After seeing all the torch relays along the highway from Mexico City, we decided to go to Chiapas for Día de la Virgen (December 12), the day honoring Mexico’s patron saint, the Virgin of Guadalupe. On the trucks passing, we saw that a lot of them appeared to be headed to San Cristóbal de las Casas, so that’s where we went.
The drive from Villahermosa to San Cristóbal was long, but beautiful. We transitioned from the muggy flatlands to the mountainous jungle to the mountainous forest. We stopped for lunch across from one of the many shrines to the Virgin.
And, along the way, we saw a number of processions already underway.
Climate-wise, Chiapas was a welcome breath of cool, fresh air after Villahermosa. We were lucky enough to find a campground within walking distance of the major pilgrimage in town, the Church of Guadalupe. Perched atop a hill, all of the steps leading to the church were filled with people ascending, descending, or just sitting and enjoying the day.
After visiting the church, we made the reverse walk down Real de Guadalupe, where a steady stream of relay runners were charging through the final stretch of their long journeys. It was amazing to think that we must have passed some of these runners on the highway, two weeks ago. While before they had been running solo, they ran together as they crossed town, chanting and singing and carrying images and banners. Many of the runners were barefoot.
And in closing, a game of ‘Where’s Juan?’ I play this game a dozen times a day.
More random photos from the past week here.
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jbuhler
A lot of religious fervor around, therefore Juan should stick out like a sore thumb.
The Our Lady celebration began early (6:00am) and continued until 3:15am with fireworks and music. On the weekend afterwards, a flatbed truck pulled up a block away with two large speakers shaped like the monolith in 2001. Once the music began, the mirrors in the bathroom vibrated and made our image indistinct. I couldn’t focus while in the studio painting. We decided to go for a long walk and to linger in Centro.
Obviously, Norteamericanos need to read and research the meaning of Our Lady of Guadalupe. We’ve learned the houses in our neighborhood with an Our Lady shrine on the wall don’t get doused with graffiti. We’ve taken note as our garage was recently “painted” with a surreal script.