Waiting in the Pre-dawn for our friend Rich - it's about 43 degrees!
Trees in front of the Church of San Jaun de Dios filled with colored paper flowers. The statues will rest in this church until a few days after Easter.
San Juan de Dios.
Street strewn with fragrant herbs.
No one is allowed to step on the parade route. As the route was over a mile long, clear paths allowed people to cross
Herb strewn street - the parade will pass through the arches
A street "painting" of colored sawdust.
Finishing touches in the early dawn - Roses
Note the white stencil. We'd wondered how such perfect forms were created.
Daddy and his helpers
Christ with the Centurion
Roses
Finishing details
So many beautiful floral arrangements
Even oranges with the flowers and herbs
Note the flower crucifix
Also a festival atmosphere: clowns selling balloons and many street food vendors.
The hot sweet milk and rice drink was delicious and, more importantly, warming
A children's choir - all different sizes
Christ with the cross
"My God, why have you forsaken me?" And left me with tortillas??
Crucifixion made with colored sand.
Crown of thorns
Sacred heart made from paper carnations
Christ of the Column
Wonderful paper flowers everywhere
Paper carnations
Little angels lead the procession
Centurions looking very sad
THE statue
Gruesome - Mel Gibson would love it
Our Lady of Sorrows
St John the Apostle
Dirge-like music / certainly not like mariachis
Looking down the hill at the thousands
Sky filled with puffs from the hundreds of rockets. All through the night until the procession passed - deafening!
