el panteon de la playa

“Traveling through southern Mexico last December, I happened to stop over in Puerto Angel, a charming coastal town in the state of Oaxaca facing the Pacific. Just a few kilometers northwest along the shoreline lies a peaceful inlet called La Playa Del Panteón which, translated literally, means The Beach of the Pantheon, but might less encouragingly be called Burial Bay. Perhaps compelled by its somewhat sinister title, I could not resist exploring the gravesite – the namesake of this quiet bay. In fact, with its vibrant color scheme and an air of absolute tranquility that could even be felt from beyond its gates, I felt quite possibly entranced. One impression remains clear to me even today: even a cursory stroll through this cemetery gives the visitor the notion of gaining an intimate sense of the history of the locals and their calm, hallowed harbour. All considered, certainly a worthy location to spend one’s days resting in peace, on this earth or below it, with the tranquil rising and falling of the Pacific tide.” Images and copyright by Laetitia Taurand. 2008

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