I arrived Thursday, Nov. 1, on a clear and gorgeous afternoon, just in time for the first of two nights that Mexicans celebrate their dead, and Death itself. Altars and outlandish displays were crammed all over the Zocalo and surrounding the Metropolitan Cathedral on Friday. Many in the city had the day off, so some streets in the Centro Historico were closed to traffic. People everywhere. People people people. Here's a view inside the cathedral:
Outside, ditches covered with heavy glass apparently offered views of recently dug remnants of the Templo Mayor, the Aztec temple upon which the Spaniards built the cathedral. Everyone was trying to get a good look:
In front of the National Palace, mourners placed altars for "dead" ideas, mainly democracy, and accused President Felipe Calderon of their murders. People everywhere! Walking proved difficult. Little kids in Halloween costumes. And in the middle of the square, rows after rows of 3,600 molded heads and skulls, hung as the Aztecs did to their captives. Savage, and cool:
There in the distance you can see the tip of the Torre Latinoamericana. I found the artists behind the heads and they called the project En el Corazon de Mictlan. Here's a close-up:
And a view walking back to the metro, to get back to Tacubaya, where I'm staying, to nap, rest, and prepare for the nighttime costume parties in Condesa. More later, friends.
