"Ofrendas"

 "Ofrendas", the altars which honor the departed on the Day of the Dead, are found not only in homes, but in businesses, restaurants, government buildings and museums.

Here are a few "ofrendas" that I have seen this year...

There are two "ofrendas" in Terminal 1 of the Mexico City International Airport.

In the colonial mansion known as the House of Tiles, which is the downtown flagship of the Sanborns restaurant chain...

At "Los Almendros", a restaurant which features cuisine from Yucatán...

At the Insurgentes Avenue branch of the restaurant chain El Bajío...

The largest and most impressive "ofrenda" that I have seen so far this year is the one in the courtyard of Iturbide's Palace, the headquarters of cultural promotion division of Banamex, the National Bank of Mexico.

This altar is more than 25 feet long and 10 feet high.  It honors the bakers of Mexico, who "sweeten life and death".  There are around 1000 pieces if bread, representing thirty-one varieties of "Bread of the Dead" from fourteen states.

Buying Tickets

There are a number of upcoming events that we want to see.

I've mentioned before that we have gone to Mexico City's Auditorio Nacional to see live simulcasts of the Metropolitan Opera.  This season we were interested in seeing Bizet's "Carmen" and Saint Saen's "Samson and Delilah".  We also wanted to see the Christmas concert performed by the Symphonic Orchestra of "La Minería".  That concert was held last year at the Mexico City World Trade Center, just a short walk from the apartment.  We really enjoyed it, and want to attend again.  However, this year it is being held at the Auditorio Nacional.  So, I took the subway and went to the auditorium to buy tickets in person at the box office.  (Purchasing tickets online through Ticketmaster is considerably more expensive.)

Even though the Metropolitan Opera's website says that the Auditorio Nacional is one of the venues for the simulcast of "Carmen" on November 14th, it is not listed on the auditorium's site.  The lady at the box office said that it was not being shown there.  However, "Samson and Delilah" is being presented at 11:00 AM on Saturday, December 5th.  That same evening, at 7:30 PM is the Christmas concert.  So I guess we will be spending the day in that part of town, eating dinner somewhere nearby in between the opera and the concert.

The Metropolitan Opera's website also lists a Cinemex movie theater in a ritzy shopping mall on the south side of the city as a venue for "Carmen".  So Alejandro will see if he can purchase online tickets for that. 

A Good Question

Something I found on the internet...

 

The Creatures along Reforma

Here are some more photos of the fantastical creations from the Parade of Monumental "Alebrijes".  They will be on display along Paseo de la Reforma until after Day of the Dead.

 

Strange Creatures Along Reforma

The "Alebrije" Parade this year featured around 300 entries.  For those who did not get to go to the parade, or for those who want to get a closer look at the fantastical papier mache animals, all of them of lined up along Paseo de la Reforma.

  

The stretch of the boulevard from the Diana Fountain to the entrance to Chapultepec Park has been invaded by an army of creatures, some menacing, some cute, and some just plain silly.  An "alebrije" typically contains a bizarre mixture of elements from disparate animals.  For example this four-legged creature has the head of an eagle and the wings of a monarch butterfly.

Strolling down Reforma, you are able to study more carefully the craftsmanship of these figures than is possible when they are passing by in the parade.  And since they are standing still, you are able to take better photos.

One more post of "alebrijes"