Mexico--Our Lady De Guadalupe

If you're in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico from December 1st-12th, you will either love it or hate it. This is when all over Mexico people will celebrate their annual  pilgrimages to their local church. In Puerto Vallarta they close the main road to the down-town area from 6pm to 10pm for these twelve days. Hundreds of people dressed in white, many carrying candles and singing make their way along Juarez street to Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. Families, businesses,schools, unions, and entire neighborhoods make reservations for their appointed hour to march to the church. Once the group arrives at the church at their alloted time the church bells toll and fireworks are exploded.

The Virgin De Guadalupe is the patron saint of Mexico, but also the patron saint of Puerto Vallarta and the mother of all Mexicans. So this is an important time to be blessed by her. She is the proctector of the poor and sick, so many of the marchers are in need of care and blessings.

 I think this is a great time to be here if you are a Catholic but if not it can be a trying time to get around this area. I find the last day the 12th to be the best. There are always lots of local food for sale along the parade route, but on the 12th it turns into more of a party than a religious celebration. There is dancing in the streets, singing and merrymaking,yes, lots of drinking.

For the next nine days I will find myself walking about twenty-five blocks to get home from my school. I know it's good excercise and not a good idea to complain to anyone here, as they are all planning their personal pilgrimage. So I will endure. Then the same will take place again during Easter. Until then I will enjoy taking the bus home.