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> Diary Entry #2: Mexico
World's Most Talented
Diary Entry #2: Mexico
It's Week Two and David's in Mexico to track down more World's Most Talented. Who will he meet? What will he see? And most importantly, how much will he sweat?
Annoyed at losing to Romania last week, I had to cast my Indian upset aside and move on. I needed a country that could tick all the boxes: talent, enthusiasm, style and alcohol. I found it in Mexico.
First up I ventured to Cancun. Beautiful beaches and glorious weather meant that mood in the camp was high, as were my expectations. After driving a little while in a jeep that was so rickety it can only have been made before the birth of Christ, I arrived to meet my first act: The Impacto Crew.
They were enthusiastic, young and looked like they had stepped straight out of a music video - which could only be a good thing - I hoped. We drove down to the beach (getting stopped by the police on the way, but that is a story you'll have to ask me about if you see me) and they set up ready to perform. What followed was wonderful to watch.
A huge crowd amassed and The Impacto Crew had them in the palm of their breakdancing hands. Laura in Sweden was in trouble already, I could sense it. The best part of this job is being near very talented people. Especially when they have exceptional haircuts.
After my adventures in Cancun, it was time to head to Mexico City where I was meeting a man who goes by the name Eduardo 'Iron Arm' Flores. If that paints a mental picture for you, then wait until you watch the show...
He was everything I had hoped for and more. We met in a gym/garage/warehouse. I don't really know what it was. I won't go into too much detail about what he did but I will, however, say this: it involved a nail and a piece of wood and probably, a headache.
If you watched episode one then you will have quickly realised I am a man of peace (a coward). That didn't stop me doing what most people do when they meet someone stronger than them and get a picture taken...
Some side points to Eduardo's act is that his wife is an ultra marathon runner, his two sons are boxing prodigies and his protégée is a woman with dwarfism who, with his help and guidance, recovered from a broken spine to now run marathons. Feeling lazy yet?
One of the truly interesting things about travelling the globe and meeting so many different people is seeing how the environment around them affects their talents. Culture plays a big part in what you love and the next act is a perfect example of this. Lasso Artist, Juan Francisco Rivera.
There is pretty much nothing that Juan Francisco Rivera hasn't won. He was champion in several countries and had been for a very long time.
I met him on a farm that is everything you would expect to see in a film about a horse riding Mexican lasso artist (has one been made? If not, someone call Hollywood, quick!). It was dusty, remote and...well, full of horses.
He performed both on and off the horse - both equally impressive. He let me sit in the shade with the tractors, as once again it was unbearably hot. I suppose, in the same way being British makes me used to drizzling rain, they, being Mexican, are used to intense heat.
If you watched the show you'll know how good he was. If you didn't, check him out on our YouTube Channel (shameless plug alert!). In the meantime, point your attention to the picture at the top of the page of him lassoing me. While trying to lasso me he said, "David, you are harder to catch than a cow!" which might just be the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me. I'm not saying that the lasso was tighter than I was expecting, but I have now got four completely ineffective nipples.
Once I had wrestled my way out of the rope and applied a generous dose of Vaseline to the affected areas, I made my way down to Acapulco. Yes, Acapulco, as in, going loco.
I had a vision of what the place would be like and I wasn't far wrong. There were VERY tanned people drinking cocktails in hotels that were cutting edge in 1963, but not so much anymore. That last sentence sounded disparaging. On the contrary, I absolutely loved it. Very nice people and a fascinating place. The people I was there to meet were in Acapulco old town that is found a little further inland. It's not far from the beaches glistening in pomp and glamour, but in every other respect couldn't be further away.
I was there to meet three generations of a very famous bunch of people....The Cliff Divers of Acapulco.
Upon my arrival, I met Jorge Ramirez Senior, Jorge Ramirez Junior and his grandfather Jorge Ramirez. Although they may risk their lives jumping off a cliff, with their names they seem reluctant to take any risks at all.
Firstly, we spent some time at home as they talked me through the heritage and history of what they do, then we headed down to the cliff top. The sea was rough and the wind was strong, so it was touch and go whether they would be able to perform. Thankfully, they put on a great show and the huge crowd that had gathered were rightfully thrilled.
Once again, the cliff divers were calm and collected in the face of something truly terrifying. Their dedication and inherent faith in themselves was incredible; a common theme for a lot of the acts in many of the countries. That's Jorge Ramirez Junior in the green t-shirt. I asked if being a cliff diver meant he was a big hit with the ladies. He replied "Of course!" with a smile, as his Dad and Granddad chuckled knowingly. I began to think that the generational dedication to cliff diving had other, slightly less romantic, motivations.
They were fantastic and talking to those guys about their talent is one of my fondest memories of the country. They were as humble as you can imagine and were very keen to win World's Most Talented for Mexico.
But did they? Well, as always you can find out on Watch.
Until next week everybody!
Love, David
David's Bio
Presenter Bio: David Brain
Meet David Brain, one half of the presenting duo for World's Most Talented.
Catch up on last week's blog
Diary Entry #1: India
Get up close and personal with David in his weekly World's Most Talented travel diaries.
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