A Man about town
July 3rd while out walking around town,
I saw this guy 'resting' on the sidewalk at 3pm.
Fast forward a month and I met him upright and walking down the sidewalk yesterday. I asked to take his picture, but he wanted 20pesos payment for the Modeling Job. ($1.06US.) I didnt have it.
I'll keep an eye out for him and carry more pesos so I dont miss these great photo ops. He asked me, where are you from? (florida) So, I asked him where he was from. Tucson and other cities out that way. I asked him my favorite question; "how did you end up here?" He replied that he was in Guanajuato where he was staying at another lake, Lake Yuriria. He met two visiting ladies who told him, "you need to move to Lake Chapala where you can play your music." [he's a musician] So, he moved to Ajijic, "but it turns out there is little work locally for a Flute Player."
Next I asked him how long he had been in Ajijic? I expected an answer of a few days or weeks while searching work.... Turns out he has been here SIXTEEN YEARS!
There are 'normal' people down here, or so I've been told and I'm still looking for them.
-Solo Gringo Skip
____** UPDATE ** ____ (8.9.25)
I finally ran into the Flautist again yesterday. I've been carrying 20 pesos in case I ran into him again. I wanted to add a nice closeup of his face. Anyway, here he comes up the sidewalk as I walk down. I stop him and ask if I might take his photo. (a 2 second event) He replied, "You can take it for 3000 pesos. I decided to raise the fee because 20 yrs ago i was living on an Indian Reservation and they charged $20US per photo." (3000pesos = $161.46US) I politely declined his offer. You wont be seeing his beautiful closeup...
**____** 2nd UPDATE ** ____ (8.19.25)
Today while I was going to the grocery, I ran into the Flautist again. I asked him if I could take his photo today. ("Are you ready for your closeup?") His reply was, "I have my pillow and blankets." Then he walked on. I guess it's his moving day? Look closely hanging below the backpack and you can see his cardboard. When you have your own cardboard, your bed is wherever you drop your bedroll.
*_____________ ** 3rd UPDATE ** ____________ 9.11.25
During my final conversation he quoted me a price of $100US dollars for a closeup. Yes, he's crazy. He's also wearing the SAME clothes every time I saw him.
THE END
