There be Giants afoot!

While strolling the Malecon earlier this week, I came face to toes with a group of giants.  Which for this time of year in Mazatlan, is a normal occurrence. These towering creatures are "monigotes" (loosely translated paper dolls) made from paper mache,  they are here to celebrate Carnaval with the rest of us little people.  Eleven are now positioned around the city to welcome the more than 400,000 expected visitors and to supervise the entire week long party. 

The theme for this year's Carnaval is Los Suenos De Momo or the Dream of Momo.  I am told that Momo was a mythical greek god. These monigotes are all characters from his dreams and imagination. The earthly designer, artist and creator of these super-sized darlings is Mazatlecan Jorge Gonzáles Neri.  They are very different from last years monigotes, which were all musically themed.  I think these are just magnificent.  They are so colorful and creative, you can't help but to be memorized by them.

This one is called the "Luz en el Océano" or the Light of the Ocean".  He was the first to go up.  He did have a tragic start though. When the were erecting him, his arm fell off!  Good thing he is a mythical creature, because he quickly grew another one.

This lovely lady, "Luz de Luna" is providing some moon beams for me even in the middle of the day.  But she really is at her best in the evening, when like all of her other friends, she is all lit up against the city skyline.

All of Mazatlan is busy sprucing up for the big week of Carnaval. Colorful lights are being hung over the streets, new palm trees are being planted, bandstands and banos are well under construction.  This year the festivities begin on February 12th and conclude on  Fat Tuesday, February 17th. 

Mazatlan hosts the third largest Carnaval in the world, right after Rio De Janeiro and New Orleans.  Mazatlan's first official Carnaval was held in 1898, and for 117 years has been the biggest party in all of central Mexico.  So it is only fitting that an enormous event like this, would be the home of legends and giants!