Neil Meyerhoff

In Queretaro, in the state of the same name, we photographed the late afternoon silent procession that winds through the city streets. The men carry crosses on their shoulders and wear hooded robes very much like to those worn by the KKK. The same hooded robes are worn in Seville, Spain for a similar procession, and it is thought that the Klan got the idea for the robes from either Seville or Queretaro. It would be ironic if this were true, as the Klan was anti-Catholic, and these processions are in heavily Catholic nations. The robes are red, white, black, or grey. The women dress all in black and carry candles.

The next day we drove to the popular American tourist town on San Miguel de Allende, in the state of Guanajuato. On Easter morning we photographed 18 larger than life size paper mache dolls being blown up. The large dolls are hung over the street in front of city hall, and are lighted one by one. Each figure twills around, being propelled by a firecracker kind of device. After the fourth firecracker goes out, the doll explodes. The many pieces rain down on the street and there is a mad dash to pick up the legs, arms, or whatever identifiable body parts still remain.

Thus ended the photographic journey to Mexico.