I wish I had gotten more pictures of the cute little kids in Janitzio, but this is all I've got. I was there Oct 31, 1999 until November 1, 1999 (so, I got to see the Halloween and Day of the Dead rituals which I posted earlier). Anyway, If you are in the state of Michoacan in Mexico, you have to get on a boat to travel to the small island of Janitzio. It is the cutest place you have ever seen, but around the time of Halloween, it gets VERY busy and touristy. The people there make money that day as a tourist attraction, so everyone goes all out to sell things. The island is a mountain, so as you walk the streets, you are walking up and down the mountain. It is a lot of exercise and the mountain air is very refreshing. Along the trek, people are selling Day of the Dead items like food, souvenirs, etc. Plus, everyone who lives there (practically) makes hot cider to sell. So, you buy the cider and walk. By the time you run out, there is already someone els to sell you another glass. The best part was the kids walking around with jack-o-lanterns. The jack-o-lanterns have lit candles in them, and they trick or treat with them... Not only is the jack-o-lantern their "flashlight" to see their way through the darkness, it is also their "bag" for holding their goodies. Here is the biggest surprise that you might not guess... They don't trick or treat for candy. They want pesos. You drop the pesos into their jack-o-lanterns, and you can easily be out several thousand pesos by the time you leave the island. Kids are everywhere!!! Now you know why the kids are smiling so hard in the pictures. Trick or Treat!
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