Mexicans take their Dead very seriously but that certainly doesn't exclude color, whimsy, style and an abundance of sugar!
The skeletons bounded out of their closets and coffins after patiently waiting for an entire year to enjoy another family reunion at their final resting place and party central...the cemetery.
But....as with every good party the build up is more than half the fun! During the entire month before the 'Día de los Muertos' every town we visited seemed more amped up than the last. Our friends Peter and Christine from Germany joined us to celebrate the final days of the fiesta in Patzcuaro.
There was no way we could not all join in on the fun.
Even the Hare Krishna's were color coordinated and had the perfect hats for the occasion.
Truck loads of flowers were quickly seized upon and laid bare and by the end of the day all the graves reflected each family's artistry and devotion.
Besides being an annual family reunion it's a time of visiting with neighbors, picnicking, cleaning, decorating and preparing for a all night long vigil among friends, dead and alive.
You read that right, it was an all night long vigil in which the whole family and entire town repeats year after year. It is such a phenomenon that each year busloads of tourists (including us) come to witness and photograph the festivities. Usually photography is considered rude but on this special night no one cares, everyone was friendly and in party mode. The above photo was taken at 3 am, and for us one hour of the cold was enough, we were happy to return to our warm beds for the rest of the night.
Wait..there's more, as always one needs to eat and shop during travel and sometimes the small stuff is just as rewarding and memorable as the big splashy fiestas. Like sharing some coconut milk and conversation with friends. Or, when was the last time you went to the pharmacy to pick up some band-aids and ended up being invited to share the owners' lunch.
No this is not a Disney set, this is the cathedral in San Miguel de Allende. This city just northwest of Mexico city is a popular haven for ex-pats and we can understand why. It is beautiful, has a warm climate (definitely a big plus for us), a strong cross cultural art community and in our opinion a real balance between the Latin American culture and the expat culture.
There seemed to be an abundance of opportunities to become involved with the community whether it be volunteer work or enjoying watching young toreadors learn how to avoid being skewered by a bull.
We will never look at a plastic bag the same again. Finally, a really practical use for all those bags, twist them, roll them into a ball and stuff them into a slip cover and you have a mattress! Like a quilting or sewing bee every week a group gathers to make mattresses for the underprivileged and we were happy to join right in.
Alas, the sun is setting on our two years of travel in Latin America and we head back to North America tomorrow morning. It was more than a trip it became a lifestyle and we are sure it will continue. For now however, we will return to Maui and enjoy our friends back home and a little rest.
