Guelaguetza breaks out!

Now I know what all the fuss is about.  The first parade was tonight, and the schedule says there will be parades the next seven evenings.  It was simply awesome.  I don't know how they can top it, but I am sure they will.

There were thousands of people lining the parade route and it was a long parade.  Most of the tourists were Mexicans who came from all over the country.  Those of us from Europe and the US were a tiny minority.  This festival celebrates the Mexico that existed before the Spanish Conquest, so there is an immense sense of national pride.  And a striking sense of joy.  (And unlike the US, there is no need for any military display.)  This is not a drunken party (at least not yet).  It's a family event.

All these groups were dancing as they went by.  Many of the dances were obviously courtship dances.  My favorite group was the pineapple dancers.

And of course there were fireworks and ear-splitting firecrackers.