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Taxco, on the road to Iguala where students disappeared, has long been known for scenic streets and beautiful silver. But some of its history is dark indeed.
TAXCO, Mexico — It was Holy Week in Mexico, and the village of Taxco in the state of Guerrero was atoning for its sins with the grisly processions that have been a fixture here since at least 1598 (with the occasional decades-long hiatus, depending on who was running things).
Hundreds of chained men and women in black hoods and horsehair-belted robes walked to a single violin scratching an ancient melody, their ankles rattling a coordinated left-right-left. Some of the sons of Taxco serve as hooded encruzados, bramble bundles weighing 100 pounds roped to bare shoulders, walking their own private Calvary. Others elect to be flagelantes, sinking to their knees on the cobbled streets every few minutes for some self-inflicted blood-sport with a nail-encrusted whip.
It is said the absolute worst part is going barefoot on stones hot as coals during the day—the body numbing the more obvious flesh wounds with endorphins.