Regulars thought Hidalgo seemed dead last week on Isla Mujeres, but as low season people, we thought the street was in high gear! When we're usually on the island in June/July or October/November, many of the street acts and singers have disappeared since they probably don't make enough in donations to pay for their room and board.
One night I sat at Roma with my bowl of penne puttanesca (quite good!) trying to eat quickly so I could get away from the man belting out show tunes in the key of flat accompanied by his loud keyboard. New York New York? Just what I want to hear when I'm in Mexico! People at the back of the inside of the restaurant were whooping it up applauding and cheering. I'm guessing they were his personal posse, but I noticed they sat as far away from the noise as they could possibly get!
Later the same night, I sat at Tacos Medina chatting with a friend. The deafening drums and tumbling act (not sure if it was the Aztecs or the Fire Boys) showed up next door to perform in front of The Girl Bar. Give me Javi and Banda Sin Nombre or Chucho anyday, but combine it all, and Hidalgo turns into one big cacaphony! It's a zoo!
One of the acts I'd never seen before is a short man who pulls his little wooden box out in front of Faynes and dances. He alternates between wearing a white and black outfit, and when he's in the black outfit, he pulls out the knives!
Here's a video clip of him on one of his white nights!
When he dances, dogs howl and diners cover their ears. The taps on his shoes are fairly deafening if you're seated close. I asked Alex at Faynes about the man and he said he's from Veracruz. One more addition to the nightly Hidalgo entertainment zoo!
