Day of the Dead, one of Mexico's most celebrated festivals. I was lucky enough to witness the festivities in the city of Morelia where I was looked after by the awesome host, Carlos, another member of the Warm Showers network. An incredibly kind guy, each day he served up hearty breakfasts, ample shots of tequila and, without hesitation, invited me to join him and his friends on an excursion kayaking to islands in Lake Patzcuaro.
In the city there was a palpable sense of excitement and anticipation as people, mostly youngsters, dressed up and got heavily made up in morbid and darkly comic representations of the dead. The university was a hotbed of activity and the students contributed enthusiastically to the festivities with their extravagant costumes and designs.
Another shot from the university buildings. In the background is a mock altar adorned with marigolds. 
On the streets of Morelia with the city's enormous cathedral in the background. The people who have made the effort to get dressed up are constantly asked for photos and always oblige in a good natured way. 
Carlos and a university student.
Morelia's Casa de la Cultura had a range of mock altars on display. This was run as a competition so the designs and decorations were really elaborate. 
This altar was dedicated to Juan Gabriel, a popular Mexican singer who died recently. I don't know much about him except that he has a cracking voice!
Kayaking! Never done it before, don't really like water sports but , what the hell just do it.
On the still waters of Lake Patzcuaro it was pretty easy going and... 
...I enjoyed a peaceful late afternoons kayak across to...
...Yunuen Island.
My phone camera is pretty hopeless at taking night photos so I got a few shots of the graveyard - panteón- by day. As you can see, the dominant decoration is the yellow marigolds which are so bright and colourful that they can show the Dead the path to the graveyard. 
Also very important are the offerings put on the graves - favourite foods, fruit, beer.
At night innumerable candles illuminated the panteón and families came to visit the graves of their deceased loved ones. In the evening, we kayaked across to Laje Pacanda, a little more tricky after a couple of tequilas, to see the local indigenous families visit their graves. 
Though Day of the Dead is said to be a happy festival the atmosphere was very quiet, reflective and reverent. Family members stay in the panteón through the night, tending the graves, remembering the Dead. It almost felt a little intrusive to be there at what was clearly such a personal moment but the islands live off tourism and I felt that us tourists treated the festival with due respect. 
The day after la Noche de los Muertos we relaxed on the island, had a good breakfast (including atole - a hot drink derived from beans that I'm rapidly getting addicted to), and enjoyed the scenes from nature. A few hummingbirds were buzzing around and the occasional pelican passed by amongst the hoardes of white egrets.
By midday the morning mist had completely burnt off and the usual hot sun was beating down. Having improved my technique a bit, the kayak back to the mainland was a breeze.
The group. As always, I was made to feel very welcome by my new Mexican friends and, even if you can't catch everything that's being said, you can just sit back and enjoy the convivial warmth of the Mexican company. Also, the English speakers eventually emerge from the woodwork.
Sadly I have to leave Morelia tomorrow but my next destination, after a three day push, will be Mexico City. Exciting times ahead and old friend Helen Hookway to visit!
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