This afternoon we went up to the fountain park again, followed it up with some tacos, and then put the kids to bed at seven as usual. Four hours later I walked two blocks over to the plaza for the Grito de Dolores. The place was packed with families. I honestly have no idea how anybody can keep their kids up to eleven. Ours would never come close—by six-thirty they are talking gibberish and by seven or seven-thirty they are out cold. I suppose we could wake them up for an outing like this, but they still seem too young to us. So instead I walked over alone to take in the spectacle.
This is the Mexican version of our Fourth of July. At midnight in Mexico City the President comes out and delivers the Cry of Dolores. Simultaneously around the country the governors and other important folk deliver theirs. At the end of it they shout, “Viva México!”
To which the crowd responds, “Viva!”
Three times with the final Viva! getting all the power the crowd can muster. It’s an exciting moment to be in Mexico—to feel the patriotism of the crowd, the pride of the people. I promised Ouest next year I’d wake her up and take her along. Which means her and Lowe can join the group of adorable, yet very tired, kids in the crowd.
6 Comments on “Cry of Dolores”
Awesome photos and perfect slice of life (as usual).
Thanks. I don’t shoot many pics at night so this was a challenge to be sure. Need a lot of practice, but it was fun.
Love that last photo of the vender with the back-lighted candied apples.
Thanks. I saw that and missed it with the first couple of shots but the guy seemed to keep turning towards me a little at a time until I could get it.
Were those candied apples covered in tamarind paste and chili powder? If so, they are excellent!
Yes they were. We’ve never tried them, but the kids did get spoonfuls of tamarind and chile at the school party the other day. It took Ouest two days to nibble her way through half of it. She liked it, but I can’t see her chomping off mouthfuls of it with an apple.