It can sometimes feel like every day is a holiday or a demonstration in Mexico.

El Señor de la Conquista. Some 450 years ago a statue of Jesus was made in the region. Two Franciscan friars were killed while carrying it here. The statue was eventually recovered and altered a bit to look more like the indigenous people. Today, on the first Friday in March, hundreds of Indigenous Otomi dancers gather to honor the statue. They filled the plaza in front of the church, dancing, chanting, and banging drums so loud that I saw many people literally run away from the noise.

This is the store owner’s dog. She sits here during the day looking like a brute, but is just totally chill.

March 8th is International Women’s Day and there are marches all over the world calling for gender equality and an end to violence against women. The march through San Miguel was big, loud, and demanded attention.

Well, it didn’t demand everyone’s attention.

I watched this mom lay her son down here, and he didn’t flinch during any of the activity on the streets all around him.