Faces on Reforma

On Sunday Alejandro and I went to Mexico City's most famous boulevard, Paseo de la Reforma.

The thoroughfare was closed to traffic, filled with people, and in a festive mood.

As always, at this time of year, a number of large "catrinas" (courtesy of Gayoso, one of the city's major chains of funeral homes) stood along the boulevard. 

 Gayoso also sets up benches where you can pose between a "catrín" and a "catrina".  (So is the dashing "catrín" offering a bouquet to the "catrina", or to Alejandro and me?)

The "Mexicráneos" are large fiberglass skulls, each one painted by a different artist, which have been displayed along Reforma for several years.  Last year there was confusion as to whether they would be set up along the boulevard again, or in Parque Bicentenario.  They ended up being displayed along Reforma as usual.  This year there were several articles on the internet stating that the 100 new "Mexicráneos" for 2022 will be at Parque Bicentenario.  When we came upon a couple of the skulls on Reforma, I thought, "Why can't they ever their information straight?"   But at closer examination, we saw that these Mexicráneos were dated 2021.  So, sometime, we will have to make a trip to the park to see the latest edition of skulls.

Speaking of not getting their information straight...  at 11:00 A.M. that day, the Procession of the Catrinas was supposed to take place along Reforma.  Obviously, that wasn't occurring, and we were told that the procession would not begin until early evening.  (It must be very annoying for foreign tourists who have traveled here for the Day of the Dead events when so much misinformation on times and locations is published!  The city government really needs to get its act together.)  There were already a lot of people in full attire who planned to participate, and they were just milling around on the boulevard.  Alejandro and I had no intention of waiting for hours.  But we were able to get lots of photos of people dressed for the event, so we did not regret missing the procession.

Along Reforma there were a myriad of stalls where professional make-up artists were painting people's faces.

  This guy was getting his whole body painted!

Even the organ-grinder and his assistant were in the spirit of the occasion.

Here are some of the "catrinas", "catrines" and other assorted characters that we encountered along Reforma...