Good Friday in Loreto

Today is Good Friday, so we got up and out of the rig early and walked to the plaza with our neighbors Chuck and Sandy. We enjoyed coffee outside a coffee shop which trying to learn where the Way of the Cross (viacrucis) procession would be. We discovered that it would be coming towards us around 10 am and turn the corner a few yards away. So at 9:45 we walked west to meet it. Wow, what an impressive, moving spectacle. We had heard of these reenactments being popular in Latin countries, but had never seen one. Since Loreto is a fairly small town, this was a chance to see it up close.
As we encountered the procession, they had just begun the party where Mary meets Jesus and they try to comfort one another. It really brought home the humanity of their experience. We walked alongside for 30 minutes or so. Then, when the procession passed a small taco stand where Sarah, Jim, and Cathy were watching, we joined them – having decided that the reenactment of the crucifixtion itself was more than we wanted to see.
Sarah had noticed an unusual town cemetery which we then went to see. Instead of simple gravestones, families build these elaborate shrines – almost chapels – with photos and mementos of their lost ones. Very impressive and touching.
Back in camp after lunch, we got laundry done and a few other small chores. Several of us walked down to the marina and back. Then the six couples at our end of the park had barbecue potluck and shared stories of our recent travels and our plans from here.
Pete has enrolled in a scuba diving class, which means they won’t leave until Tuesday. Jackie and I won’t stay here that long, since we want to see the rest of Baja. So we’ll probably leave Saturday morning for Ciudad Constitución.