Just before 11 o'clock Esme, Alice, Katia, and I took a taxi to CAXA, the central bus station in Xalapa. While Esme was changing 200 pesos, so we could pay the taxi driver, Rocio arrived as well. Shortly after Joselin arrived as well, and all together we took the bus to Rinconada.
When we arrived in Rinconada and got off the bus we discovered it was hot. Not only because we had been riding on a bus with airconditioning, but just because it was a very hot day. Close to the bus stop there was a stand selling fish. Joselin bought some fish, inlcuding several large Mojarra. After he had paid we crossed the street to a waiting taxi which we boarded. And shortly after we arrived at his parents house in the town of Buenavista.
Both Rocio and Joselin were hungry, and asked us if we wanted to eat before we went out for the walk. We all agreed, also because it was the middle of the day, and the sun stood high and bright in the sky. While we were waiting for the Mojarra to be prepared by Joselin's mother, Katia had put Alice in one corner of the couch, and Alice somehow managed to not topple over, and more or less sit by herself for the very first time.
After an excellent meal we went out on our walk. In the beginning we followed the same road as Esme and I had followed back about two years ago when we went scorpion and snake hunting near Buenavista. However, after we had followed the road for a bit, Joselin took a small track going to the right, and we followed him. We had to cross a small stream, and soon we were walking under mango trees. On the floor there were plenty of fallen fruit, and Rocio picked up a few. Some of the mangos were split open and had many insects on them, enjoying the sweet fruit. I took a few close-up photos with my new Canon PowerShot A640, still struggling with all the possible settings in manual mode.
Shortly after we arrived at the river. We sat down under a large tree, which provided us with ample shadow. I moved a large flat stone a bit more up, so I could sit on it, and then looked back at the uncovered spot to see a tiny frog hop away. I picked up the tiny frog and showed it to Esme and Katia and then released it near the water.
Joselin was decided to try the water and swim a bit. Katia didn't like the fish she saw swiming around her feet, so after a short walk in the water she went out of the river and back on firm ground. We watched the other people in and around the river and relaxed.
