Day Of The Dead - Family Visiting Videos and Pictures

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

We were fortunate to have visitors from the U.S.  My oldest niece and her husband came this last week.  They left yesterday completely exhausted.  We took them everywhere we could think of sans the thermal waters and the pyramids.  They would have needed a professional translator but the cost was $80 USD per person.

The main purpose of their visit was to see and understand the Dia de los Muertos, which we did.  Each day we had an activity.  

Dia de los Muertos in San Miguel de Allende

Trick or Treat in the Jardin.  Childen and adults of all ages participate in this event.  People come to see the costumes and hand out candy to the kids.  Someone said we shouldn't do that but pass out toothbrushes.  😅

The next day was a visit to the cemetary and the big parade.  It was huge.  Thousands participated as well as thousands of onlookers.  Truly an event to remember.  I know we dragged our niece around for six days but we wanted them to take in as much as possible.

Parade Videos

This gives you an idea of the dimensions of the parade.  

Day trip to Atotonilco, starting off with breakfast.

We took a day trip to the Charco del Ingenio Botanical Gardens.  My niece is a hiking guide and naturalist.  She takes groups in Ohio on backpacking trips and hikes that include meditation and natural healing.  She truy enjoyed the botanical gardens.

An exhibit of the investigation, research, and life of Helia Bravo Hollis.  The first female biologist who founded the first university degree program with a basis in native plants and cactus.  Very interesting and informative.

Barrel cactus.  It takes decades to reach its maximum size.  The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked.  The seeds are ground and used as flour.

Calendula is used for softening the skin and for superficial burns.

Who's this guy in the greeenhouse?
 

Morning Glory, used for scorpion bites and a tea for indigestion.

The presa or lake at a pretty full capacity thanks to recent heavy rains.  

Saying goodbye as they take their bags to the van.  BajioGo is a good shuttle service.  Roughly 1200 pesos for the 1 hour and 40 minute drive to the airport. 

I'm so glad they found each other.  They make a perfect couple!

The militarization of Mexico continues.  With all the financial and personnel support, nothing is being done to combat the cartels.  Abrazos no balazos, looking at ways to find the and attack the root causes 😊

12 Billion USD for military defense

Increase of 59% in military personnel.  425,000 soldiers

The military now controls the following:

Guardia National

AIFA (Felipe Angeles Airport)

Mexicana Airlines (the complete airline is run by the military, pilots, flight attendants, maintenance)

Tren Maya

Interoceanic Corridor (train that runs from coast to coast in the Isthmus)

All new hotels related to the Tren Maya

All new railines that are being built or refurbished for passenger use.  (throwback to the days of the great Mexican dictator Porfirio Diaz):