More "Ofrendas"

When I was downtown last week to see the "Mega-Ofrenda" on the Zócalo, I checked out a few places that I knew would also have "ofrendas" set up for the Day of the Dead.

The Gran Hotel is located in an art nouveau building that was originally a fashionable department store.  The lobby is always decorated for the holiday.

A "catrín" and a "catrina" look down from the balcony.

A "catrina" in a gilded cage

Nearby, the Hotel Majestic, a neo-colonial building facing the Zócalo, also has an "ofrenda" in its lobby.

Heading down pedestrianized Madero Street, this 18th century palace was converted in the mid-20th century into a shopping gallery.  The entrance was decorated for the Day of the Dead.

Continuing down Madero Street, another colonial palace, the Palace of Iturbide, is today a cultural center operated by Banamex, the Bank of Mexico.  The large "ofrenda" in the courtyard featured pieces of Mexican handicrafts by outstanding artisans.

To either side of the "ofrenda" were papier mache figures done by the family of the late Pedro Linares, the man who created "alebrijes".

Finally, almost to the end of Madero Street is the colonial church of San Francisco, which was once the headquarters of the Franciscan order in Mexico.  As you enter, the first chapel is always elaborately decorated for the Day of the Dead in memory of the monks who for centuries lived in the former monastery.

A skeletal priest says mass in front of the Baroque altarpiece.

Another priest hears confession.

A group of monks dine at a long table.

I did not notice at first that Miguel, the protagonist of the animated movie "Coco", is seated in front of the dining table and strumming his guitar.