Apparently local vendors are allowed to set up shop every day at the local attractions such as the Maya Ruins at Palenque or the Aqua Azul (waterfall) area. They just roll in their cart and cook and sell food or fruits; some of them spread a blanket on the ground and sell local crafts or reproduction artifacts. The children in particular sort of follow you throughout the area with baskets of goods. While we were at Aqua Azul a cute little boy and girl approached me with a basket of bananas or something but they got sidetracked by the whistle that is attached to my daypack. They were pointing at it and we were trying to communicate. All I could say was “Hola” (hello) and “No Habla Espanol” (I don’t speak Spanish) while squeezing my thumb and index finger to indicate that I only spoke a TINY bit of Spanish. But it was clear they were curious about the whistle. So I briefly and somewhat timidly “Tooted” my whistle for them. They laughed and giggled and then I offered them the opportunity to try it. I was timid because I didn’t want to alarm anyone- the whistle is really loud! I don’t know why they were so timid but they were. But each of them in turn got their chance. They lit up with ear to ear grins and seemed genuinely tickled at the experience. And then they continued with their business, their job. Who remembers when a whistle was such a great toy?
I’ve carried a whistle attached to my backpack for years. Just a precaution because you never know when you’ll need an alarm. But I won’t look at it the same for the rest of this year, that’s for sure.
