My cousin Cathy and her girlfriend Chris came from Toronto to experience "Day of the Dead" in Detroit, the way Deb and I have been doing things for many years. Jenn G. and her mom came from Cambridge, so there were six of us in two vehicles pounding the pavement in the Motor City on Friday. In Mexico, Day of the Dead was originally a pagan event, celebrating the lives of deceased relatives, friends, and celebrities. It has been grasped by the Catholic Church, who have turned things into "all souls day" and "all saints day." Whatever. At its core, the celebration of our favourite dead folk carries on into the 21st Century. Detroit has a large Mexican/American population, and two of the best cemeteries on the planet. In addition to local events in Mextown (adjacent to the bridge between Canada and the USA), the Detroit Institute of Arts puts on an annual display of "Offrendas," or altar offerings to the deceased.
We picked up Cathy and Chris Friday morning at their hotel in Windsor, where we met up with Jenn and her mom. After clearing customs we headed to Mextown, first to stop at a gift store, and then on to a bakery, and then for lunch at one of many Mexican restaurants (some of them being very authentic). Upon arrival, we found the area swamped with school kids! Several high schools had decided that this would be a great field trip. Instead of a nice quiet morning visit, we found ourselves unable to gain access to any businesses due to the hordes of kids and teachers. Time for Plan B.
This involved heading to Woodlawn Cemetery before lunch, instead of afterwards. Woodlawn is the final resting place of many of Detroit's most famous families. Dodge, Ford, Buhl, and many others built elaborate tombs, complete with ornate brass doors and Tiffany stained glass window. The grounds are fabulous, with hills, a sizable forest, a lake, several mausoleums and chapels, and winding roads that invite exploration. Though the day was dark and drizzly, we had hit on peak leaf colour! It was atmospheric and intoxicating, and the crowd loved it!
Woodlawn Cemetery, Detroit
Cousin Cathy, left, and her friend Chris.
Autumn scene, Woodlawn Detroit.
A beautiful brass door at the entrance to a private mausoleum. Some doors even had a giant brass knocker. No thanks!
Autumn splendour, Woodlawn.
Jenn, her mom, and Deb. It was a drizzly November day.
A recent addition to Woodlawn.
One of many stained glass windows to be seen in the rear wall of private tombs.
Woodlawn, Detroit, in autumn. Worth a visit.
Leaves on the roof...
Final resting place of Rosa Parks.
Lunch in downtown Detroit, at Calexico. Wonderful food! L to R: cousin Cathy, Deb, Chris, Jenn, Sandy, yours truly. We parked at the DIA and took the streetcar downtown.
After the cemetery visit, we headed to the DIA. We parked in the all-day lot, then took the train downtown for a late but delicious lunch. Cathy paid for Deb and I!! I had a vegan burrito, and Deb had tofu tacos. I also had a brewed-in-Detroit Mexican beer, which was fabulous! Afterwards, we strolled around parts of downtown, ending up at the tiny cafe inside the lobby of the Wurlitzer building hotel (The Siren), where we took over the alcove, comfortably seating six. Then it was back on the train and into the DIA for the Day of The Dead exhibit.
DIA Offrenda Gallery, with Jenn.
Offrenda dedicated to the garment workers killed in Mexico City earthquake.
Offrenda gallery, DIA.
Incredible embroidery!
Offrenda at the DIA.
After our visit to the art museum, our group split up, with Jenn and her Mom hitting a few nearby craft beer stops. We headed back to Mextown, to our previously missed bakery (authentic Mexican!) and then to the gift store. Cathy ended up buying a beautiful Catrina! Deb bought some miniatures to go with her Yorick films. Then it was back to Windsor, dropping the ladies at their hotel. It had been a 10-hr day, pretty long for Deb. It was good to get home and put our feet up!
The gift shop had three Offrendas, one of them dedicated to Frida! The painting is for sale.
Cathy's Catrina!!
Mapman Mike
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