Puerto Vallarta is of course a buzz. Our casita is just up the hill from PV's famous Our Lady of Guadalupe church. It's the best time of year for the bell ringers. I can see the church staff scampering about on the roof after they have rung every bell (all day and past midnight), sometimes for 20 minutes +, then the real fun for them as they fire off the half sticks of dynamite cohetes into the air.
It's amazing the congestion this pilgrimage creates, shutting down one of two roads through the heart of old town. The pilgrims from Talpalpa arrived last night with their torch. The torch from Mexico City arrives tonight. So many pop up food carts, clashing music sounds, smiling faces and dress, the plaza is alive. The city has really increased their Malecon seasonal displays (not just for days of our lady) near the municipal center and the church. It is a special 12 days in Vallarta no doubt. The bells have been ringing the entire time I've been writing this, and they are still going. Jajajaja.
This is story that lives inside my heart. Your account has expanded the myth and cult in some ways and it saddens me that it originated in Spain. I did not to know that. Part of the "echale crema a los tacos" (embellishment) was the assertion the Virgin Mother of Jesus has appeared all over the world to admonish the people about their bad behavior and how it saddens her son. Yet, in Mexico her message her son was very OK with us and he just wanted a temple for her. Ok... Maybe, I am embellishing it.
Thanks for starting my day with your story. I am sipping coffee with my family.
Love this article and attention Mike. It also seems significant to the story and history that Our Lady of Guadalupe is often depicted as a brown/indigenous woman.
Good point, Doug! The statue carved by Luke in the Spanish story is an example of such a "Black Madonna", as is the Mexican cloth image from this article.
I like your embellishment, Elva - feels very human to me. I think I will think of it that way as well (do I have to pay your embellishment royalties?) Enjoy the coffee sipping!
Thanks for sharing this! I've spent some time in Mexico, but mostly in Protestant circles, so I've gotten a bit of misinformation about this day. I found your article verh helpful and shared it for my curious followers!
I've visited the Basilica in Mexico City, but not on these busiest of days.
Last night, the fireworks went on until sometime in the middle of the night, paused for a couple of hours, and then started up again before daybreak. I imagine everyone's ready to go. I may skip that hop I was thinking about over to another part of town.
Skipping a hop - sounds like a plan ;-) And I'm with you on the Basilica - I wouldn't go near it this time of year. The bells and such are fun though. Thanks for the comment, Victor!
One of my favorite days. I'd never heard the Spanish version, thanks. Some day I have to get to the shrine. I hear it's quite amazing, the moving sidewalk et al.
Mike ... thanks for the rest of the story. I am here in San Cristóbal de Las Casas in the state of Chiapas, MX and just got back from absorbing the early morning parades and rockets. Being very Mexico oriented, I had never heard the Spain backstory. on Guadalupe. It is a huge day here and I'm grateful to be back for it.
Glad you are there and enjoying it, Joyce. I've never been to San Cristóbal de Las Casas, but it is one of my most highly desired places to visit. Thanks for the comment!
Christy ... would love to hear about your trip when you go. And, if you're looking for a guide, I would highly recommend Gaby and can send you her info if you're interested.
Puerto Vallarta is of course a buzz. Our casita is just up the hill from PV's famous Our Lady of Guadalupe church. It's the best time of year for the bell ringers. I can see the church staff scampering about on the roof after they have rung every bell (all day and past midnight), sometimes for 20 minutes +, then the real fun for them as they fire off the half sticks of dynamite cohetes into the air.
It's amazing the congestion this pilgrimage creates, shutting down one of two roads through the heart of old town. The pilgrims from Talpalpa arrived last night with their torch. The torch from Mexico City arrives tonight. So many pop up food carts, clashing music sounds, smiling faces and dress, the plaza is alive. The city has really increased their Malecon seasonal displays (not just for days of our lady) near the municipal center and the church. It is a special 12 days in Vallarta no doubt. The bells have been ringing the entire time I've been writing this, and they are still going. Jajajaja.
Loved reading this and “being there.”
Thanks, Matty, for bringing us into your Vallarta season of the bells. Enjoy the music, food, and celebration. This is a great time to be in Mexico!
This is story that lives inside my heart. Your account has expanded the myth and cult in some ways and it saddens me that it originated in Spain. I did not to know that. Part of the "echale crema a los tacos" (embellishment) was the assertion the Virgin Mother of Jesus has appeared all over the world to admonish the people about their bad behavior and how it saddens her son. Yet, in Mexico her message her son was very OK with us and he just wanted a temple for her. Ok... Maybe, I am embellishing it.
Thanks for starting my day with your story. I am sipping coffee with my family.
Love this article and attention Mike. It also seems significant to the story and history that Our Lady of Guadalupe is often depicted as a brown/indigenous woman.
Good point, Doug! The statue carved by Luke in the Spanish story is an example of such a "Black Madonna", as is the Mexican cloth image from this article.
I like your embellishment, Elva - feels very human to me. I think I will think of it that way as well (do I have to pay your embellishment royalties?) Enjoy the coffee sipping!
Thanks for sharing this! I've spent some time in Mexico, but mostly in Protestant circles, so I've gotten a bit of misinformation about this day. I found your article verh helpful and shared it for my curious followers!
Thank you Michael! Thanks as well for the good work that you do.
i don't believe you
My imagination gets the best of me
I've visited the Basilica in Mexico City, but not on these busiest of days.
Last night, the fireworks went on until sometime in the middle of the night, paused for a couple of hours, and then started up again before daybreak. I imagine everyone's ready to go. I may skip that hop I was thinking about over to another part of town.
Skipping a hop - sounds like a plan ;-) And I'm with you on the Basilica - I wouldn't go near it this time of year. The bells and such are fun though. Thanks for the comment, Victor!
One of my favorite days. I'd never heard the Spanish version, thanks. Some day I have to get to the shrine. I hear it's quite amazing, the moving sidewalk et al.
I hope you do get to the shrine, Jeanine, and take a ride on the sidewalks! Thanks for the comment, and I enjoy your writing!
Mil gracias. I enjoy yours too and your topics. Very timely, good stuff.
This is the craziest article I have ever read.
I have crazier ones on the schedule...
Mike ... thanks for the rest of the story. I am here in San Cristóbal de Las Casas in the state of Chiapas, MX and just got back from absorbing the early morning parades and rockets. Being very Mexico oriented, I had never heard the Spain backstory. on Guadalupe. It is a huge day here and I'm grateful to be back for it.
Glad you are there and enjoying it, Joyce. I've never been to San Cristóbal de Las Casas, but it is one of my most highly desired places to visit. Thanks for the comment!
Mike ... of all my favorite places in Mexico, this is my "favoritest" ... hope you get a chance to experience it.
sounds like I need to visit San Cristóbal de Las Casas too! Thanks for the tip. I have wanted to get to Chiapas and this is the push I needed. :-)
Christy ... would love to hear about your trip when you go. And, if you're looking for a guide, I would highly recommend Gaby and can send you her info if you're interested.
Thank you! and yes, if you can put Gaby's info here, I will save it off in my files!