaring down in the barranca (canyon).  

A lone bat flying in front of me chasing the small insects while the air began to whistle with the awakening of the cicadas in the trees.

As daylight began to light up the eastern sky, the coal black outlines of the jungle foliage became silhouetted against the sky. The great banana & coconut palms swaying back and forth as the stiffer trees began to move with the morning breezes accompanied by the soft tinkling of our little wind chime in one of the trees.  I got up, got a cup of coffee; Café de la Flor from Suchitlan, and remained in my chair watching and listening.