I am not sure why the moniker, "sleeply little Mexican town" was given to many places in Mexico, La Cruz de Huanacaxtle included. At times walking through the town especially during the day, it seems appropriate when it is hot and the inhabitants are taking a siesta or sitting in chairs on their front stoops in the shade.
Since we have been at La Cruz, the town has hosted the Copa Mexico races, MEXORC races, El Presidente, Coctel Tianguis Turistico 2012, Easter celebration as well as a 9-day celebration for the founding of the local church. The last event just ended at 5 am on Friday morning. Of course all of the above activities went on while they were repaving the roads, putting in new plumbing, and new sidewalks in town.
For the founding celebration there was a carnival of rides including a merry-go-round, bumper cars, twisting, turning, spinning rides for kids that set up in the vacant lot between the marina and the church. In the main town plaza were more rides for small children as well as a mechanical bull. Some townsfolks as well as others set up gaming as well as food booths. They would set off fireworks and it seemed to us at random times day and night. Blanca, who runs the marina office, explained that they set off the fireworks in the morning and evening to remind everyone to go to church. I am not sure what service was being held at 2:00 am but there were fireworks and the rides were going and you could hear music playing.
Booths along the main plaza
Main plaza
On Thursday they had a parade of the charros or horsemen. I was walking up to town to buy some vegetables and was able to take a few pictures of the parade. I am not sure where all of the charros came from but they filled the whole length of the main street and down the hill to the plaza. No parade is complete without a brass band and in this case a horse princess, selected from the fair maids of La Cruz.
The cross of La Cruz
The parade coming down Avenue de la Langosta (Avenue of Locusts)
The brass band in the parade and they played all night long
The horse princess in her tiara
This horse would paw the ground on one side and then the other on command
Charros come in all ages. This young fellow was the pride of his family
Today is Cinco de Mayo and we thought it was yet another holiday celebrated by the town but alas, this is more of an American holiday. To quote an article by Michael Martinez, CNN:
"Cinco de Mayo does indeed mark a Mexican military victory over the invading French army on May 5, 1862, but it's celebrated more in the United States because in 1862, U.S. Latinos of Mexican heritage parlayed the victory as a rallying cry that the Union could also win the Civil War."
Over time Cinco de Mayo became an unofficial American holiday similar to St. Patrick's Day fueled by salsa, guacamole, tacos, Corona and Dos Equis. It is not something special here in Mexico except for places encouraging business with tourists.
I think we will enjoy a little peace and quiet.
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