Vida abajo al sur.

Tijuana is treating me admirably; we had a nice afternoon rainstorm, it happens sudden when you’re this close to the coast, blue-sky morning, rainstorm afternoon. I ran for covering finding a tin roof over hang in front of a fruit stand. There was a group (4-5) catholic school kids, girls and boys dressed in blue and gray blazers or skirts taking refuge from the hard rain. They were smoking cigarettes and playing ‘Radio Head’ from a laptop, they looked at me, I said “hello” they turned to face the fruit baskets sat on the street the girls laughed. They looked at me a few more times, and then said a few more words I could not understand, even if I did speak more Spanish they said it so soft. They had “Smiths” and “Modest Mouse” patches on their backpacks a few of them were wearing Black Chuck Taylor’s just like I was. I thought they may want to chat about American music or film or even Chuck Norris jokes, but all I got was indifferent looks. I headed back into the rain leaping sudden mud puddles my head down I dashed to my hotel just a block away. Inside the decorative hotel lobby they all gave me the “Hello Steve-o, you so wet we would have sent a cab you call next time” They gave me a towel to dry off and a cup of Coffee’ Negro My laundry was done and folded on my bed when I got to my room. I gave the bellboy a $1 tip for delivering the clothes to my room. Tipping is a good way to make friends.

P.S. I miss Esther.