Today we were interested in watching the competition called "La Tapete de La Muerte."  Every year on November 2, various groups, such as schools, government groups, city offices, fraternal organizations and nonprofits spend the morning constructing  mosaics (tapetes) using all natural materials (such as, sand, saw dust, floral pieces, marble and rock dust, feathers, coffee grounds and vegetation) to depict themes associated with Dia de los Muertos.  They can begin as early as 7 am but must finish by 1 pm when judging takes place. Then at 9 pm one of the classic "Catrina" characters wearing a very ornate costume, with a similar appearance to many women in yesterday's parade, comes down each street and plaza where the mosaics have been meticulously and painstakingly constructed and destroys them symbolically by walking over them after which actual crews do remove them before the next day's tourists arrive.  Though seemingly bizarre to destroy such art installations considering the work that went into them, this ritual symbolizes the ephemeral nature of life and is very much in concert with the entire Los Muertos  celebration and commemoration.

A favorite: "In memory of those with 4 paws"

Volunteer fire fighters

This entry was cleverly built around a familiar statue in town of the troubadour

The plans are often a schematic that has been drawn then filled in with the materials

Actually flat on street but flipped for better viewing

Los colibries (humming birds)

"Who lives in our memories never dies"

La Catrina walking over the tapetes

The detail is stunning with its 3-dimensional effect

Another beloved pet