Independance Day

Today is Independance Day in Mexico. So happy Independance Day to all of my mexican readers.
Last night we headed to centro and to Richards apartment. There we met up with Richard, Cynthia and a group of the english teachers from the school where Cynthia and Richard teach. We all chatted for awhile before heading for the Three Presidents Plaza where there were to be some bands playing. I think the first band we heard was called Nacapule, then came a mariachi band, I missed their name. The mariachi band was very, very good and we really enjoyed listening to them. The singers had really good voices and the music was great. They had a big screen up on one side of the plaza and it was showing images of past events in the city, carnival parades, etc. and was nice to watch and remember as we listened to the music.
Across the street the childrens fair rides were doing a big business and the toy vendors were out in force. A happy, noisy, colorful time. Some of the little children were dressed up in costumes and looked very cute.
There were some changes in the way that things were this year. The beer vendors are usually set up on the plaza, this year they were down on the street and we heard a policeman telling someone that they weren't allowed to take the beer onto the plaza. I had read that there was to be no food sold, only bottled drinks; because of the problem of dust still hanging around from when the streets flooded during Tropical Depression Julio. There were not nearly as many vendors as usual; but there were some and we saw people wandering around with food, so- so much for that.
One interesting difference this year was that there were 2 police riding around on Segways, the 2 wheeled motorized vehicles-not sure if you call them vehicles or what you call them. I had read somewhere on the internet, I forget where, that the police somewhere in Mexico were using these; but never expected to see them here in our little city.

Internet image of a Segway:

We decided not to stay for the Grito and headed down to the bus stop to head home. The streets were full of people heading for the plaza and the beer stores and liquor stores were doing a booming business. Usually after/during events there are some buses that do their runs later. Last night when we saw our bus and asked the driver, he said he was finished and there would be no more buses that night. So we found a cab and caught a ride home. This is the first time that this has ever happened. Arrived home safe and sound and waited for the fireworks to begin. El Grito couldn't have taken very long as the fireworks started shortly after 11 PM. They put on a good show and we enjoyed watching them from the comfort of our patio. A good ending to the evening.
The Palacio Municipal being decorated for Independance Day.

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.