Palm Sunday

Here in one of the most Catholic countries, this liturgical celebration of the beginning of Holy Week goes virtually unnoticed. And this is not a resort town. It's a real working Mexican village. This morning, no special bells announcing Mass. No parade as there has been in the past, one that included a donkey carrying Jesus through the village to the church. And no little kids waving palm fronds and sporting little crosses woven from palm spears. These are truly coarser times. This lack of celebration may be because our village does not have a resident priest. We are dependent on "circuit riders" who cover several small towns in the area. Today was not our day, I guess.

Palm Sunday was a big deal when I was growing up. My sister and I would get all decked out in our "second best" ~ the best was saved for next Sunday, Easter. On Saturday we would have been commandeered to sit in the Parish Hall and weave those blasted little crosses that were given out at all the Sunday services. Sunday mornings we stood in the vestibule of the church with great baskets of crosses, handing them out with the straight pins used to affix them to the lapels and dresses of the parishoners. The church was all decorated in palm fronds, the vestments were green and gold, the music was majestic . . . but that was a long time ago and in another place.

The town is still quiet and peaceful although there are small knots of day trippers down on the beach and there are a few more cars in town than on a usual weekend. I went down to check out the progress of the tarting up of the malecón and, slowly but surely the tents and concession stands are showing up.

The beer tents are beginning to sprout. Soon there will chairs and tables and giant coolers.

The disco light towers have been set up. You can see our house in the background, the big palapa on top. Now you can imagine the noise!

The jewelry stalls are open for business, selling all sorts of stuff. Much of it is still made from stones and glass, but plastic and artificial materials are starting to creep in. It's cheap, very colorful and fun to wear.





Down on the sand, the chairs have been given new canvas and a new coat of paint for the coming two weeks. They are just awaiting the backsides of the visitors!

There are even these big plastic pools for the little kids.

Meanwhile, over at the casa the crew showed up for work today (at 3-times their usual pay rate) in order to get the roof ready for the big cement pour on Tuesday. The marquesina has all been built and it looks just great.

I missed the last pour ~ we were in the mountains. I'll be here for Tuesday's show.