MenuBack

IS IT DANGEROUS TO TRAVEL TO MAZATLAN, MEXICO? WATCH MY DAY OF THE DEAD VIDEO SERIES: SKULL ART, HAUNTED HOTELS.


huffington post travel videos, mazatlan attack, riu hotel attack, sheila nabb, danger mexico mazatlan, safety, mexican ice cream, mexico sherbet, calaveras de azúcar, MEXICAN SKULLS & SKELETON ART: CATRIONA STATUES, CALAVERAS. MAZATLAN ART WALK, NIDART LEATHER MASKS. DAY OF THE DEAD makeup, face paint, Día de Muertos art, goth mexico, DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, MEXICAN graveyard altars. BREAD OF THE DEAD, MAZATLAN MEXICO, SKELETON lady, catriona, la catrina, Mexico ritual honor dead, graveyards, altars, ofrendas, sugar skulls, cempasúchil, sugar skull art, La Calavera de la Catrina, skeleton woman art statues

At long last… my Gothic Mexico video series is out, on Huffington Post! I’m so proud of these travel videos (kudos to my talented filmmakers, Melissa Rundle and Eric Bergemann).

Watch as I explore Day of the Dead, skull art, and a haunted hotel in Mazatlan. And will you do me a favor, to make me smile? Simply click the Like button below, thank you.

mexican ice cream, mexico sherbet, calaveras de azúcar, MEXICAN SKULLS & SKELETON ART: CATRIONA STATUES, CALAVERAS. MAZATLAN ART WALK, NIDART LEATHER MASKS. DAY OF THE DEAD makeup, face paint, Día de Muertos art, goth mexico, DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, MEXICAN graveyard altars. BREAD OF THE DEAD, MAZATLAN MEXICO, SKELETON lady, catriona, la catrina, Mexico ritual honor dead, graveyards, altars, ofrendas, sugar skulls, cempasúchil, sugar skull art, La Calavera de la Catrina, skeleton woman art statues

Every year, Mexicans celebrate Day of the Dead to honor those who have passed and what sounds like a morbid holiday is quite the opposite. All of the imagery, from the skeleton facepaint to orange marigolds, conveys that “the dead can dance.”

I had the pleasure of celebrating Halloween and Dia de Los Muertos in the coastal town of Mazatlan. In this 3-part video series, I dive into Mexico’s dark arts and culture.

mexican ice cream, mexico sherbet, calaveras de azúcar, MEXICAN SKULLS & SKELETON ART: CATRIONA STATUES, CALAVERAS. MAZATLAN ART WALK, NIDART LEATHER MASKS. DAY OF THE DEAD makeup, face paint, Día de Muertos art, goth mexico, DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, MEXICAN graveyard altars. BREAD OF THE DEAD, MAZATLAN MEXICO, SKELETON lady, catriona, la catrina, Mexico ritual honor dead, graveyards, altars, ofrendas, sugar skulls, cempasúchil, sugar skull art, La Calavera de la Catrina, skeleton woman art statues

Mazatlan is split into two districts. The luxury resorts are in the Golden Zone, while the Centro Historico holds art galleries and theaters from the 1800s.

I joined an art walk in the Historic District and was mesmerized by the temporary altars. These stands were decorated with real or paper marigolds, photos, favorite foods and belongings. Each had at least one sugar skull, with the name of the dead written on its forehead.

mexican ice cream, mexico sherbet, calaveras de azúcar, MEXICAN SKULLS & SKELETON ART: CATRIONA STATUES, CALAVERAS. MAZATLAN ART WALK, NIDART LEATHER MASKS. DAY OF THE DEAD makeup, face paint, Día de Muertos art, goth mexico, DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, MEXICAN graveyard altars. BREAD OF THE DEAD, MAZATLAN MEXICO, SKELETON lady, catriona, la catrina, Mexico ritual honor dead, graveyards, altars, ofrendas, sugar skulls, cempasúchil, sugar skull art, La Calavera de la Catrina, skeleton woman art statues

Many of the stalls in Pino Suarez Market sold skull art. The iconic skeleton lady traces back to the Aztecs, who worshipped a god named “The Lady of the Dead”. In modern times, she is known as La Catrina.

Despite the dark themes, the visuals felt uplifting. The colors and active poses reflect the Mexican folk view that life and death are balancing forces.

There’s even a food for the occasion: Bread of the Dead. Sold in Panama Bakery, it’s airy and sweet, and has a cross-bone on top. Watch me taste it in the video here.

mexican ice cream, mexico sherbet, calaveras de azúcar, MEXICAN SKULLS & SKELETON ART: CATRIONA STATUES, CALAVERAS. MAZATLAN ART WALK, NIDART LEATHER MASKS. DAY OF THE DEAD makeup, face paint, Día de Muertos art, goth mexico, DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, MEXICAN graveyard altars. BREAD OF THE DEAD, MAZATLAN MEXICO, SKELETON lady, catriona, la catrina, Mexico ritual honor dead, graveyards, altars, ofrendas, sugar skulls, cempasúchil, sugar skull art, La Calavera de la Catrina, skeleton woman art statues

In the second episode, I tip-toe around the supposedly haunted Hotel Belmar. During the Prohibition, Hollywood stars like Cary Grant came here to let loose. Sometimes, the revelry got out of hand: the Sinaloa Governor was murdered during a hotel ball. Guests have reported inexplicable noises, and visions of a woman in white. Do the ghosts of the past still walk these halls?

Check out the video to find out!

mexican ice cream, mexico sherbet, calaveras de azúcar, MEXICAN SKULLS & SKELETON ART: CATRIONA STATUES, CALAVERAS. MAZATLAN ART WALK, NIDART LEATHER MASKS. DAY OF THE DEAD makeup, face paint, Día de Muertos art, goth mexico, DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, MEXICAN graveyard altars. BREAD OF THE DEAD, MAZATLAN MEXICO, SKELETON lady, catriona, la catrina, Mexico ritual honor dead, graveyards, altars, ofrendas, sugar skulls, cempasúchil, sugar skull art, La Calavera de la Catrina, skeleton woman art statues

Night falls, and the Day of the Dead parade begins. Locals gather in Old Mazatlan for the annual procession. They’re put on elegant costumes and painted their faces like skulls. With folk music and firecrackers, the dead have come back to life.

In the final video, I enter the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, known as the most beautiful church in northwest Mexico. Finished in 1899, there are Gothic and Baroque influences throughout. Light shines through stained glass, forming an outerworldy glow. Locals come here to light a candle, and pray among the gold statues and carvings.

I also give a tour of my hotel, the Riu Emerald Bay. The all-inclusive luxury resort opened only two years ago. Each room has a balcony that overlooks the beach.

mexican ice cream, mexico sherbet, calaveras de azúcar, MEXICAN SKULLS & SKELETON ART: CATRIONA STATUES, CALAVERAS. MAZATLAN ART WALK, NIDART LEATHER MASKS. DAY OF THE DEAD makeup, face paint, Día de Muertos art, goth mexico, DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, MEXICAN graveyard altars. BREAD OF THE DEAD, MAZATLAN MEXICO, SKELETON lady, catriona, la catrina, Mexico ritual honor dead, graveyards, altars, ofrendas, sugar skulls, cempasúchil, sugar skull art, La Calavera de la Catrina, skeleton woman art statues

I’d be amiss if I didn’t mention the recent tragedy: last January, Canadian tourist Sheila Nabb was severely beaten in the elevator of the Riu.

The attack renews warnings to be cautious when traveling in Sinaloa. However, my film crew and I never felt unsafe at the resort, which has staff members checking the wristbands of everyone who enters. We kept to the tourist areas and went out in groups, and felt perfectly safe the entire trip.

Many are now avoiding the region, and it’s unfortunate. My videos give a glimpse of the exhilaration I felt here — dancing with spooky stilt-walkers, speeding along the coastline in an open air taxi. With safety in mind, I hope travelers will return to Mazatlan and experience it for themselves.

mexican ice cream, mexico sherbet, calaveras de azúcar, MEXICAN SKULLS & SKELETON ART: CATRIONA STATUES, CALAVERAS. MAZATLAN ART WALK, NIDART LEATHER MASKS. DAY OF THE DEAD makeup, face paint, Día de Muertos art, goth mexico, DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, MEXICAN graveyard altars. BREAD OF THE DEAD, MAZATLAN MEXICO, SKELETON lady, catriona, la catrina, Mexico ritual honor dead, graveyards, altars, ofrendas, sugar skulls, cempasúchil, sugar skull art, La Calavera de la Catrina, skeleton woman art statues

I hope you enjoy our work — we loved making these videos for you!

Please take a second to view/share them; just click here for the series. Mucho gracias, and more videos to come.

13 Comments

  1. Kaoruko
    Posted March 5, 2012 at 11:38 pm | Permalink

    I’m mexican :D i’m happy for you arrive ^^

  2. KmMutt
    Posted March 5, 2012 at 11:39 pm | Permalink

    La Carmina looking as wonderful as always! ~♥

  3. Kimberly
    Posted March 5, 2012 at 11:39 pm | Permalink

    Very nice. Looks like you had fun. I have been to Mazatlan years ago but missed out on that event!

  4. Ken
    Posted March 6, 2012 at 12:35 am | Permalink

    Love it!

  5. Carrie
    Posted March 6, 2012 at 1:44 am | Permalink

    The colors of the skulls are fabulous.  I want to visit Mexico.

  6. Sugj20
    Posted March 6, 2012 at 1:46 am | Permalink

    You should really go to Guanajuato, if you think Mazatlan is spooky… You have to visit Guanajuato…      

  7. JrockFreak
    Posted March 6, 2012 at 1:46 am | Permalink

    Carmina you look beautiful as always <3 I was just wondering,how was your hair dyed to get the colour you have it in this video? as it looks amazing :)      

  8. princess wedding dresses
    Posted March 6, 2012 at 2:46 am | Permalink

    You should really go to Guanajuato, if you think Mazatlan is spooky… You have to visit Guanajuato…     

  9. Sunai
    Posted March 6, 2012 at 8:02 am | Permalink

    AWESOME!!!live in mexico but, never i can visit this place, so make me happy that much people apreciate my country THX!

  10. Karen
    Posted March 6, 2012 at 9:18 am | Permalink

    so lovely

  11. Angela
    Posted March 6, 2012 at 5:46 pm | Permalink

    on your next trip to Mexico, you should visit Edward James’ castle on Xilitla ^^

  12. Bob
    Posted March 6, 2012 at 5:49 pm | Permalink

    Thanks for sharing this. I watched all three segments.

    You are a very talented person, as are your two associates.

    Please say howdy to Eric and Melissa for me.

Post a Reply to Kimberly

Your email is never published nor shared. Required fields are marked with *

*
*