Día de Muertos Oaxaca 2016

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It's an exciting time to be in Oaxaca. Everywhere you look there's bustling activity as people prepare to celebrate Día de Muertos. Events spread out over several days focus on the gathering of family and friends to pray for and remember loved ones who have died.

Bixa has fabulously covered this celebration many times in the past and links to her threads will be added here at some point. Kerouac and I have been extremely happy for the opportunity to participate in 2016 festivities, and all three of us will be posting photos and commentary in this group thread.

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Flowers to adorn graves and altars were being gathered up all over town.










Meanwhile, as night fell on October 30, excitement levels in the city were cranked up a notch as many little parades appeared to just pop up out of nowhere.

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Obviously walking the same route as the others, here is my take on the things along the first streets.

















The altars inside all of the shops and restaurants were on display for the general public just inside the door.

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Modern artisans are also at work in the city.









Instead of the little tourist trains that so many cities have, Oaxaca has old trolleys for this.

















The balloons for children are very much the same everywhere in the world.

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Oh! I especially love the last picture of the kids in reply #3, Kerouac!

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Elotes = grilled corn on the cob. Esquites = loose cooked corn in a cup. Both are a treat anywhere in Mexico.

[bixaorellana]

My token contribution for the moment ~

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People always seem to be eating and drinking -- and, even more important, enjoying life.







We bought some piping hot freshly fried chips to hold us over until dinner.













One of the first things that we learned was that the radio transmission towers are an excellent orientation tool.

As we had taken a 4 1/2 hour bus trip from Puebla that morning and had walked around a great deal during the afternoon, we just had a simple meal at a place not far from Casa Bixaorellana and called it a day, because Htmb and I were certain to be run ragged by Bixa starting the following morning with our full consent of course, since why else would anyone go to Oaxaca for Muertos?

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The next morning as we set out, we were able to see just how much the local stadium looms above the Casa Bixaorellana.



We jumped on a bus (7 pesos) to get to the big central market (the Abastos) a bit faster.





Very quickly we found ourselves in the hustle and bustle of the market, whose priority this week is to sell flowers for Muertos.















As can be expected, food is also being prepared everywhere.





All of the accessories for a successful Muertos are on display.

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So, were you being serenaded by the lovely lady on the bus?
How cool is that.

I remember how very gracious the people of Oaxaca were while I was there.
I met so many lovely people during my stay there.

I set out solo and explored many different niches and never felt rushed or hustled in any manner.
In fact, quite the opposite, I was invited into homes to eat and be merry which made me feel special and ever so welcome.

I'm enjoying seeing the different perspectives.

I would love to see some pics of some of the altars featured in doorways all over.

Still, nary a tuberose in site which over the years apparently are not offered as they were when I visited.

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[mossie]

Totally over whelming.

Htmb in reply 2, pic 4, the figure taking a selfie is really cool.

[bixaorellana]

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The pan de muerto still disturbs me as my mind transforms the faces into alien invaders crawling out of the bread.











What little boy doesn't need at least a dozen of these?









Little girls get this kind of stuff to prepare them for life rather than throwing plastic tarantulas around.





more scary bread

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[bixaorellana]

[bjd]

What are the kids buying in your first photo just above, Bixa? It looks like pieces of dried squash.

In the picture of the woman just below, it's almost overwhelming with her patterned dress, the rows of coloured socks, the food... I really have to concentrate to pick out the details.

[bjd]

You have to imagine the sounds and smells that go with all these pictures! Total sensory overload! The pictures of just people, like the great photograph of the older couple in Kerouac's pics just above, are a nice pause.

[lagatta]

Yes, it is splendid. I can't seem to enlarge or copy the photo of the memorial to victims of femicide enough to read the writing - it is reply no. 1 by htmb, first set

On a lighter note, are we going to see Bixa's pups in "dead" regalia?

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Nov 3, 2016 10:42:31 GMT lagatta said:

Yes, it is splendid. I can't seem to enlarge or copy the photo of the memorial to victims of femicide enough to read the writing - it is reply no. 1 by htmb, first set.

This might help.

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We finally left the market, pretty much overwhelmed by the sights and sounds we had just absorbed.













Settling in a modest establishment for well deserved sustenance, we ate a hearty lunch while people watching.

   
   

The tablecloth offered both religious protection and spiritual inspiration.







       

       

[lagatta]

Thanks Kerouac - the writing on the left side and the lettering on the Frida-esque Catarina below are very clear in your photo, but the camera angle makes it hard for me to read the writing on the right hand side - But perhaps I just have to find my glasses!

[Don Cuevas]

"What are the kids buying in your first photo just above, Bixa? It looks like pieces of dried squash."

Might be twice-baked bread. We see that for sale on the streets when we go to Quiroga, Michoacán, about 15 miles north of where we live.