This past weekend, Mary and I went to Puebla and spent the weekend hanging out with Amy, another journeyman here in Mexico. My supervisor's family also spent the weekend in Puebla. Here are his daughters (Mary Kathyrn, Audrey, and Stephanie) with Amy, me, and Mary at breakfast Sunday morning. I think the Bojangles we ate at is the only one in Mexico and probably the only place you can get biscuits and gravy. You better believe I took full advantage of the opportunity when I discovered this!

On our drive back to Queretaro, we went through Mexico City. We saw probably hundreds of people on foot and on bicycles making the pilgrimage to the basilica in Mexico City. Tomorrow, December 12, is Virgin of Guadalupe Day. About 10 million people will make the pilgrimage to the Basilica, many crawling on their knees or carrying pictures or statues of the Virgin, to ask Mary for miracles or to thank her for what they believe she has done. Below is the story of the apparition of the Virgin of Guadalupe:

The Fiesta of Our Lady of Guadalupe honors Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe (Lady of Guadalupe), the patron saint of Mexico. The festival honors the appearance of the Virgin Mary on Tepeyac Hill, which is just north of Mexico City. This is an official national holiday, and most schools, businesses and government offices are closed. This holiday is observed with processions, pilgrimages, masses, fiestas and Indian dances. The legend claims that the Virgin Mary revealed her identity to an Indian convert named Juan Diego on December 9, 1531. The Indian bishop did not believe his story and the Virgin filled Diego's homespun blanket with roses to prove his vision. Legend has it that when Diego called upon priests to view the roses they vanished, leaving only a picture of the Virgin as he had seen her. This image now adorns the Basilica of Guadalupe where thousands visit on this day.