So, they decided to get married in their ecological camp by the River Actopan in the Mountains of Veracruz. The camp, called "CAMPAMENTO LOS MANGOS" (www.aguablanca.com.mx) is totally covered by extra-big mango tree branches, that stop the sun light almost completely. Under this mango shade, in between running streams, they set up the dinning and ceremony tables, and asked people to come and camp to share their joy. The party included one raft and kayak river descent on Sunday and a day by the beach on Monday.

We drove 8 hours to get there after my children left school by 3.00 PM on Friday, May 20, and returned after the raft descent on Sunday May 22 getting home in the early minutes of Monday 23 since my children must be in school again today. Exhausting but very rewarding trip.

Pictures at community.webshots.com/user/cayucochief

Early in the morning everybody came out of their camping tents dressed in their most comfortable and worst apparel after a fresh night sleep under the mangos. It was interesting to think that hundreds of mangos were hanging ready to ripe at 30 feet above our heads, and our tent, but nobody got hit. In a few minutes everybody started moving around and suddenly nice shirts (guayabera), neat trousers and fresh elegant dresses starting to show up. What a transformation. Beautiful wedding. Newly weds declared their love by a small creek, throwing a flower with each thought or with each good wish. Food was good and dancing came in order to tropical music. Anytime anybody wanted just walked into his camping tent to rest.

Many of the guests (80 maybe) signed up for the next day raft river descent. There was an 18 USD fee to pay for guides, boats and transportation. Gustavo, Andy and myself were first timers and saw this with enthusiasm. People lined up and started filling the rafts. Andres, his brother, Mariana and other two guys were on short river kayaks and did all kind of rodeo maneuvers. Fernando used a duck. Luis, Andres father used a river canoe; some strange artifact that you use with sprayskirt sitting on your knees, with a canoe type paddle. All others went on 8 to 9 rafts with about 8 people each.

It was fun. Not breathtaking but acceptable since there were people of all ages and physical fit, half of them with a medium to severe hangover. The river was fun but not too hard. Some interesting rapids. Nobody fell. My kids loved it and signed up for the summer camp in that place. There were stops in deep, super clean, not cold water ponds, for swimming and diving. It was a good day.

Thanks a lot Andres and Mariana. Wish you all happiness in life and with your outfitters project.

Best Regards,
Rafael Mier-Maza