WHY GLOBUS

If I mention that I’m going to live in Mexico for 3 months, a lot of people see dark images in their imagination. Fear-mongering does have its affect. 

But for today, go with me and take a glimpse into the Mexican life I’m discovering.

See, bright colored tissue paper, which come all the way from China, transformed by artistic culture. 

It’s the Regatta de Globus. 

Every September, thousands of people come to see hundreds of Globi fill the skies. They are huge paper balloons handcrafted to the delight of all. I’m fortunate to be here.

For weeks, extended family and community teams have been fashioning their unique designs. Each team will create more than 20 to be launched into the skies. 

They come in all shapes and sizes – round cylinders, long tubes, heart shapes, cartoon characters, and more. No two are alike.

The designs are striking.  They causes me to think, “How did they do that?”

The answer comes through cooperation carefully following the template and pasting the pieces together. 

Notice the man fanning air into the balloon.

Slowly over weeks of work, the design emerges.

On Festival day one by one, they fill the Globus with hot air thanks to many hands and a blow torch. 

 At the last moment, a kerosene doughnut is inserted and lit to keep the hot air going as the Globus is launched.
  

Wonderful!

But maybe the more Interesting question is not how did they do it but, why. 

Why do they do launch so many Globus year after year? From all that I can determine, it’s not a competition. There’s no big prize money. The artistic creations are not sold.

Some will soar disappearing over mountain ridge as specks while others will quickly abort into fire and ashes.

Excitement:  A beer bottle strikes electrical lines in a flash

 Tissue paper can burn fast when the winds twist the fancy creation or the design is not as stable as hoped for.   Either way, all this work is soon gone. My Yankee mind keeps asking, “What’s the purpose.”

For sure, a Globus brings people together. Imagine hands cutting paper and exactly joining the pieces together.

I love this team

See the pride in the faces of men and women, boys and girls of all ages as they work together. Young kids and teenagers too are learning just as the older ones did before them. 

I’m impressed with the strength of families and community. Grandparents sit smiling with broad approval. There’s so much joy here. This is Ajijic, Mexico.

Mauricio Higuera is President of the Globeros Committee. He’s quoted as saying, the transformation of paper into the form of a balloon “is realizing how with something as fragile as paper, you can build something so big and beautiful and apart (from that) it flies.”

This team proclaims the message
Globos of paper from China 

He continues, “It’s a way of to show the skills of the people. It’s a way to show culture.”

This artistic expression shown by Globus is a source of pride and recognition of the creative spirit that lives here in Ajijic, Mexico.

I want to see it all. I make my way to the Futbal Field on the east side of town. 

I’m becoming more accustomed to long walks. Good for health and weight….they say. 

Typical homes and cobble stone streets

I pass block houses, many of which are painted with bright colors. 

Often extended families live here although some are being gentrified by gringos.

In the distance I see my first Globus. I quicken my pace not knowing that there will be so many more to appreciate. 

 Here’s what I see….

A beautiful Easter cross is launched
but winds cause it to tumble and burn

You gotta notice the children

Sponge Bob in all his glory.  However he'll soon twist, turn and burn 

Crowds were among the largest 

A team effort to launch

Peanut vendor offers snacks

Street vendors feed the hungry crowd.  

Now I’m beginning to understand why there’s a Regatta de Globus. 

It’s a day for fun and celebration…for community love and pride...for the creativity and art in the Mexican soul…and to see how paper, coming all the way from China, can be transformed and fly into the Mexican sky.

Next time, someone fear-mongers Mexico, remember and tell them about the Regatta de Globus in all its colorful and human wonders.