2015's Halloween and Dia Del los Muertos

This weekend was so much fun.  We went to SDSU's Aztec nights Haunted House event on Saturday Night and the San Diego Dias Del Los Muertos in Old town on Sunday afternoon. We spiced up the weekend further by doing a scary movie marathon. 

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I was excited to go to the haunted house at SDSU because I have not been good about being involved in campus despite being a graduate student for a full year and a half. Alex says that is the universal graduate student experience. I didn't want it to be that way. One of my reasons for wanting to go back to school was getting more of that authentic college experience back in my life. I am glad we went!

This is a photo our costumes as we waited in line for the haunted house. Our costumes were just the right level of commitment for this event.

 

There were candy apples, movies, and pumpkin decorating and a scary movie screening. We decided to leave before the costume contest because it was getting a little late for us. I could tell that there must have been a better party going on off campus but I didn't feel like imposing myself onto something like that. I would totally have been the old guy at the party.

  
The haunted house was an open air type event. Some of it was pure cheese, but we actually got a really big scare at the end. 

 After this we went home and watched the Conjuring. That movie is so scary y'all. This year we also watched the Babadook, Darkness Falls, Troller Hunter, and Tucker and Dale vs Evil. Alex's favorate was Tucker and Dale vs Evil. I would have to say my favorite was the Conjuring even though it scared me so much I had to close my eyes sometimes. I didn't enjoy physically watching it, but I appreciate the quality.

As a side note, we left a big bucket of candy outside our apartment in case any Trick or treaters came, and the bucket was completely untouched when we got home. I am glad we didn't wait at home all evening to see adorable costumes. We would have been vastly disappointed. 

The next morning we went to Old Town's Dia De Los Muertos. It was such a crowded event! There were lots of options to get your face painted and to wear flower crowns but I opted not to. It was sort of a hot day and my tropical skin would probably never let the makeup dry. I wanted to do it myself this year but the lady at the Mac counter told me that my only oppurtunity to buy Chromacake would have been to visit a pro store or to preorder it. That will be on my list for next year, definately.

There was a chalk memorial with marigolds for people to remember those that have died. It was probably 600ft long.

 

 

The art from the event was also really cool.  

 Some people were dressed really nicely.

 The graveyard in Old town was also festively decorated. I really love the way that Dias De Los Muertos celebrates death. I am noticing that in modern society death is so hush hush as if merely mentioning death reminds people of their fragile humanity. That just isn't the way I was raised. That point of view is just so.. restrictive. The beautiful graveyard decorated with marigolds with live Calypso music was refreshing because it reminded me of how death is just apart of life.

There was even a Selena Memorial. Never Forget

There is a handy lookup chart for the uninitiated. 

 More live music!

 

 When we saw signs for pan de muerto we started wanting it really bad. The crowds were making it hard to locate but it seemed like a perfect way to experience this holiday in addition to mere observation.

 We found it in a tiny bakery in the middle of the Del Reyes Market. It was a really dense sweet scone. We couldn't finish it between the two of us.
 

There were neat maniquinns around the Market Del Reyes.

 

There was a social media  campaign and we tried to get a photo to tag but the sun was right in our eyes. We did not get a good photo, needless to say.

 

But alex was able to take a good one with his grapefruit soda.

 

We had a lot of fun at Dia De Los Muertos this year. The event lasted until November 2nd but unfortunately I have work then. I hope we can go again next year!