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Archive for August, 2023

Rainy season skies

Posted in Casita Colibrí, Environment, Travel & Tourism, Weather, tagged , , , , , , , on August 29, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Ahhh… the sights and sounds of the rainy season in Oaxaca.

May 12, 2023 – Looking northwest from the rooftop of Casita Colibrí.
August 25, 2023 – Looking east from the rooftop of Casita Colibrí.
August 28, 2023 – From Montoya looking north toward Villa de Etla.

Late afternoon into the night thunder may rumble, lightening may flash, and rain may fall from late spring until early fall.

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Back in Oaxaca

Posted in Celebrations, Creativity, Culture, Neighborhoods, Travel & Tourism, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on August 24, 2023| Leave a Comment »

I got out of Dodge (aka, San Diego) last Friday morning, August 18, 2023 — just in time. Happiness was missing the historic arrival in California of Tropical Storm Hilary. Whew!!!

August 19, 2023 – walking down 5 de mayo in Barrio de Jalatlaco on my way to buy produce at Xiguela.
August 19, 2023 – Evening wedding calenda in Barrio de Jalatlaco.
August 20, 2023 – mural seen on the way to Mercado de la Merced.
August 23. 2023 – View from the swimming pool of Hotel Victoria.

It’s good to be back.

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Handwriting is on the wall

Posted in Creativity, Culture, Travel & Tourism, tagged , , , , , , , , , on August 17, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Tomorrow, I return to the land where the handwriting is on the wall.

Expressing pride in the traditional floral embroidery (toninera) of San Antonino Castillo Velasco and their recycling efforts.
In San Pablo Villa de Mitla, “together we achieve a better town.”
In Oaxaca de Juárez, the handwriting doesn’t need translation.

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Hummingbirds on the walls

Posted in Creativity, Culture, Travel & Tourism, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 8, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Life has been pretty good up here in el norte. The joy of having my whole family together has been immeasurable and the weather has been unusually, for this time of year in the San Francisco Bay Area, spectacular. (For those unaware of Northern California coastal weather, I give you the line attributed, albeit falsely, to Mark Twain, “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.”) Given the sun, blue sky, and warm temperatures, I’ve spent a lot of time outdoors — gardening, eating, and sitting watching the hummingbirds — just like Oaxaca! But I miss the colibries that also can be found on the walls of my neighborhood.

Artists: Seth Ruiz and Berza Remes
Artist: Oceane Isla Arte
Artist: Dulce Tamayo
Artist: Oceane Isla Arte
Artist: unknown

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Missing the food of Oaxaca

Posted in Culture, Food, Travel & Tourism, tagged , , , , , , , on August 1, 2023| 6 Comments »

Three-plus weeks in el norte has me eating well but missing the flavors of Oaxaca. Thus, my blogging fingers and thoughts have turned back to the Cena de Honor Beny Galguau, a dinner honoring traditional ceremonial dishes, that I attended on May 25, 2023 at the Centro Gastronómico de Oaxaca.

First the Entradas (Appetizers)…

Tostadita Ejuteca.
Bocado crujiente de maíz nuevo con queso de puerco.
Empanadita de San Antonino Castillo Velasco con chilito de agua.
Ensalada fresca de lechuga, verdolagas, berro y aderezo de mermelada de chile.
Espesado de guías cono elotitos tiernos de milpa.

Followed by the Platos Fuertes (Main Dishes)…

Costilla de cerdo en su batea de salsa de chapulín.
Festín de moles (coloradito y negro).

Finally, as if we all weren’t already stuffed, the Postres (Desserts)…

Nieve de limón con tuna y brisa de albahaca; Nicuatole en hoja de totomoxtle; Gaznate de Etla con turrón y miel.

And, there were traditional bebidas (beverages), both alcoholic and non: Mezcall Diamante Zapoteco, Mezcal El Joven Viejo, Cerveza de Piña, Agua de Limón Rayado en su Punto, Café de Olla con Perfume de Canela, Té de Poleo (which was a perfect palate cleanser), Tejate de Cacao, and Chocolate Atole con su Espuma de Cacao.

Cocineras tradicionales.

Needless to say, the traditional cooks were the shining lights of the evening.

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