Last Monday, L and I had a leisurely hike up the hill from my apartment to the Guelaguetza Auditorium, sat in stadium seats almost 20 rows up, looking down on the enormous circular concrete stage with the city and mountains providing a picturesque backdrop.
Yesterday, I hopped on a bus, heading for another Guelaguetza performance, this time in Villa de Etla. However, a bloqueo (blockade) by Sección 22 of the teachers’ union had the bus turning around, doubling back, and taking a circuitous route that eventually wound its way through the narrow streets of Santa Rosa. Once we got back on the main road, I transferred to a colectivo and arrived in Etla just as the dancing was about to begin — this time on a small temporary wood-plank stage, that seemed to shake with every dance step. The setting wasn’t quite as spectacular, but, there I was, within an arm’s reach of the dancers!
Danza de la Pluma
Flor de Piña
With the exception of the Danza de la Pluma, these dancers are from a folkloric group that performs each of the traditional regional dances. As you can see from their faces, they dance with as much joy and pride as the delegations from the villages at the big Guelaguetza.
Returning home was its own adventure. Last week, L and I only had to navigate sidewalks, pathways, and stairs along with the other 11,000 attendees. Yesterday, Chris (see his Guelaguetza in Etla – 2014 post) gave me a ride to a bus stop where, after about 10 minutes, I caught the bus that would deposit me a half block from Casita Colibrí. Alas, the best laid plans… Just before the intersection up to Cerro Fortín, masked maestros (teachers) surrounded the bus, our driver shrugged, opened the doors, and off we passengers got. It was hot, I was tired, but what else was there to do? I hoofed it to halfway between the Museo del Ferrocarril (Railroad Museum) and Morelos Park, when another bus materialized, I climbed aboard, giving my feet a much-needed rest, and let the driver navigate the clogged streets that took me back to home sweet home.
It was a fun and frustrating AND exhilarating and exhausting kind of day.
Mexican Peso Converter
View From Casita Colibrí 
Eee, gad, girl. You are one determined and heroic woman. Stunning photos. Wish the govenment would give more to the teachers and they would stop this harassment. It only hurts the public and it is not good for gaining mass support.
“…give more to the teachers and they would stop this harassment.”
I can’t believe you said this Norma!
Norma and Gail, much like the Middle East, the issues are at once simple and complex and rooted in historic inequality and oppression.
I disagree totally Shannon. Inequality, oppression or the Middle East have nothing to do with it. Your bus was hijacked and you were forced off by masked teachers. They were masked because they were in the process of committing a criminal act and did not want to be identified. They were ordered to do this by their corrupt money-grubbing union bosses.
Adding to Shannon’s experience of yesterday.
This afternoon the teachers are blockading the road to the airport and the road to the coast with hijacked buses and trucks.
Any tourists heading back home by air or heading down to the beach after the Guelaguetza will find themselves effectively held hostage to the incessant demands of this corrupt union.
On days like this, summer in Canada feels even better.
[…] Monday, as I previously wrote, my bus ride home was rudely interrupted by a bloqueo (blockade). Initially, this is how I […]