Kelcey Chandler-Yates and Jim Yates present...

UnderSeaPhotoVideo.com

Feb 2nd thru 17th, 2002

Can’t say this is the most exciting place in the world—found a great mask for my brother - It took me four taxi rides and several walks through a shady part of town and then five dollars extra but it's in my hands! Its history is 2 years of being used in the Diablo festival and one year of Carnival (which it would be used this year by me as it is next weekend but I don't want it ruined!)

Here is an excerpt from my letter to my brother explaining my adventure:

Each year he has reworked the feathers and for you he reworked the paper mache--It was interesting because each time it was supposed to be "done" it was in another stage of repair so I was able to see how he did it--also I had to give him money each time for "supplies" although after being traipsed through his two room tenement apartment at the top of three flights of filthy stairwells and past a cerebral palsy child of 6 or seven I had no qualms about releasing the coveted dollars! --His apartment where the children, of which there were five was covered floor to ceiling in linoleum and spotlessly clean as was he. When he asked me today for the extra 5 dollars I was not surprised, just happy this part of the adventure provided you with a good outcome. Anyhow, I hope you like it. --I am not sure about shipping yet--first I am on a search for the "box" which here is no small task! -Then to find the post--the post office was back in the slums but I found that it was not the place you send packages? --Therefore, the search continues-It has been a great adventure so far for me as I would not have seen the incredible back streets of Colon- (so aptly named) with out this task! --Stay tuned for the next chapter!

February 17, 2002

The mask has been sent and Carnival is now over and so our huge adventure on the bus to and from Portobello for its celebration. The celebration was no more than a bunch of drunks and kids throwing water balloons. The real adventure was the trip home! Did you ever wonder what happened to the buses you rode to school in grade school—well we found them! —All gussied up with beautiful paintings on them and filled with up to a hundred people as was the case when we returned from Portobello that day! Loud rap music and bodies packed in like sardines as we wound the streets along the coastal road back to Colon. Speed was not the concern but the whining of the brakes as we took the downward curves were! --- Colon never looked so good as when we returned that eve!