Mardi-Gras Carnival - Tepoztlan-style

For a tiny, traditional Mexican village, Tepoztlan always knows how to celebrate LARGE, be it Day of the Dead, Independence Day, or Mardi Gras Carnival all stamped with its own special signature style. Just one hour away from the seething metropolis of Mexico City, it has the most beautiful valley setting amidst high rugged, jagged crags.

And the most festive of celebrations. On February 20th and 21st this year, the tiny plaza will be invaded by the annual parade of over 300 Chinelos led by the brass bands, and dressed in the most elaborate of costumes with fur-trimmed, embroidered robes, intricate masks, and feather beaded headdresses.

The bright blue eyes and the pointed, turned-up beards satirically recall the previous invaders - the Spanish Conquistadors...

The crowd mixes in with the Chinelos dancing around the plaza to the repeated refrain from the band...

Next comes the dancing horses and the highly skilled Charreria (cowboy culture ) displays....

Followed by the rodeo...

Which always starts with the cowboys kissing the ground and praying ( just as well as one of the cowboys here had the narrowest of escapes just skidding in time, under the rails, a hair's breadth from the horns of the bull.....)

After the real rodeo the kids practise their bullfighting skills in the arena - safely with the papier mache bull...

Whilst the adults consume copious amounts of tequila and pulque ( brewed straight from the maguey plant)

And if they get drunk enough, how can they resist buying the most memorable souvenir of the whole event from the fake beard, moustache, and eyelash vendor!!

So what are you waiting for?? Forget Rio, Forget Trinidad, Forget Havana.....get yourself down to Tepoztlan for a truly memorable mardi-gras... I'll be there!!