Independance Day

Independence Day

Tomorrow is Independence Day here in Mexico. I had read in the newspaper that the mayor is supposed to read the "Grito" at 11 PM this evening.

Every year at midnight on September 15, Mexicans from the president at his balcony in the National Place in Mexico and every governor to Mexicans throughout the Americas shout the gritos, honoring Hidalgo’s crucial, impulsive action that was the catalyst for the country's bloody struggle for independence from Spain. (This is taken from this site: Mexican Independence)

There was supposed to be some other festivities going on in the Plaza de Tres Presidentes (Plaza of the 3 Presidents), so we decided to go downtown to see what was happening. We arrived at the plaza around 6 PM and looked around the plaza at the decorations. Everything was looking nice.

There were some men working at finishing off a fireworks thing. It was still horizontal while they finished working on it. I have no idea what it was supposed to be; but I am sure that when they light it, it will be wonderful.

After awhile they decided it was finished and they recruited a bunch of the policemen that were standing around to help raise it up. It took a lot of men to get it vertical and for a few seconds it looked like it might all come crashing down. They put their weight into it though and managed to stand it up.

The Palacio Municipal is all decorated as well as the statues of the three presidents that were born in Guaymas. Everything looks very festive.

There were several stages set up, and of course the sound system with massive speakers was in good working order.
We wandered around and then sat down and just watched what was going on. The vendors were all out in force, the food and drink carts were setting up, the pony rides were ready for business. Everything was ready and waiting for an influx of people. Over in the Plaza de Pescador (Fisherman Plaza) the children's rides were all running also and people were just enjoying the nice evening.
We finally asked a lady if the children were going to be dancing tonight and she said, yes; but she had no idea of when. We had already decided that we weren't going to stick around to hear the Grito read, so figured that we would head home now; after all they might not start until right before the Grito. You never know. It was a nice evening to be out on the plaza anyway, whether we saw the dancers or not. Tomorrow morning is the parade. It would be nice for the children if it was a little cooler tomorrow; but I doubt it.