Nov
01
2009

Dia De Los Muertos @ The Desert Botanical Gardens

A.K.A Day Of The Dead

(Add / View Comments) (0)PhotosSunday, November 1, 2009 - 09:28:33 pm
(Posted Under: Livin' In The USA Livin' In The USA, This Desert Life This Desert Life)
Photobox ImageToday being Dia De Los Muertos we headed out to the celebrations put on at the Desert Botanical Gardens. I've been looking forward to it for at least the past week once we saw it was on. Today was a perfect day for it too, a completely clear, sunny, but not too hot (by Phoenix standards anyway) day. After factoring a trip to pick up supplies we got there a little before 1pm.

Walking up to the entrance to the gardens, we were greeted by a stand with staff outside the entrance looking for signing up new members. The girl had an easy task with us, since we'd already decided days ago we needed to become members of the Botanical Gardens. It was pretty much a "sign us up" deal! What worked out pretty nicely for us was the fact that unbeknown to us, there was a $10 discount on yearly memberships today. They already had us at hello, so this was a mucho welcomed bonus! So $65 for both of us for the year - covers normal admission for the both us for the year, plus cheaper prices on special events, discounts at the gift shop and other goodies. The gardens are breath taking, every time I've come to Phoenix in the past I've made a trip out there, and we're well aware of the ridiculous amount of times we're going to want to go out there now that we live here! Added to that I've noticed a lot of cool stuff happening there over the past year, like a day that Strange Young Things played out there.

Because we were a little bit later than we'd planned on getting there, we stopped briefly to look at the program and assess our plan. Which was to head over to the Boppart Courtyard, where most of the day's entertainment was held. We caught the end of the Aztec Story Telling, which gave a bit of an overview to Day Of The Dead and was quite enjoyable. Following that was Corazón de Aguila – Yolloincuauhtli Aztec Dancers which was also really something. This was the one part of the entertainment where photography wasn't permitted for respect of the head dresses worn, which were very impressive.

Photobox ImageWe started out in the sun, and after a while with some concern about getting burnt by the desert sun we found sets in the shade, which were very appreciated. During one of the short breaks I took a walk through the mercado looking at the items for sale - with an eye out for Day Of The Dead figurines - but more on that later. Following that was the Guerrero Family Storytelling & Music which again I really enjoyed. The music was particularly great. The female singer, who as it turned out was also the artist who created the alter towards the entrance of the gardens was really amazing. The whole thing was really interesting to me, but of particular interest were the stories of the land centuries ago, when Rio Salado was a huge river, how the Yaqui's inhabited Tempe before being displaced to Guadalupe. Stories also included what was now Chandler, Scottsdale and Mesa, the details of which I regrettably don't remember fully. In anycase it was all quite interesting to me. It's all stuff that I've started to slowly learn about over the past few years (starting with reading Bowden's Blues For Cannibals, discovering and being taken by Guadalupe and doing some research on it, particularly of late) and today seemmed to be a continuation of that. Zarco Guerrero did his story telling with about 5 different characters, each one masked, fitting with the Day Of The Dead theme of the day. All characters, some a bit more political than others had the common theme of "laughing in the face of death" - which we actually dance with every day.

Following the story telling were Dancing Earth. It was quite impressive to both of us that we'd been sitting watching the entertainment for so long, when we'd actually assumed we'd be spending time looking through the gardens as well. So we decided to leave, and take a look through the Mercado, and then to the garden's actual gift shop. There is certainly a story behind this. Probably my first consciousness about Day Of The Dead occurred at the Botanical Gardens in 2005 when I saw Day Of The Dead figurines for sale. Admittedly, it's probably not the first time I've heard of Day Of The Dead (the Antonio Bandera's movie 'Assassins' actually comes to mind), but the first time it stayed within my conscious when Katie explained the story behind it. Anyway, I was definitely taken by both the origins and meaning of Day Of The Dead, and the caricatures themselves, and more or less immediately anticipated being in the position to get some Day Of The Dead figurines. That position (ie: living in the south west) has arrived, a fact that wasn't lost of me walking into the gift shop today, clearly remembering my thoughts of that day in 2005, and having arrived at the day that back then I saw in the future. While we're watching our spending, I already knew that I was going to purchase a set of figurines today. With it actually being Dia De Los Muertos it was easy to justify not waiting for such decor. The ironic part of the whole thing is that I didn't see any figurines that spoke to me in either the mercado nor gift shop the way the ones in 2005 did. Quite unfortunate given how fitting getting them today would have been, but all the same, I there is no doubting that the right course of action is holding out for ones that do speak to me. It's possible that the gift shop had cut down their Day Of The Dead merchandise as to not to take business away from the mercados vendors. Although I had no luck in the Day Of The Dead figurine department, one thing about the gift shop hasn't changed - we could completely do our house decor shopping at the gift shop. Which we might just do - I just need to figure out a way to afford that! [wink]

Photobox ImageOn the way to the gift shop, we passed Mariachi Pasion. This was also a really thing for me - since, despite my desire to, until today I have not seen a mariachi band. I was excited about the opening mariachi band for the Peacemakers in Mexico, but for whatever reason (venue issues, or Peacemakers getting delayed crossing the border if memory serves me correctly) it never happened, and have not had an opportunity to see one since. So this was definitely something for me. They were very good too. Having them playing in the gardens was a pretty great setting too. On walking back towards the courtyard I told Katie how I need to buy us a mariachi band that follow us around our house - once we have a house. Much like what I said about where we should get all our decor, I have no idea where all the money to finance this is coming from, but gee it'd be nice. [wink]

Photobox ImageIn any case, since we'd spent so much time watching the entertainment we were certainly picking up the pace at this point, and headed back towards the courtyard, stopping so that Katie could make a paper flower for the altar that was set up; color herself a Day Of The Dead mask. The former we did, the latter unfortunately didn't happen because there were no masks left. (Later at dusk there was some negative energy directed towards a woman who didn't look like an employee who had a whole pile of them in her hand exiting the park). The organization and activities of the whole event were really great, and the paper flowing making was an example of that. I was impressed with Katie's flower making skills, and even more impressed with the partial dedication. And quite surprised and disapointed with myself that I hadn't thought of such things until then.

Photobox ImageAn hour earlier we were quite concerned about the time and things left to do, but after doing them, combined with hearing that there was a delay in the scheduled time for the procession, we'd gone from a lot to do and not enough time, to having some time to kill. So we went for a bit of a walk around the gardens, which was really nice. It was impressive to me how much has changed since the last time I was there (admittedly, it was 3 years ago). It was a good opportunity to take some really great photos, as well at is was a reminder that we need to come back and spend a whole day in the gardens really soon.

Photobox ImageWe headed back to the courtyard, luckily a bit early, as La Procession (the final event of the day) was just beginning. Annoyingly my camera started to fail me (either due to a battery charging debarkle this morning, or the substantial drop it suffered last night at Frock 'N Roll - of possibly both), much to my chagrin as the face masks were great - and one of the procession leaders got right up in my face as they passed us, and it would have been a great photo. Before long we gave up on the camera, and joined the procession to the altar at the entrance of the gardens, which was really cool, picking up some candles along the way. We both loved when a child behind us yelled out along the way "Mom, let's go to Restaurant Mexico tonight! Can we?!?!". Now that I can vouch for Restaurant Mexico's food, I can say that he was one smart, as well as cute kid. [smile] The procession ended at the altar, joined by the mariachi band - I thankfully got my camera issues sorted out, and got some reasonably good shots of the procession leaders while Katie placed one of the candles at the altar.

Photobox ImagePhotobox ImageOnce the crowds had dispersed, I headed out the front for a smoke. Dusk was hitting, and the view around the gardens and Papago Park was amazing. A full moon was out in the east, and a misty blue and purple haze hung over the mountains in that direction, with the foreground of the cacti and Sonoran vegetation around the gardens. The beauty of the Sonoran desert hit me, as well as the reoccurring ponderance (and lack of comprehension) of how the entire world's population wouldn't want to live in it. Which continued heading back through the gardens - which had now become a lot quieter now that nearly everyone had left, though the gardens were open until 8pm. It's the first time that I've been there at, and after dusk, and it was impressive to me how the landscape looked equally amazing as it does during the day. We headed back to take a look at the altar displays that local artists had put together - which we had left for last as it was one of the few parts of the Dia De Los Muertos exhibits that was open until 8pm. Again, these we great to see. While not the most visually impressive, the 'Death Of The Desert' altar, dedicated to the Sonoran Desert as a political message regarding the urbanization of the desert certainly spoke to me (see previous, and I'm sure future, posts about sed topic). From here we ventured a bit further and witnessed the blood red sunset over Phoenix through the cacti laden foreground. I took a couple of really good photos, but they actually don't do the sight justice.

Photobox ImageAt this point, it had gotten pretty dark, and we decided that it was time to head off. Hell, with the membership we can come back whenever we want. And I'm sure that I'll be doing this dusk / night thing again once I find out how long staying open until 8pm runs for. Walking back also did nothing but increase our anticipation of Los Noches De Las Luminarias, which kicks off on December 1st (which right now feels too long to wait).

Having made this yet another full day affairs (which we're so good at), combined with the events on the day, and the smell of awesome Mexican food around lunch time, we decided to stop off at Filibertos Mexican Food for dinner. While it'd have been great to go to Restaurant Mexico [wink], neither of us were up for the time commitment that that'd be, and plus Filibertos was better on our wallets.

Photobox ImageSo it was a really great day. We'd actually thrown around the idea of spending some time at the gardens last month when we were out here (which largely didn't happen because of lack of time), so you'd expect that today would have subdued our need to go to the Botanical Gardens, but in actually it's just made me even more keen to go back - and soon!

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