Oaxaca is still a lively place to go to take in the sights and sounds of Los Días de los Muertos. Everyone in the city of Oaxaca gets into the spirit. Most of the stores and restaurants construct altars that reflect the joy of welcoming back the spirits of the dead.

All the markets (Benito Juarez, 20 de Noviembre and the Abastos are full of pan de muerto, chocolate, sugar skulls and toys to decorate the altars. In fact all the markets in Oaxaca are extremely festive this time of year as they are full of marigolds and celosia for decorating the graves and the altars.

Before and after I went out to Teotitlan del Valle I spent time in the city of Oaxaca. On my first day there were school children dressed up as calaveras (skeletons) that paraded throughout the streets with live music all day long. Later on in the afternoon a calenda with the China Oaxaqueñas came up M. Alcala followed by a Danza de La Pluma group. There was never a dull moment. On November 5th Lila Downs performed at the Guelaguetza Auditorium. I even got in a mini-performance of the Danza de la Pluma when I was out in Teotitlan del Valle.

Some of the recent photos on this gallery were taken in December 2014. Many of them relate to the political unrest associated with the disappearance of the 43 students from Ayotzinga, Guerrero. One of the students, Christian Tomás Colón Garnica, was from Tlacolula, Oaxaca. During the time I was, Francisco Toledo, Mexico's greatest living artist put the faces of the missing 43 students on kites. The kites were flown by the maestro and students. People are demanding justice for the disappearence of the students. Who knows if it will ever come?