THE CLOWN AND THE COP

My town has a main square that is the heart and soul of it. Everything that happens there happens in front of an amazing Gothic pink church, created from a post card in the 18th century.

(photo from 1934)

 That alone sets the stage for surrealism. There in the shadow of the church, old white men sit on benches watching the world pass, shoe shine men buff leather boots of Mariachi band members and passing tourists take photos of themselves with the towering pink church in the background with their Ipads.

 Balloon sellers run noisy toys along the street to attract your kids attention and numerous food vendors and hat sellers hawk their wares.Outdoor restaurants are on every corner and women make dried flower arrangements while their sweet but dirty kids play on the cobblestone streets all day long. These are the "normal" surreal scenes every day but then there are the occasional abnormal surreal scenes. What an oxymoron that is. 

This day the costumed cop was frequenting the main square( Jardin in Spanish). It is close to Independence Day in Mexico so there is money in the coffers to pay for special policemen dressed in colonial costumes to impress the tourists. They ride spectacular horses all day around the central area of town. They are real cops in every sense of the word. They carry guns and ride highly trained horses.

 This day I pass through the Jardin and notice the town clown has just finished his routine in the middle of the street. I also have not seen him in awhile. Independence day brings out many Jardin players not normally on the daily scene.
I notice the clown resting and slowly packing his things when the cop saunters into his territory and "parks".

 The clown walks over, pets the horse and they briefly talk. Both men costumed. One representing a history filled with conflict another silly humor. I am curious about what they spoke of. What did the real men under the disguises possibly have to say to each other. What ever it was, I am sure it was as surreal!