Coacalco, Mexico

Three weeks ago, while looking for the breeding compound of a legendary fighting cock breeder I heard lived in this area, I spotted this church steeple above, from the bridge and the community surrounding it. Devotion has always been a difficult thing for me to wrap my brain around, and the devotion of the Mexican people's, particularly the older generation, is almost impossible for me to fathom. Most were born into shit and lived their whole lives in shit. They work long, long hard hours all their life for shit. They eat shit and have very little money to buy shit. At the end of a day of shit their first order of of business is to go back to their shitty house and thank the virgin saint for all of that shit at the "temple" in the kitchen or bedroom. Sunday is devoted to going to church to make sure the virgin saint understands how grateful they are for the shit that they have, and if she has anymore shit to hand out, that they would be most grateful if she would give that additional shit to them!!!!! They are happy and devoted because somehow they have been convinced that they are deserving of as much shit as the virgin saint care's to dish out!!!! Go figure.........

This is a relatively modern church built in 1974, with construction still on going. A majority of the buildings and homes in Mexico have rebar sticking out of the top of roof's/wall's as they build one room or section at a time as finances permit. When they run out of money, they stop. When they again have money, construction continues. This church, like most of them is surrounded by a high wall with ornate gates, a small playground for children and a small floral garden.