Walking around, I often like to make up stories about the people, places, and things I see.
These three images from last Sunday’s walk along Panorámica del Fortín, seem to beg for a tall tale or two.
Archive for the ‘Animals’ Category
Telling stories
Posted in Animals, Creativity, Flora, Gardens, Neighborhoods, Travel & Tourism, tagged cactus, cactus fruit, colorful walls, dogs, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, plants, popular travel destinations, roof dogs, sunflowers on October 7, 2020| 6 Comments »
Dogs staying at home
Posted in Animals, Health, Travel & Tourism, tagged #DogsAtHome, #QuédateEnCasa, coronavirus fallout, COVID-19 fallout, dogs, MEX-COVID19 Daily Briefing, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos on May 17, 2020| 6 Comments »
The “quédate en casa” signs and announcements are ubiquitous in Oaxaca — and apparently dogs are heeding those orders to “stay at home.” Like their humans, some are using the time for rest and relaxation.
Others are working from home.
And still others are chafing at the bit and can’t wait for the restrictions to be lifted so they can go out and play!
Though Mexico hasn’t yet flattened the Covid-19 curve, the government announced yesterday that beginning May 18, “Municipalities of hope” — those towns without any coronavirus cases and that don’t border any towns with confirmed cases, will be permitted to reopen their economy, public spaces, and schools.
For an English language simulcast of Mexico’s Covid-19 Daily Briefing, where detailed information is relayed and announcements like the one above are made, click HERE. If you miss the live 7:00 PM (CDT) broadcasts, the briefings are archived and available from the same site. By the way, note the respectful demeanor exhibited by government officials — quite a contrast to “you know who.”
Casita Colibrí’s important namesake
Posted in Animals, Culture, Environment, Science & Nature, Travel & Tourism, tagged birds, books, colibrí, Colibríes de México y Norte América/Hummingbirds of México and North America, CONABIO, hummingbird poster, hummingbirds, Mexico on January 28, 2020| 2 Comments »
In Mexico, the hummingbird (colibrí) is known as the protector of warriors and messenger of the gods — two of the most revered roles in indigenous cosmology. How lucky I am that several of the varieties seen on the poster below continue to capture my attention and fill my heart with joy as they flit from tree to fence to fountain for a bath and zigzag across my terrace playing their version of tag and king of the hill.
Hummingbirds of Mexico and North America poster
Muchisimas gracias to my friend K for the link to this poster from CONABIO (National Commission for Biodiversity). In addition, if these tiny creatures also captivate you, a PDF of the CONABIO book, Colibríes de México y Norte América / Hummingbirds of México and North America is available online with text in both Spanish and English (click title link).
Along for the ride
Posted in Animals, Creativity, Culture, tagged bicicleta, bicycles, dogs, photos, popular travel destinations, stencil art, street art, Teotitlán del Valle, Tupac Emiliano, wall art on October 3, 2019| 3 Comments »
Art imitating life?
Wall in Oaxaca on Plazuela del Carmen Alto. (Art by Tupac Emiliano)
Or, life imitating art?
On Avenida Benito Juárez, Teotitlán del Valle
You decide!
Crossroads
Posted in Animals, Culture, Protests, Religion, Travel & Tourism, tagged altars, Oaxaca Textile Museum, photos, popular travel destinations, street scenes, Teotitlán del Valle on August 19, 2019| 4 Comments »
Festival weekend in Teotitlán del Valle
Posted in Animals, Celebrations, Creativity, Culture, Food, Travel & Tourism, tagged baskets, canastas, convite, Danza de la Pluma, danzantes, Fiesta de la Preciosa Sangre de Cristo, fireworks, Grupo de Promesa de la Danza de la Pluma 2019-2021, livestock, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, popular travel destinations, Saint Peter, Taekwondo, Teotitlán del Valle, Tierra Antigua, Tlacolula de Matamoros on July 15, 2019| 2 Comments »
I returned to Teotitlán del Valle late Friday afternoon to view the convite of of unmarried women of the village and Grupo de la Danza de la Pluma 2019-2021 danzantes (dancers) process through town — an invitation to further festivities honoring La Preciosa Sangre de Nuestro Señor Jesucristo. Though that wasn’t the only activity on my agenda; I would be spending the weekend with my amiga K, who was house-sitting for another amiga N. It would be a weekend in the countryside for this city gal!
I arrived late afternoon on Friday…
Canastas (baskets) lined up in front awaiting the procession under the gaze of the sacred mountain, El Picacho.
Grupo de Promesa de la Danza de Pluma 2019-21 arriving in front of the church, waiting to process.
Guys who launch the cohetes (all bang, no bling rockets) announcing the procession.
The convite begins — unmarried women of Teotitlán del Valle carrying the aforementioned canastas (baskets).
After the convite, an early evening encounter with a burro as mi amiga K and I walked to Restaurante y Galería Tierra Antigua .
Saturday…
Early morning view of the campo in Teotitlán del Valle.
Breakfast gathering of cocineras (cooks) and friends in the cocina de humo at Restaurante y Galería Tierra Antigua.
Encounter with a bull while walking back to the house.
Returning to the church to watch the late afternoon performance of the Danza de la Pluma.
Following the Danza de la Pluma, late night watching the toritos, castillo, and fireworks in front of the church.
Sunday…
During mass, shopping baskets parked in the church atrium.
Off to market day in Tlacolula de Matamoros. The upside down St. Peter encountered in the Señor de Tlacolula chapel.
Taekwondo competition in front of the municipal buildings in Tlacolula de Matamoros.
Returning to Teotitlán del Valle, still life in front of the sacred mountain, El Picacho, seen while walking back to the church in the afternoon.
Final Danza de la Pluma performance in the church atrium at the 2019 Fiesta de la Preciosa Sangre de Cristo.
It was a lively, delicious, and exhausting weekend. Did I mention, I walked an average of 4.5 miles per day? Wouldn’t have missed it for the world! Muchisimas gracias to all who made it an unforgettable weekend!
Cheers to hummingbirds and bats
Posted in Agriculture, Animals, Beverages, Creativity, Culture, Flora, Science & Nature, Travel & Tourism, tagged agave, bats, flowers, hummingbirds, Lapiztola, mague, Mal de Amor palenque, Mexico, murals, Oaxaca, photos, popular travel destinations, quiote, Santiago Matatlán, wall art on February 24, 2019| 5 Comments »
Let us all raise a glass to the hummingbirds and bats of Oaxaca.
Without the work they do pollinating the flowers on the quiotes (stalks) that shoot up from the agave,
there would be no maguey piñas to harvest and cook…
and no mezcal to drink!
*Mural by Lapiztola on the side of the Palenque Mal de Amor (makers of Ilegal mezcal) 2+ miles north of Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca. Check out their other mural at the palenque HERE.
Smoked turkey
Posted in Animals, Celebrations, Culture, Holidays, Travel & Tourism, tagged El Día de Acción de Gracias, guajolote, Guelaguetza, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, San Antonino Castillo Velasco, Thanksgiving, turkey on November 22, 2018| 2 Comments »
Ya got your herbs, ya got your spices, ya got your smoker — smoked turkey, Oaxaca style!
San Antonino Castillo Velasco delegation, Guelaguetza desfile, July 21, 2018
In addition to my fabulous family, friends, blog readers, and indigenous peoples who survived genocide, colonization, and other inconvenient turkey day truths, I’m also feeling grateful for guajolotes. ¡Feliz Día de Acción de Gracias!
Walking in the rain
Posted in Animals, Travel & Tourism, Weather, tagged Calle Macedonio Alcalá, dogs, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, rain, rain storms, street scenes, street vendors on June 13, 2018| 7 Comments »
Cocijo (Zapotec god of rain, thunder, and lightning) has finally awoken!
Street dogs huddle in doorways.
Street vendors batten down their hatches.
Pedestrians watch for sidewalk waterfalls.
Streets become deserted.
Walking home in Oaxaca in the rain.
X marks the spot
Posted in Animals, Casita Colibrí, Gardens, Science & Nature, Travel & Tourism, tagged Araneidae, Argiope, Casita Colibrí, garden, Mexico, nature, Oaxaca, orb weaver spiders, photographs, photos, spider webs, stabilimentum on May 31, 2018| 2 Comments »
X currently marks the spot in OaXaca — be it for HOT weather, blockades, or orb weaving spiders. Regarding the latter, another, in a long line of Argiopes, has chosen to take up residence on my terrace.
Fun fact: The purpose of the white zigzag of silk, known as a stabilimentum, is disputed. It reflects UV light and may act as camouflage, attract insect prey, or prevent larger creatures from accidentally destroying the web. Whatever the function, this gal’s (yes, it is a female) is one of the best I’ve seen!
Birds of various feathers
Posted in Animals, Casita Colibrí, Gardens, tagged birds, Bullock's Oriole, Casita Colibrí, fountains, garden, Oaxaca, photographs, photos on March 14, 2018| 7 Comments »
This morning’s ecumenical gathering of the birds at the fountain — seen through my (dirty) kitchen window.
I think the orange one is a Bullock’s Oriole — the first I’ve seen on my rooftop garden.
Year of the dog
Posted in Animals, Culture, Holidays, Travel & Tourism, tagged Chinese New Year, dogs, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, roof dogs, San Martín Tilcajete, Virgen de Guadalupe, Year of the Dog on February 16, 2018| 2 Comments »
The roof dogs of San Martín Tilcajete wish you luck in the Year of the Dog. (And, the Virgen de Guadalupe is there to help, too.)
Happy Chinese New Year!
Oaxaca city scenes
Posted in Animals, Culture, Flora, Travel & Tourism, Weather, tagged anafre, bougainvillea, brazier, bugambilia, bus stop, flowers, goats, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, razor wire on January 16, 2018| 4 Comments »
As I write, I should be winging my way from Houston to San Francisco. But, alas, I am not. An ice storm in Houston has postponed my trip until tomorrow.
Goat at the bus stop
Luckily, United sent me an email on Monday advising that “travel disruptions” were possible in Houston on Tuesday and offering me the option of rescheduling my flights — without fees. After checking several weather websites, I opted to make the change.
Bougainvillea among the razor wire
And it was a good thing I did, as this morning’s Oaxaca to Houston flight was canceled. So another day spent where sights like these are the norm, brighten my day, and warm my heart — even when a cold front has us all donning our wool socks and sweaters.
Anafre with hot coals on the sidewalk
Sigh… I don’t think I’ll be seeing scenes like this on the streets of San Francisco. But, on the upside, I will see family, friends, and the Pacific Ocean!
Flocking together
Posted in Animals, Casita Colibrí, Gardens, tagged bird bath, birds, fountains, garden, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, terrace on January 13, 2018| 2 Comments »
This morning’s entertainment on the terrace…
Birds of a feather awaiting…
Bath time at the fountain.
Yippee, my turn!!!
Fun at the fountain is for the birds.
Baby colibríes coming?
Posted in Animals, Casita Colibrí, Gardens, Science & Nature, Travel & Tourism, tagged birds, hummingbirds, Mexico, nests, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, popular travel destinations on December 10, 2017| 3 Comments »
There may be a population explosion of Casita Colibrí’s namesake…
Hummingbird nest under construction on the far spindle branch of a tree near my balcony.
Mama waiting until the coast is clear — in front of a Guaje tree reflection on my neighbor’s window.
She comes, she sits briefly to test its strength and expansion potential, then is off again in search of more materials.
Next up, she and we await the show male colibríes will put on — hoping to strike her fancy.
The librarian in me can’t help but offer a few references:
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This work by spixl is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
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