Welcome to

my Zócalo

Outside the National Palace in Mexico City is an expansive plaza, known as "Zócalo." The new president will take office the day after tomorrow. A festive atmosphere can be felt around the Zócalo, people are running around with tensions and expectations. On the left is a grand old Catholic Church. Crowd is gathering in front of it. Colorful tents are being built. I thought they were street vendors until I got closer and saw a sign in English. It reads: "Tourists, We protest against the secret arrests of our loved ones and are holding a hunger strike here. Please support us." Turning to the right there is also a crowd of gathered people. It is a recently excavated site of the old town of Moctezuma II, currently under construction of becoming an open-air museum. I was surprised to see so many events taken place next to us simultaneously. We grow used to it but one day we will refer to it as "history”.

From “Notes on Mexican Murals”, 1983