Las Cucarachas

About the Book

Book Description For the page on the Xlibris Web site The collection of stories in las cucarachas’ tails comes from the travel experiences of the author and his traveling companions. These travel tales shed a distinctive light on Mexico and its culture. If this book were a typical travel guide, it would contain a glut of topical data about the many destinations mentioned within its pages--mostly outdated. Rather, this book relates a timeless message. Storytelling conveys only a backdrop or glimpse of the setting where the incidents happened. Although a location may be illuminated as the story unfolds, where they occurred only provide the background. The adventures and misadventures in las cucarachas’ tails give a more luminous view of both popular and unknown sites than would narrative description. Many of the stories describe an ambiance about the settings in which they took place. Moreover, they identify an unfathomable heart of the Mexicans with whom the author and his traveling companions crossed paths. These travel tales tell us something of the Mexican way of life--one you will find continually perplexing, yet immensely enjoyable. The story of the Mexican Hat Dance tells of visiting Mazamitla, “. . . high in the Sierra de Tigre Mountains, breathing pine-scented air and enjoying the fresh vitality of an alpine village. A majestic peak rises above Mazamitla. It beckoned and we climbed to the summit. As we recovered our breath--both the climb and the view were breath taking--we gazed to the west. Beyond the town, stretching to the horizon, a series of mountain ranges unfold, one after another, until in the distance mountain ridge and sky became one. To the southwest, we could see smoke rising from the Colima Volcano, fifty miles away. Rising boldly above the surrounding mountain grandeur, it dominates the rugged terrain above the Colima Valley. The volcano constantly exhales a plume of smoke from its 12,992-foot, cone-shaped peak. In 1999, it erupted with an explosion sighted as far away as Guadalajara. Molten lava poured down its eastern slope. Though nearby villages were evacuated, minimal damage resulted. Since then the crater has continued coughing smoke as it always has. The clear fresh air in Mazamitla impressed Karlene. Only a day earlier, she and Dale had landed at the Guadalajara airport in the midst of one of the frequent temperature inversions over the city. The pungent smell of sulfur dioxide, an industrial pollutant in the smog-laden air, was still offensively odoriferous to her nasal cavity. “I hope the refreshing atmosphere clears my head.” “You better hope it clears your lungs,” Dale said in jest. “Some days your head is cleared of too much, like intelligence, good judgment, and common sense.” If he had more to say on the subject, Karlene didn’t give him the chance. A few minutes later, she had Dale wondering whether she had too much mountain air. It was market day in Mazamitla and there was a festive air about the village. At the entrance to the tianguis, a vendor selling cassettes and compact disks had his stereo playing traditional Mexican music. In spite of the cobblestones, Karlene broke into an unidentifiable dance step. An elderly caballero spied her and immediately stepped up and joined in the dance. “Is she an airhead or what?” Dale asked. “I believe she is simply gotten into the spirit of things,” Dana laughed. “She identified the music from the Ballet Folklorico.” “Sure, it’s the ‘Mexican Hat Dance.’ Watch what’s coming next,” I added. Indeed, the old horseman removed his hat, swinging it over his head with one hand and taking Karlene’s arm with the other, led her in a circle, dancing at arm’s length. With great flare, he swung the hat to his feet, then laid it on the str

About the Author

Author’s Cover Bio Since 1979, Jerry Hesser has traveled throughout Mexico. These stories share his experiences, humorous and serious, in a land constantly tugging at his heartstrings. He abandoned the work place in 1995 and moved to the country where he concentrates on traveling and writing. “Jerry Hesser, a freelance writer for our Mexico Living and Travel publications, has traveled extensively in Mexico, and through personal experiences has great insight into Mexico’s people and culture. Whatever the subject, his articles were lively, interesting and accurate. You will enjoy reading this new book, las cucarachas’ tails. John D. Bryant, Publisher