Posted in Casita Colibrí, Churches, Flora, Gardens, Travel & Tourism, tagged crocosmia plant, flowers, Jasmine flowers, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, Templo San Felipe Neri, terrace garden, views, wind chimes on June 27, 2020| 2 Comments »
When the outings are few and far between and limited to walking distance, I’m appreciating the views from and around Casita Colibrí even more.
June 3, 2020 – Templo de San Felipe Neri in early morning
June 3, 2020 – Jasmine in the afternoon
June 4, 2020 – Wind chimes in the late afternoon
June 5, 2020 – Crocosmia around noon
June 5, 2020 – Looking southeast over the city in early evening
Be safe and well and look for the beauty.
Posted in Buildings, Churches, Food, Health, Science & Nature, Tragedy, Travel & Tourism, tagged Chapulines, construction workers, coronavirus fallout, COVID-19 fallout, disasters, earthquake, grasshoppers, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, Templo de San José on June 24, 2020| 8 Comments »
This morning’s headline in NVI Noticias: Oaxaca revive pesadilla de los sismos en lo más álgido de la epidemia por COVID-19 (Oaxaca relives the nightmare of earthquakes in the height of the epidemic by COVID-19). I wasn’t in Oaxaca for the 8.1 earthquake September 7, 2017, so I don’t know what it felt like. However, I still have vivid memories of experiencing the magnitude 6.9 Loma Prieta earthquake in the San Francisco Bay Area. As scary as that one was, yesterday’s 7.5 temblor was definitely more violent and lasted longer.
The good news is I, my neighbors, and all my friends in Oaxaca are okay and the city sustained mostly minor damage. However, there is much devastation to roads, homes, and other structures closer to the epicenter near Huatulco. And, saddest of all, the death toll is now up to seven. For a more complete report, with dozens of photos, click on the article, Suman siete muertos por el terremoto.
Two months ago work stopped on the roof and bell tower of Templo de San José — due to virus restrictions on construction sites. This morning, workers returned to check out earthquake damage.
This, and the state of Oaxaca’s coronavirus statistics, like most of Mexico, continue to rise precipitously. And, unfortunately, many of the hospitals near the quake’s epicenter sustained damage. (Click on image to enlarge.)
Side by side statistics: June 19 and June 23. Grey=cases notified; green=negatives; orange=suspected; red=confirmed; turquoise=recovered; black=deaths
Oh, and did I mention, we have had massive rain storms the last two nights? We are all wondering what is next, locusts? 
Yikes, look what I found on my screen door this morning! At least in Oaxaca, we know what to do with chapulines (grasshoppers) — toast them on a comal with lime and salt. They are a great source of protein. Yummm…
Posted in Celebrations, Churches, Creativity, Culture, Religion, Travel & Tourism, tagged churches, Domingo de Ramos, La catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, Mexico, Oaxaca, palm fronds, Palm Sunday, papel picado, photos, popular travel destinations, San Antonino Castillo Velasco, San Salvador image, Templo de San Matías Jalatlaco, Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán on April 5, 2020| 2 Comments »
It’s Domingo de Ramos and in pre-COVID-19 times, from my terrace I would hear an outdoor morning mass being said in the atrium of the Basilica de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad. And then, for the past eight years, blogger buddy Chris and I would drive to San Antonino Castillo Velasco for one of the most magical days of the year. However, all was silent this Palm Sunday. So, donning my mask, I went for early Sunday morning walk with my neighbor K. Lonely and poignant scenes met us everywhere our wanderings took us.
Lonely palm fronds in window of Hospital Ángel Vasconcelos on Av. José María Morelos
Doors of Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción were shuttered.
The doors of Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán were open, but nary a soul was in sight.
A mass was being said at Templo de San Matías Jalatlaco, but the doors were shut tight.
However, no sight we saw this morning was as moving as this one posted to the San Antonino Castillo Velasco Facebook page.
San Salvador bereft of his usual bounty stands alone in the atrium of the church in San Antonino Castillo Velasco.
To see San Salvador in his usual Domingo de Ramos splendor and the village procession that takes him, laden with donated fruits, vegetables, herbs, and bread, from the panteón to the church, click HERE.
Posted in Churches, Flora, Health, Religion, Signs, Travel & Tourism, tagged activities suspended, Basilica de la Soledad, churches, closed church doors, closed signs, coronavirus fallout, COVID-19 fallout, grocery shopping, Holy Week, markets, pandemic precautions, photos, quantities limited, religious celebrations canceled, Semana Santa on March 31, 2020| 10 Comments »
We couldn’t put it off any longer, non-perishables were needed! Thus, instead of another long leisurely Sunday stroll like last week, my neighbor and I walked (keeping two meters apart) down to Soriana, our local supermarket. We went early in the morning and the streets were mostly empty — making it a piece of cake crossing a particularly dicey intersection. Ready to do battle with the virus, we came armed with alcohol wipes and shopping, paying, and bagging strategies. However, Soriana also was on emergency preparedness alert. Once inside the door, hand-sanitizer was pumped into our hands and the handles of our carts were wiped down with disinfectant.
As we had hoped, there were very few other customers and most seemed very conscious of maintaining social distancing protocol, — the workers stocking the shelves, not so much. There were signs posted limiting the quantities one could purchase of certain items and there were taped lines on the floor in front of the check stands indicating how far apart to stand. Though, one guy didn’t get the message and cut in front of me. I snapped, “sana distancia” at him, he glanced back at the crazy gringa and went to a different line.
My route to Soriana, usually consists of cutting a diagonal across the Plaza de la Danza, walking down the ramp to Jardín Sócrates, and crossing the atrium of the Basilica de la Soledad before tackling the steep stairs down to Av. de la Independencia. Alas, this trip, it wasn’t to be — the atrium doors facing the Jardín were locked up tight, as were the ones at the top of the stairs on Independencia.
Signs were tacked to the massive doors indicating all masses had been suspended until further notice. It was all quiet on the church front and the realization hit me that I hadn’t heard a single church bell in days, if not a week — which sounds about right because, on March 21, the Archdiocese of Oaxaca announced the suspension of all Eucharistic celebrations, including Easter. In addition, the Archbishop has called on Catholics to stay home during Holy Week, in order to limit the spread of COVID-19 between people and communities.
Health officials have been running public service announcements on the TV telling people to stay home and advising them, if they must go out, on methods to avoiding catching and spreading the virus. And, yesterday the Mexican government declared a state of health emergency and ordered a suspension of all non-essential businesses and activities until April 30th. For businesses, the restrictions are mandatory, however for people it is an “emphatic invitation.” President Andrés Manuel López Orbrador’s gradual approach to the pandemic has been highly criticized in some quarters, though the strategy has been praised by representatives of the World Health Organization. However, most agree that stricter measures will have to be implemented once the pandemic really hits.
Posted in Celebrations, Churches, Culture, Religion, Travel & Tourism, tagged Catedral de Oaxaca, floral arrangements, flowers, La catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, popular travel destinations, Señor del Rayo on October 24, 2019| 11 Comments »
On October 21, after running errands, I made a beeline to the Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción. As I had hoped, it was all dressed up and ready for Señor del Rayo’s day on October 23.
Pews had been removed from his chapel (last capilla on the left) to allow the faithful to process past his glass enclosed home. Many stopped to light a candle at a couple of tables placed outside his chapel for that purpose.
By the way, El Señor has a body double. The original, given it’s importance and value, remains protected in the chapel. His replica was standing in a place of honor on the Cathedral’s main altar.
If you are not from Oaxaca, you may be asking, who is El Señor del Rayo? He is a wood-carved Christ on the Cross figure that was brought from Spain in the 16th century — a gift to Oaxaca from Charles V. The image was placed in the temple of San Juan de Dios, a church with adobe walls and a straw (or possibly wood) roof. According to legend, lightning struck the church and everything was destroyed, save for this figurine. It was a miracle so momentous that the figurine became known as El Señor del Rayo (the Lord of Lightning) and was given its own chapel in Oaxaca’s newly built Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción.
Like La Guelaguetza, Noche de Rabanós (Night of the Radishes), and Día de la Samaritana (Good Samaritan Day), this is an only in Oaxaca celebration and Oaxaqueños honor El Señor del Rayo with a special fervor, reverence, and pride. Thus, when I returned to the Cathedral at noon on October 23, it was standing room only — not an empty pew in sight, not even in the numerous side chapels.
Like most important festivities in Oaxaca, be they religious or secular, the Lord of Lightning’s celebration was heralded with a calenda (parade) on October 21 and concluded a little before midnight on October 23 with a castillo and fireworks — despite a several hour surprise downpour earlier in the evening. The show always goes on in Oaxaca!
Posted in Celebrations, Churches, Culture, Religion, Travel & Tourism, tagged altars, candles, flowers, marmotas, Mexico, murals, Oaxaca, photos, Señor de Tlacolula, Templo de la Virgen de la Asunción (Tlacolula), Tlacolula de Matamoros on October 14, 2019| 2 Comments »
If it’s Sunday, it must be market day in Tlacolula de Matamoros. However, yesterday wasn’t just any Sunday. The second Sunday in October marks the community’s most important feast day — honoring El Señor de Tlacolula.
Marmota at rest in the church atrium.
As with all patronal festivals, this one lasts several days. In addition to Sunday’s masses, the highlights were a calenda through the streets on Friday featuring marmotas (giant and tiny), several bands, the image of Christ, and women carrying baskets atop their heads. On Saturday night here was a castillo and fireworks.
Order of delegations for the calenda.
In the back of my mind, I knew it would be crowded, but I was amazed at how many people had already poured into Tlacolula by 9:30 AM. It was hard to navigate one’s way to the market as, besides masses of people, a carnival had been set up along the main street and a side street or two.
Señor de Tlacolula decorations at the entrance to Templo de la Virgen de la Asunción.
The church, Templo de la Virgen de la Asunción, was teeming with an overflow crowd of the faithful listening to mass being said from the side chapel of El Señor de Tlacolula. Legend has it that when this sculpture of Jesus, being brought south by muleteers in the sixteenth century, arrived in Tlacolula for a rest stop, overnight it gained so much weight that in the morning it could no longer be lifted. A miracle! Thus it was decided a chapel should be built to house the sculpture right on the spot.
Capilla de Señor de Tlacolula, the faithful wait to touch the image.
What a chapel it is! A feast for the eyes from floor to ceiling, filled with gold and silver gilding, carved angels and saints, paintings, and mirrors. On this day, pews had been removed so worshipers could have a personal interaction with the Lord of Tlacolula. In addition, an altar and hundreds of folding chairs had been set up in the atrium for an outdoor mass.
In the atrium, the altar on a replica of the church.
The art of the fiesta has been debased almost everywhere else, but not in Mexico. There are few places in the world where it is possible to take part in a spectacle like our great religious fiestas with their violent primary colors, their bizarre costumes and dances, their fireworks and ceremonies and their inexhaustible welter of surprises: the fruit, candy, toys and other objects sold on these days in the plazas and open-air markets. Octavio Paz, The Labyrinth of Solitude.
Mural on outside wall of the market.
Posted in Churches, Culture, Flora, Food, Markets, tagged barbacoa, Cristo de la Paciencia, market day, mercados, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, Tlacolula de Matamoros on June 18, 2019| 13 Comments »
I returned to Casita Colibrí early Friday morning, weary from Aeromexico’s red eye from San Francisco. After emptying the suitcases, bed beckoned! No need to drag myself to the market, as neighbor and gal pal, K, welcomed me home with a delicious dinner. Saturday, was spent putting things away, tending to the garden, and raiding the freezer for a tamal to go along with leftover salad from the night before. However by Sunday I was recovered enough to accompany K on her weekly pilgrimage to market day in Tlacolula de Matamoros.
Doña Aurelia, cocinera at her Puesto de Barbacoa. A yummy way to begin the day!
A stop in the Capilla del Señor de Tlacolula of the Parroquia de la Virgen de la Asunción for a reminder from Señor de la Paciencia (Lord of Patience).
The bell tower of the Parroquia de la Virgen de la Asuncón, Tlacolula de Matamoros. It always pays to look up.
“The sense of responsibility is latent in the human being, with sensitivity we should look for it from childhood, channel it in adolescence, perfect it in the youth to understand and better serve society.”
Far from the madding crowd in search of a baño.
Aprons on and baskets in hand: Marketing on market day in Tlacolula de Matamoros.
What better way to get back into the swing of things in Oaxaca. Chicken soup for this soul! Gracias a mi amiga.
Posted in Churches, Culture, Food, tagged garlic, market, marmotas, metates, Mexico, monos, Oaxaca, photos, Santo Domingo de Guzmán, Tlacolula de Matamoros on June 13, 2019| 7 Comments »
Home soon and looking forward to returning to these sights…
View of Santo Domingo de Guzmán.
Metates and garlic — market day in Tlacolula de Matamoros.
Monos and marmotas waiting for a wedding at Santa Domingo de Guzmán.
Oaxaca, I love you.
Posted in Celebrations, Churches, Culture, Holidays, Religion, Travel & Tourism, tagged Easter, estandartes, Good Friday, Holy Week, Jesus, Mexico, Oaxaca, Pascuas, photos, Procesión del Silencio, Procession of Silence, religious banners, Viernes Santo, Virgin Mary on April 20, 2019| 2 Comments »
Late afternoon on Viernes Santo (Good Friday), images of Jesús and María gathered, blessings were offered, and all began to assemble on the Alcalá for the Procession of Silence.
Inside Templo de la Preciosa Sangre de Cristo, as the Archbishop called upon the people to reflect on the day and improve as people.
Nuestra Señora de la Soledad (Our Lady of Solitude) arrives to take her place on the procession route.
Standard bearers line the Alcalá to honor the arrival of the images of María and Jesús.
San Pedro (Saint Peter), the only apostle to arrive.
Jesús waiting in the Templo del Carmen Alto before he ventures out to take his place in the procession.
Another Jesús image emerges from the Templo del Carmen Alto to take his place on the Alcalá for the procession.
El Señor de Esquipulas ventures out onto Calle García Vigil, from the atrium of Templo del Carmen Alto, for his journey to join the procession on the Alcalá.
And now, please keep silent, the procession is approaching.
Posted in Celebrations, Churches, Culture, Holidays, Religion, Travel & Tourism, tagged Christianit, Easter, Good Friday, Holy Mother, Holy Week, La Virgen María, Mexico, Pascuas, photos, popular travel destinations, religious images, Semana Santa, Viernes Santo, Virgin Mary on April 19, 2019| 2 Comments »
The sounds of this morning’s Santo Viacrusis (Stations of the Cross) moving closer, brought me into the mostly deserted streets before 9:00 AM.
A block away, I found Jesús, La Virgen María, a priest, acolytes, the faithful, and a loudspeaker on the back of a pickup truck.
Led by the children, images of María and Jesús from churches throughout the city had taken to the streets.
Stopping along the way to pray and sing, the solemn throng made their way to the Cathedral for a farewell encounter between Mary and Jesus.
It will be a long day for all concerned. Following the encuentro, they will process back to their churches for a bit of a rest before this evening’s grand Procession of Silence.
Posted in Celebrations, Churches, Creativity, Culture, Holidays, Religion, Travel & Tourism, tagged animal figurines, Chia Pets, cucharilla, Día de la virgen de Dolores, flowers, Holy Week, lilies, Mexico, Oaxaca, Our Lady of Sorrows, photos, Semana Santa, virgen de dolores, Virgin of Sorrows on April 12, 2019| 2 Comments »
Today, the sixth Friday of Lent, Oaxaca honors la Virgen de Dolores (Our Lady of Sorrows). Altars dedicated to her can be found in churches, businesses, and homes. While the altars vary in their presentation, there are several key features (besides an image of the Virgin and candles) that will be found.
Altar to la Virgen de Dolores at Templo del Carmen Alto
Wreaths of cucharilla (aka, Dasylirion, Sotol, desert spoon) — grown in Villa de Etla and the Mixtec region of Oaxaca — represent the crown of thorns of Jesus.
Salvia Hispanica (aka, chia) sprouting from terracotta clay animals decorate altars — seeds which had been blessed on February 2, Día de la Candelaria (Candlemas). According to an article in MexConnect, “Growing greens remind the viewer of the resurrection and renewal of life.” Yes, these are the original Chia Pets!
Ceramic deer covered in chia sprouts on the altar at Templo del Carmen Alto
Bowls of water (often tinted) representing the “sweet tears of Mary” are set among violet colored drapes and flowers — violet being the color associated with Lent.
Altar to la Virgen de Dolores at Huizache, a cooperative store selling Oaxacan crafts and clothing
Lilies, representing purity and chamomile, representing humility and the beauty of body and soul, can be found on altars.
Lilies and chamomile on the altar at Templo del Carmen Alto
According to this article (in Spanish), altars to Our Lady of Sorrows started appearing in Oaxaca in the sixteenth century and her veneration on the sixth Friday of Lent grew from there.
La Virgen de Dolores (Our Lady of Sorrows) at Templo del Carmen Alto
Tonight at Templo del Carmen Alto, there will be a reading of the “Vía Dolorosa” (Way of Sorrows), a concert of sacred music by the Coro de la Ciudad (City Chorus), and a tasting of regional Lenten food. Such is the beginning of Semana Santa (Holy Week) in Oaxaca!
Posted in Celebrations, Churches, Culture, Travel & Tourism, tagged candles, Feria del Carrizo, festivals, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, popular travel destinations, procession, San Juan Guelavia, velas on January 30, 2019| Leave a Comment »
On Sunday in San Juan Guelavía for the Feria del Carrizo in the municipal plaza, the sounds of a procession drew me next door to the church.
A procession! I’m not sure if the occasion had anything to to with patron saint, San Juan Bautista. However, what I do know is that I love being surprised and delighted by Oaxaca — a place I am proud to now call home.
Posted in Celebrations, Churches, Culture, Holidays, Religion, Travel & Tourism, tagged clowns, Mexico, Oaxaca, payasos, photos, popular travel destinations, Virgen de Guadalupe, Virgin of Guadalupe on December 11, 2018| 4 Comments »
Tomorrow is Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe. Celebrating the Queen of Mexico, Empress of America, and patron saint of Mexico isn’t just a one day event. In Oaxaca city, Llano Park with Templo de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe at the north end of the park, is the epicenter of activities — including clowns.
The south half of Llano Park is taken up with a carnival and vendors selling toys, Christmas lights, and a variety of holiday decorations. Above that, there are aisles upon aisles of food stalls, and along the side the church, Guadalupe scenes, designed and constructed by scores of professional photographers vying for pesos for portraits, have been constructed.
As I write, Guadalupe’s children, the little Juan Diegos and their peasant sisters are lined up around the block. They have been brought by parents and grandparents to wait to enter the church to be blessed and then pose for portraits in one of the Guadalupe scenes. Hopefully, the payasos (clowns) provide some entertainment and much-needed distraction!
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Churches, Travel & Tourism, tagged Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad, Basilica of Our Lady of Solitude, churches, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, popular travel destinations, sunset on November 17, 2018| 14 Comments »
Sometimes, the sunset over the Basílica de la Soledad takes my breath away. 
What can I say? I love the view from Casita Colibrí!
Posted in Buildings, Churches, Creativity, Culture, Religion, Travel & Tourism, tagged churches, iglesias, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, San Marcos Tlapazola, San Miguel del Valle, Santa Ana Zegache on September 1, 2018| 6 Comments »
You know you are nearing a village when you see the bell tower(s) and dome of the Catholic church. Checking out the church is always high on the agenda. Many were originally constructed in the sixteenth century, though damage, restoration, and decoration have occurred over intervening centuries. And, don’t forget the details…
So, while attending the Feria del Barro Rojo in San Marcos Tlapazola in mid-July, we peeked through the locked gates, to see the Templo San Marcos.
Then off to San Miguel del Valle on a Fundación En Vía microfinance tour in early August and another church through another locked gate.
The piéce de résistance… We headed to the first food feria in Santa Ana Zegache in mid August. Alas, we arrived hours too early for the food, but we consoled ourselves with visiting their Baroque 17th century church (no locked gate) that was fabulously restored in the 1990s by the Rodolfo Morales Foundation.
All beautiful and unique. So, the lesson for today is, whenever you find yourself in a village in Oaxaca, be sure to check out the church.
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