Funky Monkey Market

         

A  local cafe Taco Maya, in the fishing village of Chelem which we are only 5 minutes from, held their annual Octoberfest Funky Monkey Market. 

The cafe operates Thurs. Fri and Sat. from 10:00 - 2:00 by  Englishman Paul and his partner, Carol from Quebec. They serve regular and mexican breakfasts and the best coffee... so if very popular with the expats.         Def'n of expat is someone who is living in a country not of their citizenship...or who hates snow!


Every year they hold this Market, serving Mexican food and German beer! 
 The fish you see above are made from the part of the coconut tree called the inflorescence from which comes the branches the coconuts grow on... .with shells glued on for the gills and mouths..  and painted..


This hombre makes 

Bamboo screens, garage doors, deck furniture.  He will make some bamboo screens for us  to close in some openings in our wall facing the beach access so the air can move through but we have more privacy.  

Local artisans..some Mexican; some not.. 

The local plant guy.... expert in Bromeliads and landscaping ... He will be taking out some of our coconut trees in another few weeks..

 Green gourds are very heavy compared to when they are dried and painted.













Which gourd did we buy? 

Our next experience is the Day of the Dead (" Día de los Muertos) or as our Mayan community calls it, Hanal Pixán.  Originating with the Aztecs it has been celebrated for 3,000 years.


It is  a holy day celebrated on November 1, when the spirits that traverse on the earth are welcomed and remembered fondly. Family members and friends  pray for and speak of all the funny and trivial things. 


Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds  and the favorite foods such as Pan de Muerto ( see below) and Mukbil chicken or Pib  and beverages of the departed and visiting graves with these as gifts.


It is believed that the souls of the dead will visit the altar and consume the offerings. Of course, the food is not really eaten, but its soul or essence is consumed by the spirits. The same food is then consumed by all the family members. 

When the spirits come down and are not happy with the offerings made to them, they return unhappily, without blessing the family. Therefore, many people take the rituals followed in this festival very seriously. A lot of time and money is spent on the decoration and the offerings made, to please the souls of the dead.


más por venir más tarde ( more to come later)