The Virgin in the hotel mirror

curious have been going to the Hotel Playa to see this phenomenon ever since. Day and night, at least 20 people at any given time are gathered around it. Even more come after working hours and on weekends. But according to Donn they aren’t elbowing one another or jostling those already there — they are courteous and helpful in making way for newcomers so they can get in close and take a look too. Some bring flowers, especially roses, the symbolic flower of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Some bring candles to light. All are hushed as they near the image, which can be seen from every angle. Some merely look, some pray. Several priests have been by, but they tend to want to downplay the significance of it. Formal verification of any such manifestation — if in fact it IS considered a miracle by the Catholic Church — often takes centuries in any event. Donn Vient, who is not a Catholic like most of the staff at the hotel, is just as perplexed as anyone as to how this happened or why. He says he’s heard, though, that when Guadalupe appears, it’s a sign of good things. “It has helped the hotel in a lot of ways,” he says. “With society in such a pessimistic mood right now, this does seem to convey a positive signal. The attitude of our staff has changed a lot. Seeing the way people look at it, how respectful they are to one another . . . it is just sending out good vibrations, that’s all.”