Daniel Alarcón

And they soon discovered it wasn't just at the gates that the crowds had gathered. It was everywhere. I've talked to a lot of people who were there that night, lining the streets, desperate to say their farewells. One person told me the only thing he could compare it to was the time the Pope visited Mexico City. The route to the airport was supposed to be secret, but that's not how it worked out.

Reporters kept the city abreast of the caravan's progress. There were thousands of people lining the streets. Boys in their pajamas carrying handwritten signs and girls in pigtails carrying Mexican flags. Teens shouting and calling Keiko's name. You have to wonder if the whale could hear them chanting, Que se quede, que se quede. He should stay, he should stay. He should stay, he should stay.

Reporters kept the city abreast of the caravan's progress. There were thousands of people lining the streets. Boys in their pajamas carrying handwritten signs and girls in pigtails carrying Mexican flags. Teens shouting and calling Keiko's name. You have to wonder if the whale could hear them chanting, Que se quede, que se quede. He should stay, he should stay. He should stay, he should stay.

Then, somewhere along the slow, ponderous route to the airport, there was a mariachi band playing an old song about a loved one's goodbye, Las Golondrinas. Where can the tired swallow go, say the lyrics, tossed by the wind with nowhere to hide, remember my homeland, beloved pilgrim, and cry. Cars and mopeds follow the procession, drivers waving, honking their horns.

Then, somewhere along the slow, ponderous route to the airport, there was a mariachi band playing an old song about a loved one's goodbye, Las Golondrinas. Where can the tired swallow go, say the lyrics, tossed by the wind with nowhere to hide, remember my homeland, beloved pilgrim, and cry. Cars and mopeds follow the procession, drivers waving, honking their horns.

Honestly, it's a little bit mad, the emotion on people's faces, the palpable sense of loss. Dave says some people had to be peeled off Keiko's container as they tried to climb it. The procession just creeps along as best they can through the impossibly crowded late-night streets. A city, a country, saying goodbye to its beloved whale.

Honestly, it's a little bit mad, the emotion on people's faces, the palpable sense of loss. Dave says some people had to be peeled off Keiko's container as they tried to climb it. The procession just creeps along as best they can through the impossibly crowded late-night streets. A city, a country, saying goodbye to its beloved whale.

The UPS plane carrying Keiko to his new home leaves at around 5 in the morning, more than three hours behind schedule, just before a beautiful Mexican sunrise. Only Keiko's veterinarians fly with him. Renata and Dave fly alongside in another aircraft, close enough to see Keiko's plane from their window. Keiko no longer belonged to Reino Aventura, much less to Mexico.

The UPS plane carrying Keiko to his new home leaves at around 5 in the morning, more than three hours behind schedule, just before a beautiful Mexican sunrise. Only Keiko's veterinarians fly with him. Renata and Dave fly alongside in another aircraft, close enough to see Keiko's plane from their window. Keiko no longer belonged to Reino Aventura, much less to Mexico.

He belonged to the story being told about him, the uncertain, real-life sequel to the movie that had made him a star, only more far-fetched and with no happy ending assured.

He belonged to the story being told about him, the uncertain, real-life sequel to the movie that had made him a star, only more far-fetched and with no happy ending assured.

For the moment, no one knew. That's on the next episode of The Good Whale.

For the moment, no one knew. That's on the next episode of The Good Whale.

New York Times all access and audio subscribers can binge all episodes of The Good Whale right now on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Just head to the link in our show notes and subscribe, or if you're already a subscriber to The Times, link your account. Also, sign up for our newsletter, where each week we'll be sharing photos and behind-the-scenes info on The Good Whale.

New York Times all access and audio subscribers can binge all episodes of The Good Whale right now on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Just head to the link in our show notes and subscribe, or if you're already a subscriber to The Times, link your account. Also, sign up for our newsletter, where each week we'll be sharing photos and behind-the-scenes info on The Good Whale.

This week, we've got photos and links to video from Keiko's life at Reino Aventura, the place he called home for more than a decade. You should definitely check it out. The link to sign up is also in our show notes or go to nytimes.com slash serial newsletter. And there's a Spanish language version of this first episode that we produced for my other podcast, Radio Ambulante.

This week, we've got photos and links to video from Keiko's life at Reino Aventura, the place he called home for more than a decade. You should definitely check it out. The link to sign up is also in our show notes or go to nytimes.com slash serial newsletter. And there's a Spanish language version of this first episode that we produced for my other podcast, Radio Ambulante.

You can look for that at radioambulante.org. The Good Whale is written by me, Daniel Alarcón, and reported by me and Katie Mingle. The show is produced by Katie and Alyssa Shipp. Jen Guerra is our editor, additional editing from Julie Snyder and Ira Glass. Sound design, music supervision, and mixing by Phoebe Wang. The original score for The Good Whale comes from La Chica and Osman.

You can look for that at radioambulante.org. The Good Whale is written by me, Daniel Alarcón, and reported by me and Katie Mingle. The show is produced by Katie and Alyssa Shipp. Jen Guerra is our editor, additional editing from Julie Snyder and Ira Glass. Sound design, music supervision, and mixing by Phoebe Wang. The original score for The Good Whale comes from La Chica and Osman.

Our theme music is by Nick Thorburn and additional music from Matt McGinley. The song Las Golondrinas in today's episode was performed by Mariachi Hidalgo, NYC. It was produced and engineered by Dan Powell, Brad Fisher, and Pat McCusker. Research and fact-checking by Jane Ackerman, with help from Ben Phelan. Tracking direction by Elna Baker. Susan Wesling is our standards editor.