September 16th was Mexico’s Independence Day which is a really big celebration. I actually drove around town on my scooter in the afternoon taking pictures of all the preparations for the big event.

We went to La Pinata for dinner with several other families and friends. Of course we were there right when the restaurant opened, and were leaving just as the entertainment was starting up for the night at 10:30pm which is when the restaurant got busy. It does appear that nothing really starts, and most restaurants do not even open, before 7:30 or 8pm on week-end nights which is fairly tough on families with younger children.

The restaurant, La Pinata, was the choice of Evan & Noah as we drive by the restaurant on a daily basis and they had been bugging us for weeks to go. So we called up our friends and said we were going if anyone wanted to join us.

We were joined on this night by some new friends and some old friends: Gulam & Dorato and family, Tamara & Danny, Holly & Rob and family. After dinner we went to the main square to see the festivities. Parking was insane! We managed to walk around and let the kids bounce on the climbing wall for about 30 minutes before taking a taxi home at about 11:30pm. I thought I would be able to stay up and watch the fireworks, which I later heard were amazing… I was asleep not long after getting home and missed the first big fireworks on Mexican Independence day.

The town of Progreso put on a great festival and the main square was filled with all kinds of vendors selling paraphernalia and food. The music on the stage was very entertaining but like everything in Mexico, the party starts late and continues through to the next afternoon. Don’t come early and leave the kids at home if you wish to see the real party!

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