When Richart Sowa completed working on his free-floating eco-paradise made up of more than 150,000 recycled bottles, he only wanted one thing.

No, it wasn’t a spot to dock his new home. He had that near the Mexican resort city of Cancún. Nor was it a hot tub or high speed Wi-Fi – his recycled home had that too. Instead, all the lonely man wanted now was a soul mate.

Now, however, thanks to Facebook Sowa has found the person he hopes to spend the rest of his life with on his idyllic, handmade Joyxee Island: 47-year-old former model Jodi Brown.

The 61-year-old Englishman, who has been married twice before and has four kids and six grandchildren, met Tennessee-born Brown on the social media site and pretty soon after she had moved onto the island.

"Living on my own floating island has been my dream for over two decades," Sowa said, according to the Daily Mail. "I've always wanted to share my life's work with a soul mate. But I've avoided any relationship with anyone which I thought wouldn't be the real thing."

Sowa added that he isn’t forcing his former model girlfriend – who spent time posing for ads in Japan during the 1980s – to rough it off shore. Despite being docked 30 yards from the shore and feature a base made from air-filled plastic bottles, wood pallets and sand, Sowa’s hand built home has not only a hot tub and wireless Internet, but also two bedrooms, three shell showers and a full kitchen – all surrounded by palm trees, mangroves, fruit trees and edible herbs and plants.

The home is connected to the shore by a 100-foot long rope and solar energy provides all the power to run the electricity, water system and Internet.

When Brown moved into the floating home, she decided that some of Sowa’s lassitude as a bachelor needed to go and applied her woman’s touch to the place.

“I've been able to motivate Richart to fix the place up,” she said. “The toilet works perfectly now and solar panels now provide electricity.”

Brown added that it was tough getting used to life on the floating island, especially after living a life in the high fashion circles on Tokyo back in the 1980s.

“My first impression of the island was that it was an upgrade from camping – luckily, I've always liked that Swiss Family Robinson experience,” she said. “Living on the island looks like a carefree lifestyle, but there is a lot of physical labor involved in keeping it up especially in the early years before the mangrove roots weave through the base and strengthen everything.”

Things have not always been so easy for Sow
[readon1 url=>http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/lifestyle/2014/11/07/man-builds-floating-paradise-off-mexican-coast-using-150000-recycled-bottlesand/"]Source:latino.foxnews.com[/readon1]

Lo De Marcos in Riviera Nayarit hosted its first Tianguis last week and it was well received by everyone in attendance.

The Ribbon Cutting was officiated by Delegado Philemon Rodriguez with the Commander of the State Police of Riviera Nayarit in attendance.
 
The weekly event is quickly gaining the support of the town´s Merchants several of whom reported increased sales driven by the appearance of new faces in the Pueblo.

This next Saturday, the Tianguis will be bursting at the seams with additional Vendors in both the Artisan and Food Court Areas. The Bar which is next to the Food Court has been expanded to allow for additional seating.
 
Claudia Curtis, the Market Coordinator, feels that each week we will see additional vendors and enhancements to the Tianguis as she and her team are busy at work with decorations themed for the upcoming Holidays, the selection of additional Live Music, On location Radio Broadcasts and much more.
 
Claudia stated "There are so many extraordinary things to purchase and foods to enjoy that it´s hard to believe that I get paid to shop."
 
This Saturday, The Tianguis is pleased to feature the live music of Son Tres from San Pancho. This upbeat Trio will be performing from 11:00 am until 2:00 in the afternoon when the Market closes. Son Tres plays something for everyone and never disappoints the audience.
 
Tianguis Lo De Marcos is the Third Certified Organic Market in Riviera Nayarit and is pleased to have achieved this status.
 
For Visitors and Residents alike this new Tianguis in Lo De Marcos promises not only an enriching shopping experience but the chance get to know Lo De Marcos. CampamentoTortuguero Lo De Marcos the town´s Turtle Rescue organization is on site to answer questions about the Pueblo.

Held each Saturday from November 1st to March 28th from 9:00 am until 2:00 pm in the charming Pueblo of Lo De Marcos at Luis Echeverria #9, this event is not to be missed.

You can look at some of the products available on the Tianguis´s Facebook page here.

The Lo De Marcos Tianguis is organized in large part with the help of Galvan Real Estate and Services, the town´s only Full Service Real Estate and Rental Agency. "I Live in Lo De Marcos and can attest first hand to our communities need to support our residents, farmers and craftspeople thru this venue while at the same time bringing in those items that are not readily available within the community," stated Armando Contreras on behalf of the Company.
 
It is recommended that you visit the Tianguis early during your stay because you will want to return again and again to explore this unique shopping venue just 15 minutes North of Sayulita in Riviera Nayarit.

[readon1 url="http://pvangels.com/news/2974/opening-day-was-a-success-at-tianguis-lo-de-marcos"]Source:pvangels.com[/readon1]

We've so been there: On the other side of a table from someone chewing with their mouth open. Wide open. This person could be the dearest, most cherished person in our lives, but such a sight can almost be enough to make you consider never eating with them again.

Perhaps that's not your trigger. "I just won't look at them!" you say, judging us uptight people who demand to have some mystery in their dining experience. Maybe yours is the cell phone, an accessory that is now as normal as a water glass on one's table. It doesn't matter what sort of restaurant you're in, there's at least one couple who spends the entire time glued to their phones. They might as well be at home in front of a television.

Are these the worst things one can do at the table? We say yes. We spoke to two etiquette experts via email, Patricia Napier-Fitzpatrick, president of The Etiquette School of New York and Patricia Rossi, author of "Everyday Etiquette: How to Navigate 101 Common and Uncommon Social Situations," about the most egregious manners violations that can happen come mealtime -- and what you can do about it.

The Huffington Post: What's the absolute worst etiquette "sin" one can commit while eating?

Napier-Fitzpatrick: There are a number of “sins,” but I suppose the worst would be talking with food in your mouth. A close second would be blowing your nose at the table -- particularly if you use your napkin to do so. Other “sins” include putting used silverware back on the table, rather than properly placing it in the “resting” or “finished” position on the plate. Or, another, is putting your used napkin on the table after you have finished eating but your dinner companions are still eating.

Rossi: The #1 sin would be making it all about the food and not the people we are dining with. The focus should be on the relationship, not the food. Ordering difficult-to-eat food distracts from the conversation and relationship building. Eating before everyone has been served. Gulping down food to fast or slow. Not keeping pace with their fellow dinners.

The Huffington Post: Is it ever okay to look at your phone while eating with company?

Napier-Fitzpatrick: As a general rule, cell phones should not be on the table when eating with company. If, however, you are expecting an important call, it is okay to have you phone in your pocket on vibrate. Do let your dinner companions know when you sit down at the table that you are expecting an important call, and if it comes during the meal, you will have to get up and leave the table to take the call. (This is the advice I give to business people.) If friends eating together are okay with each of them looking at their phones during the meal, it is up to them. I personally, however, am offended when someone with whom I am dining looks at his or her phone.

Rossi: We should put our full focus on whomever we are breaking bread with -- it's the perfect situation to build and nurture that relationship face to face. When eating, it adds the sense of taste to the experience of the other senses. Seeing, hearing, the touch of a handshake, etc. When all the senses are involved, being present builds a high trust and like factor. Refrain from peeking at your phone. Let the focus be on the person sitting in front of you.

The Huffington Post: How can you tell someone to stop chewing with their mouth open? Especially someone with whom you work and share a space.

Napier-Fitzpatrick: It is considered rude to correct or embarrass someone in front of other people. If someone who is close or related to you -- or perhaps someone who works for or with you -- is continually eating with their mouth open or chewing loudly when they eat, you could “gently” say to them in private that you don’t know if they are aware that they chew with their mouth open; but, just in case, they are not aware of it, you wanted to point it out to them so that they would not embarrass themselves.

Rossi: I would never bring that up, good manners dictates that we never embarrass another person. If it were a very close friend or family member, I would say, "Wow that looks different in your mouth than it did on the plate." While laughing.

The Huffington Post: Which etiquette rules regarding eating, if any, can be considered out-of-date? We were wondering about the whole "eating with elbows on the table" rule, in particular.

Napier-Fitzpatrick: At a formal meal, elbows on the table is still considered rude. One should either rest one’s hands in one’s lap if eating in the American style of dining or on the table from the wrists up only if eating in the Continental style of dining. I do, however, tell my clients that if they are dining in a casual restaurant, or having drinks in a bar, and there is no food on the table, they can put their elbows on the table.

One rule that could possibly be considered out of date is men rising from their seats every time a lady leaves and/or returns to the table during a meal.

Rossi: Elbows should not be on the table while eating. They could knock over a glass, fork etc. It also appears as if we are guarding your food, trying to make a human fort around our plates. Elbows are okay on the table once the meal is finished.

The Rudest Things You Can Do When You're Eating, According To Etiquette Experts

The Huffington Post: What's the right thing to do if someone asks you a question just as you've taken a bite of your food?

Napier-Fitzpatrick: If someone asks you a question when you have just taken a bite, the best thing to do is simply raise your finger as in “just a minute” to let them know you will answer their question as soon as you have finished chewing and swallowed the bite of food.

Rossi: Just motion to wait. It's a quick exchange and has happened to all of us.

The Huffington Post: Let's face it: Some of us have to eat at our desks. Are there any etiquette rules for this situation? Or is eating at your desk, in general, just a no-no?

Napier-Fitzpatrick: Eating at the desk is not a no-no, but there are some rules to be observed. The number one rule is to avoid any food that has a strong odor -- especially if you are seated in an open office plan or in a cubicle, since the odor may linger in the office all afternoon. Avoid messy foods; avoid continually snacking throughout the day; and remove all food containers from your desk when you have finished eating.

Rossi: We are all eating at our desk. Just make sure it isn't smelly and also that it isn't an eat-a-thon. Your desk is a desk. Not a buffet. Be discreet, tidy.

The Huffington Post: What's the best way to move past a faux pas?

Napier-Fitzpatrick: Humor is generally the best way to move past a faux pas. Or, blame it on not feeling well, or having an “off” day.

Rossi: [It] makes us human and likable to have imperfections and the occasional faux pas. Just make a joke and move on.

[readon1 url="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/06/table-etiquette-tips_n_6111578.html"]Source:www.huffingtonpost.com[/readon1]

• This sixth edition of the cleanup has already 15 groups signed up with approximately 450 people cleaning nine coastal communities and collecting approximately 1,000 bags of trash per event.

The Riviera Nayarit Beach Cleanup Network will hold another public beach cleanup effort on November 8th in nine coastal communities along the Riviera Nayarit.

This movement is 100% community driven and made up of people who have decided to participate, without care for remuneration and answering only to their conscience. It all came together when Ana Lilia Chávez, a citizen of the area, took it upon herself to visit the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) and propose this project, which today is an ongoing reality.

“I don’t belong to any nonprofit, this is strictly a personal initiative because I like to enjoy a clean beach and I’m interested in environmental conservation. We invite everyone to participate,” commented Ana Lilia. “The short term benefit is a clean beach, but the medium and long term benefits affect us all.”

More and more groups have joined in the effort; today there are 15 of them with some 450 people picking up approximately 1,000 bags of trash per event. There are also others that clean up more than once a month.

As a result, people from private enterprises have listened to their conscience and joined in. This month, Dolphin Discovery and the Surf Shop are joining in to help clean Bucerías, the area with the most groups involved in the cleanup.

The Banderas Bay City Council began their own parallel cleanup program, with their next event coming up on November 29th. The city councils of San Blas, Compostela, Santiago Ixcuintla and Tecuala are encouraged to begin their own programs as well.

For more information and comments, if you’re interested in more details about the project including the hours and meeting places or would like to propose your community join the Riviera Nayarit Beach Cleanup Network, please call 2 97 25 16 ext. 108, and someone from the Riviera Nayarit CVB will be happy to help you.

With "smart shoes" that vibrate when the wearer approaches an object, Argentine student Juan Manuel Bustamante hopes to provide an alternative for younger blind people who don't like the traditional white cane.

Bustamante's prototype, which he has entered in next week's National Science Fair, detects any object within a radius of 25 centimeters (9.8 inches), the young inventor told Efe.

A student at Industrial College No. 4 in Rio Gallegos, capital of the remote southern province of Santa Cruz, Bustamante has spent six months working on the device, inspired by a conversation with a friend who started losing her vision as a teenager.

"She told me young blind people do not like the cane because they feel it stigmatizes them," he recounted to Efe.

After hearing his friend's opinion echoed by students and teacher at schools for the blind, Bustamante hit upon the idea of replacing the cane with shoes, "a discreet object used every day."

"These shoes were conceived for blind people between the ages of 10 and 25, who are those who most strongly reject using the cane," he said.

The device, dubbed Duspavoni, is attached to the sole and comprises three ultrasonic detectors placed in the front, back and side.

The sensors operate like sonar, bouncing sound waves off objects to calculate distance.

"The closer the object is, the more the device vibrates," Bustamante said. "If the object is ahead, the tip of the shoe vibrates. If it is on the side, the sole vibrates, and if it is behind, the heel vibrates."

The inventor had to tweak his initial design to lower the level of vibration, since it was "a bit annoying" for the blind people who tested it.

Bustamante's device detects people, animals and possible obstacles such as trees, fences, cars and walls.

"The battery is recharged with an USB cable plugged to the computer or a mobile phone charger," he said. "To fully charge the battery takes almost five hours and it lasts between three and five days."

The sensors have a life span of almost 12 years and the battery may last six years, according to Bustamante.

While he has received several proposals from people anxious to manufacture and market the Duspavoni, Bustamante says he will wait to see what kind of reception the device gets at the science fair, set for Nov. 9-14 in Buenos Aires, before deciding his next move.

Similar devices have been patented in countries such as Britain and India, but none has yet succeeded in replacing the white cane.

[readon1 url="http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/lifestyle/2014/11/06/argentine-student-designs-vibrating-shoes-to-guide-blind/"]Source:latino.foxnews.com[/readon1]

The 3% increase in gasoline starting January 1, 2015 will be another hard blow to the budgets of Mexicans, and in particular the people of Baja California Sur, as it directly impacts everybody's pockets, with or without vehicles, said Senator Carlos Mendoza Davis.

The Senator announced that in the Income Tax Law of 2015, which was debated recently in the Senate, the PAN party parliamentary group proposed a modification which would have opposed the new increase in the price of gasoline in 2015. Unfortunately, the PRI party senators and part of the PRD party opposed the amendment and approved the 3% increase, to be effective January 1, 2015.

[Fulano's comment: Based upon the current price of regular gasoline in Mexico, the 3% increase would increase the price per gallon to $3.97 per gallon. The actual price will be more than that as there is still another scheduled gasoline price which will go into effect on December 1, 2014.]

See the original at The Fulano Forum

[readon1 url="http://pvangels.com/news-mexico/13672/mexico-will-have-gasoline-price-increase"]Source:www.pvangels.com[/readon1]

Many Villas use  our friends at Ada Sailing to offer our guests “an unparalleled experience” aboard their classically handcrafted 45’ luxury sailboat.

While we have always been happy to refer our guests to some of the less intimate LGBT-oriented booze cruises, the pure gaze of bliss that we observe on their faces when they return from this day on Banderas Bay is incomparable.

The tour is flexible, we organize both 4 and 6 hour sailings based on the group’s consensus. The Ada sails out based on an 8 passenger minimum, and we keep the group intimate at no more than 15-16 maximum.

The day can be as active or relaxing as you’d like it to be, with snorkeling, private beach hopping, kayaks, and even a turn at steering the boat all available as options.

And while some might say that once you’ve done one sailboat charter, you’ve done them all, what really sets the Ada apart from any other water-based excursion on Banderas Bay is their succulent and mouth watering menu. The Ada not only boasts an open bar of fun and unique signature cocktails and decadent pass around appetizers, but their gourmet lunch menu offers some of the finest cuisine you’ll experience in an already foodie’s paradise destination.

[readon1 url="http://www.casacupula.com/blog/sail-away/"]Source:www.casacupula.com[/readon1]

Women dressed as iconic Mexican "Catrinas" gather in an attempt to set a record for the most
Catrinas in one place during Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico City, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014.
(AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

Mexico celebrated the Day of the Dead with a new world record, as women in the country's capital dressed up as "Catrinas" and brought together the most "Skeleton Ladies" ever in one place.

The Skeleton Lady first appeared as a satirical engraving by artist Jose Guadalupe Posada sometime between 1910 and 1913. Posada originally created the character to poke fun at "people who pretended to be European, but weren't," Mercedes Sierra, a visual arts professor at Mexico's National Autonomous University explained to the Associated Press last year. "Skeleton" was a Mexican slang for someone too poor to buy food. However, the image was also a critique of social stratification. "Death is democratic. At the end, regardless of whether you are white, dark, rich or poor, we all end up as skeletons," the artist said at the time.

Stunning Photos Of Mexico's 'Day Of The Dead' Record Attempt

[readon1 url="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/03/mexico-day-of-the-dead-record_n_6096886.html"]Source:www.huffingtonpost.com[/readon1]

Pumpkin Pies & Parties!
 
This U.S. Thanksgiving Holiday in Puerto Vallarta promises to be bigger and better than ever, with not just one but two great LGBT-oriented music festivals to choose from!
 
 The New Latin Fever 2014 (scheduled November 27th to 30th) will not only be returning for another year, but 2014 will mark the arrival of the much-buzzed about MAXIMA FESTIVAL!

So ditch the awkward famly dinners, canned cranberry and stuffy sweaters and give Gracias this year in “Beyond Gay Friendly” Puerto Vallarta!

The Maxima Festival is already boasting an impressive DJ line up, with such headliners as Steven Redant, Isaac Escalante and Ben Baker.

And if you’re hankering for a piece of pumpkin pie, we’ve still got you covered, as Taste Restaurant @ Casa Cupula will be rolling out the traditional spread, as we do each year, in case you need any more excuse to dance it off!

General all access tickets are only $1000 pesos and include entrance to all day & night events, Nov. 26-30

Twice daily yoga and meditation sessions are held at Xinalani’s yoga studio. There are also opportunities
to hike to remote waterfalls.

PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico — A hop, skip and icy Corona from the Puerto Vallarta airport is the water taxi that takes me 45 minutes up the Bay of Banderas to Xinalani Retreat, the site of a weeklong, 12-person reju-vacation.

Though the pre-Hispanic word Xinalani translates to “seeds,” (pronounced she-na-lah-knee), it should mean tropical paradise. Just down the beach from the sleepy village of Quimixto, this European-owned eco-chic resort is built right into the side of a mountain and surrounded by lush jungle foliage.

As our boat approaches the secluded hillside dotted with the thatched huts, dining room and yoga studios, my companions and I can’t help but stare at each other in disbelief. When did we sign up for a visit to a luxurious version of Jurassic Park?

To be honest, I wasn’t entirely sure what I had signed up for when I enrolled in Nelson-based yoga instructor Jennifer Steed’s Return to Your Source yoga retreat. Steed has hosted 57 excursions of this type around the globe to date, and coined the term “reju-vacation” in response to the desire she observed in her students to experience something more on their vacations.

In other words, while chilling on the beach and sipping margaritas could certainly be part of the daily agenda (both those activities were an aspect of most of my days, to be sure) the souvenirs from this kind of Mexican holiday are more of the recharged spirit and personal epiphany variety, rather than a sombrero or gift-shop shot glass.

So it was that I become one of the dozen participants of various ages, physical fitness levels and walks of life who had stumbled across this offering in search of a different kind of escape.

Xinalani offers a variety of accommodation from shared palapas to private eco-chic suites. The rooms are simple and straightforward (nothing more than comfortable beds with white linens and airy mosquito nets, a few pieces of furniture in light wood and a crocheted hammock in the suites), but thanks to the no-fourth-wall concept overlooking the bay, visitors can’t help but be hypnotized by the views and lulled peacefully to sleep by the crashing waves from the beach just metres below.

The twice-daily yoga and meditation practices proved to be extremely challenging; but my personal experience with “reju-vacation” involved connecting with the Quimixto locals (a beautifully spirited and ridiculously generous group of people), practising my surfing skills (or lack thereof), hiking to remote waterfalls and putting my smartphone out of reach for an unprecedented amount of time.

For others, it involved hot stone massages, sweat-lodge experiences complete with a local shaman, and long leisurely walks on the beach. The beauty of Steed’s reju-vacations is that they allow each participant to design an agenda that serves them best.

And while being served Yogi-inspired meals may sound like a bland affair there’s nothing skimpy or deprivational about Xinalani’s culinary offerings. Though carnivores are out of luck, Chef Mario Portillo translates super foods into super food with his thrice-daily feasts. Combing the traditions of Mexico with modern health-conscious ingredients, locally grown produce and freshly caught seafood are the stars of the show and vegan and gluten free options are always on offer (and occasional prove even more delicious than the real deal versions).

The culmination of unplugging — both metaphorically and literally; plenty of quiet reflective time; beautifully presented health-conscious meals; a group of intriguing strangers and a dash of adventure made for a perfect battery-recharging holiday that left me ready to head back to the office and the stresses of everyday life with a smile on my newly-tanned face. Good luck finding that kind of experience at an all-inclusive.

Xinalani cuisine.

Xinalani

Nestled among trees, the resort is just steps to the beach.

[readon1 url="http://www.vancouversun.com/travel/Find+reju+vacation+ultimate+yoga+retreat/10349179/story.html"]Source:www.vancouversun.com[/readon1]

Hurricane Vance continues to maintain strength over the eastern Pacific Ocean, about 500 miles southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico. It became a Sunday evening with winds of 105 mph.  
 
 However, its time of intensification appears to be ending.

Vance's latest position, motion, and top wind speeds.

Hurricane Vance is tracking to the north-northwest, and is expected to begin its northeast turn toward the southwest Mexican coast, as a mid-level near the southern Baja California peninsula shifts eastward and a approaches.

The forecast path for Hurricane Vance.

Vance may peak as a major (Category 3 or higher) hurricane Monday. If so, it would be the ninth major hurricane of 2014 in the Eastern Pacific (10 if one counts Genevieve), and would break the eastern Pacific seasonal record for Category 3 or stronger hurricanes, according to hurricane specialist, .

However, wind shear is already increasing over Vance, and, given Vance's tiny size (hurricane-force winds only up to 15 miles from center), rapid weakening is possible beginning Tuesday. Vance may spin down so quickly that it may never make landfall as a tropical cyclone, rather as a remnant low, late Wednesday or early Thursday generally north of Puerto Vallarta.

Those along the southwest Mexican coast and the southern Baja Peninsula, including Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan should continue to monitor the progress of this system.

Given Vance's initially powerful winds, swells from Vance will churn up high surf and rip currents at Mexico's Pacific beaches, even if the storm itself loses steam before reaching land. The potentially dangerous conditions for swimmers may reach parts of Mexico's coast as early as Monday or Tuesday.

Vance is the 20th named storm of the Eastern Pacific hurricane season. The last time 20 or more named storms formed in that basin was 1992, when the entire list of 24 names was used, ending with Tropical Storm Zeke.

Zeke is also the "Z" storm on this year's list. Eastern Pacific names rotate every six years unless retired, except for names starting with X, Y, and Z. Those are rarely used, and thus just two names are on the list for each of those letters, one male and one female, alternating every other year.

Vance became a Category 1 hurricane Sunday morning, making it the 14th hurricane of 2014 within the Eastern Pacific basin. (Genevieve, which started in the Eastern Pacific, became a hurricane in the Central Pacific basin -- if one counts Genevieve, there have been 15 hurricanes with Eastern Pacific origins this year.)

Maria Bolanos made the world’s best Mexican rice. She laughed a lot, and when things got tense among her five children, she always seemed to say the perfect thing.

Bolanos died 20 years ago from complications of diabetes, but Sunday afternoon at a Day of the Dead celebration outside the Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe in downtown Dallas, she lived in the eyes of her granddaughter.

“My grandmother was the heart and soul of the family,” said Isabel Robles, 34, of Garland. “She kept us all together; she was our rock.”

The Day of the Dead is a three-day holiday observed throughout Mexico to remember family and friends who have passed away. The ritual, Dia de los Muertos, has been celebrated for centuries throughout Central and South America, and some historians believe the holiday originated more than 3,000 years ago during the Aztec empire.

Traditionally, children build altars to summon the spirits of dead children on Oct. 31, the first day of the festival, followed by a day to celebrate the lives of adults, and then All Souls Day, when families travel to cemeteries to decorate the graves of their relatives.

Similar observances are held in Spain and throughout Europe, as well as in parts of Asia and Africa.

“I know some people may think, ‘Oh, those morbid Catholics,’” said Elizabeth Villafranca, who organized Sunday’s event in the courtyard outside the soaring cathedral on Ross Avenue. “But it’s really the opposite. There’s really no better way to celebrate life.”

Villafranca said she also senses an adoption of the holiday in the broader, non-Catholic community.

“It’s really becoming an American event,” she said, “and it’s just one of the ways you see this beautiful blending of various cultures. Think about piñatas or salsa, they started as traditional Mexican, and now they’re fully American.”

Martin Romero stood in the dappled sunshine Sunday afternoon, his hands buried deep in his pockets, and watched as an artist painted the face of his 11-year-old daughter, Kimberly.

Her remembered similar celebrations when he was growing up in Torreón, a city in central Mexico.

“We used to collect people’s possessions, some of the food they liked, a few pictures, and then we’d all go out to the cemetery with flowers,” he said. “That’s when we’d all cry and laugh and remember the good times.”

Romero said the tradition of honoring elders is a deep, cool spring that waters the roots of the young. Sunday was the first time he, his daughter and family have celebrated the Day of the Dead at the city’s largest cathedral, but it won’t be their last.

“This is a day to respect our elders,” he said, snaking an arm around his daughter’s shoulder. “We believe in that.”

Father Rudy Garcia, rector of the cathedral, said the observance is part of a larger movement by the congregation to integrate into the community.

“We’re part of the Arts District,” Garcia said, his eyes sweeping the church’s plaza with artists’ booths and food vendors. “And this is one way we can connect into everything that’s going on around us.”

Blanca Saenz snapped photos of her children Sunday afternoon as they posed behind cardboard masks shaped like human skulls, decorated with colorful flowers and glitter.

After straying from the church the last couple of years, Saenz said Sunday’s celebration reminded her what she’d been missing.

“I’m so glad we came back,” she said, “because our faith is rich and full and beautiful.”

Memories of loved ones live at Dallas Day of the Dead celebration

[readon1 url="http://www.dallasnews.com/news/metro/20141102-memories-of-loved-ones-live-at-dallas-day-of-the-dead-celebration.ece"]Source:www.dallasnews.com[/readon1]