Yesterday I took the local bus from San Carlos to Guaymus, a rickety old bus with all the doors and windows open and with all locals on the bus, except for me and my friend Leslie. This guy gets on, drunk I thought, and said something to me about being a gringo and started singing, with intense emotion, loudly, looking at me. I could not understand a word he was singing, and was not sure it was Spanish. The bus driver got irritated at the singing and started yelling "No mas!" (No more!).

Then I said to the guy, "Usted canta muy bien" (You sing really well), which really encouraged the guy and he sang even louder. After the singer got off and another patron entered the bus the driver complained to him about how this guy was singing terribly and he couldn't get him to shut up and then the American said he liked his singing and he sang even louder.

When I got off the bus the driver made an aside comment to me about the bad singing, but with a twinkle in his eye.

Several hours later, late at night, when I stepped on the returning bus I had the same driver. He made a light-hearted comment about the terrible singing earlier, and seemed then to view it and me with good humor.

On the ride back to San Carlos the singer guy got on the bus again. When he saw me he came over to me and started singing really loudly. In truth, his singing was terrible. The other bus patrons laughed and looked at me nervously. I took several photos, which seemed to encourage the singer all the more.

When I reached my destination and was stepping off the bus, I said to the singer, "Me gusta su canto" (I like your singing). The singer beamed. I hoped the bus driver did not hear me.