Ten years ago today, Mrs P and I were preparing for a night out to celebrate Mexico’s day of independence. Not just any old day of independence. Ten years ago, Mexico celebrated 200 years of independence. A big bash was planned in Mexico City’s famous Zocalo, and we were going. I don’t remember now if it was a ticketed event, but I have a suspicion that it was.
I’d been waiting all year for the big day. I’d collected the limited edition Bicentenario bottles produced by Coca Cola. I’d photographed a thousand decorative and commemorative moments and bits of regalia. It’s fair to say 2010 was a good year. One of my best. It was also my last full year in Mexico. Within five months, I was gone.
Those were simpler times, were they not? The recent plague of the pig had passed and actually was ‘just a bit of the flu’. The White House was fascist free and the U.K. had yet to press the self destruct Brexit button. Simpler times. Good times. Viva Mexico cabrones.
You tell a short but sweet story. Ah, those were the days my friend. We thought they’d never end, as the song goes.
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I seem to recall that we spent that event together, along with F and his sister. The event wasn’t ticketed, but we did have to go through security and have our ever-dangerous umbrellas confiscated. It was an amazing event, really one of the more amazing public spectacles I’ve ever seen.
Fond memories indeed.
Saludos,
Kim G
Boston, MA
Where annual Independence Day celebrations can’t even compare.
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You’re probably right as far as the ticketing is concerned. I remember that there was a sound and light show (it maybe have been the 100th anniversary of the revolution a few months later) that had to be cancelled due to huge crowds converging on the zocalo, and this prompted ticketing of an event shortly after. I think. It’s all so long ago. Maybe I’m just remembering myself thinking that they should have been ticketing the event…
But yes, It was indeed the bunch of us that went. And a good night was had by all. What wasn’t to like? The dancing. The grito. The music. The parade. The fireworks. The incredibly bizarre white giant white statue of a Michael Jackson lookalike rising up….
The conversation comes up every year, and it’s a two pronged debate. Are we going to Mexico? And when? I always suggest Independence Day.
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