View From Casita Colibrí

Good Friday morning, the streets of Oaxaca are quiet, and solitude seems to be the order of the day.  The only sounds that could be heard coming from the streets in my ‘hood were prayers being sung as Our Lady of Solitude left her eponymous home at the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad.

As you can see, alone, Oaxaca’s patron saint was not; acolytes carried and accompanied her on her morning stroll.

A crystal clear, brilliant blue sky provided a backdrop for her sojourn.

Slowly she made her way down Independencia en-route to the Cathedral.

She was one of the first to arrive at this ritual Viernes Santo gathering.

The guys took over and maneuvered her into position at the side of the Cathedral, as the faithful awaited.

There, she would soon be joined by other images of the Santísima Virgen and Jesús from many of the numerous churches in the Historic District.

After at least two hours of prayers and songs and more prayers, Soledad returned to the Basilica, perhaps to rest (like me) before again taking to the streets for this evening’s Procession of Silence.