My second Christmas away from home.

Distance-wise, I was about half a globe away. Heart-wise, I’d say it felt like I never left.

Before me was the familiar scene of families, each member in their Sunday best, piling into the pews. Inside Oaxaca’s Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption (Catedral Metropolitana de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción) was a heady mix of smells: Burning candle wick, perfume overkill, and a hint of tacos. I didn’t intend to hear mass. I simply wanted to have a peek and see how similar or dissimilar it is to the one celebrated in the Philippines.

However, even with all the scurry, there was no sign saying a Misa De Gallo was about to begin.

So I turned around, and our troop of three headed for the cathedral’s main door. We stepped out into an oddly empty quad space, fenced by bystanders on three sides. Everyone’s head turned to our direction. It was like, ‘The Doctor’ and his companion just entered a room full of Cybermen.

That kind of freak out moment.

We learned soon after that a Christmas multimedia show was about to start. And it was to be projected on the cathedral’s facade. Thank heavens for our impeccable timing!

The video doesn’t do justice to how amazing the entire presentation was. But it could still make you go ‘Hallelujah!’.

Round-The-World Trip 2011-2012, Ola Mexico:

Photo Essay: A Mexican Eve With Radish Sculptures And Familiar Faces
Puebla City, Puebla, Mexico: All Things Beautiful
Teotihuacan, Mexico: Where Gods Were Born… And Where We Lost Our Pram
Morisco Kiosk And Museo Del Instituto De Geologia De La UNAM
Photo Essay: National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City
Metropolitan Cathedral Of The Assumption of Mary, Ciudad De Mexico
Jade Guesthouse, Mexico City
Prospero Ano Nuevo
Feliz Navidad
Ola Mexico