Posted in Culture, Gardens, Science & Nature, Travel & Tourism, Weather, tagged graffiti, jacaranda, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, Primavera, Spring, street art, trees, urban art on February 28, 2014| 4 Comments »
I’m still in recovery and catching-up mode and a nagging cold (caught in el norte) hasn’t helped. While I’ve only ventured out of Casita Colibrí a few times, I’m loving being back in the land of color.
And, after my recent sojourn to points north, where Mother Nature is a drama queen when it comes to seasons, I’m savoring one of the subtle signs of spring in Oaxaca.
The jacarandas are beginning to bloom.
Purple haze all in my eyes…
Excuse me while I kiss the sky!
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Gardens, Science & Nature, Travel & Tourism, Weather, tagged bougainvilla, Mexico, New York state, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, snow, weather on February 25, 2014| 3 Comments »
Last week near Saratoga Springs, NY it was 15º F, doors and windows were sealed shut, and the furnace was blasting.
Today, back in Oaxaca, it’s 90º F, doors and windows are wide open, and I’ve got the fan on.
What a difference one week and 2000+ miles makes. I’m definitely a warm weather person!
Posted in Culture, Parks & Plazas, Travel & Tourism, Weather, tagged Carmen Abajo, Mexico, Mr. Rodgers quote, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, zócalo on January 26, 2014| 2 Comments »
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Science & Nature, Travel & Tourism, Weather, tagged African Tulip trees, full moon, La Luna, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, tinaco on November 17, 2013| 6 Comments »
It may not be Moon Over Parador, but it was moon from my mirador…. The colors of last night’s sunset were spectacular, no matter which way one looked. It made for a beautiful full moon rising over the African tulip tree and rooftop tinaco of my old apartment.
6:56 PM (CST)
6:57 PM (CST)
Actually, the moon wasn’t officially full until 9:15 (CST) this morning, but the above was full enough for me!
Posted in Holidays, Labor, Politics, Protests, Weather, tagged current-events, demonstrations, El Grito, Frente Único de Lucha, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, politics, protests, San Juan Copala, Triqui on September 14, 2013| 2 Comments »
Yesterday, as today’s article in Noticias states, “with great dignity and head held high” the Triqui families from San Juan Copala pulled up stakes and moved to temporary housing in Colonia Reforma. The 105 displaced families had been occupying the front of the Government Palace for several years, but reached an agreement with the state government to relocate.
Meanwhile, on the east side of the Government Palace, the band played on… September is “La mes de la patria” (the month of the motherland). Tomorrow night, governor Gabino Cue will repeat El Grito de Independencia (the Cry of Independence) from the balcony of the Government Palace and Monday, an hours-long patriotic parade will pass in front of the Palace.
Today, the scene has changed. Members of the Frente Único de Lucha (FUL), the new incarnation of APPO, have taken up positions in front of the Government Palace and vowed to remain until those arrested in clashes with the federal police, on December 1 and yesterday in Mexico City, are released. Hmmm… I wonder what will happen tomorrow and/or Monday.
Just remember, when you read, hear, or watch the news… Chiapas, Guerrero, and Oaxaca are the most indigenous and poorest states in Mexico. And now, the tears of Mother Nature are raining down on Oaxaca.
Posted in Culture, Environment, Travel & Tourism, Weather, tagged cactus, campo, climate, Cocijo, corn, corn stalks, El Picacho, fields, maguey, maize, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, Teotitlán del Valle on August 18, 2013| 10 Comments »
Friday, I went Teotitlán del Valle to visit a friend. N is living out in the campo and it was an adventure just getting there — necessitating a colectivo, bus, moto-taxi, and a fair amount of walking. However, it was well worth it! The conversation was non-stop, comida was delicious, and the setting is spectacular.
El Picacho from my friend’s rooftop terrace.
However, a major topic of conversation in the village is the lack of rain. Granted, I was grateful the creek the 3-wheel moto-taxi and I had to ford only had about six inches of water in it, but looking out from N’s terrace, it was evident the fields are suffering.
Maguey fields in Teotitlán del Valle.
Acres upon acres of parched earth, with rows upon rows of drooping and stunted corn — the lifeblood of this country. When the campo suffers, so too the people.
Rows of corn stalks.
Word has it that this is the driest rainy season anyone can remember. In a normal year, afternoon showers irrigate the fields and clean the city’s streets at least four to five times a week from June through September. This year, nada! I can probably count on two hands the number of times it’s rained. Your offerings and prayers to Cocijo would be much appreciated!
Update: Wow, I have some powerful blog readers — it rained last night!!! Mil gracias.
Posted in Buildings, Creativity, Culture, Transportation, Travel & Tourism, Weather, tagged graffiti, Mexico, murals, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, popular travel destinations, rainy season, street art, urban art on July 7, 2013| 3 Comments »
Ahhh… I’m back in my new and improved Casita Colibrí. Friday night, with lightning flashing all around the Embraer, my fellow passengers and I bounced our way across Mexico and back to Oaxaca. Gracias, Hurricane Erick for Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride! With appreciation and relief, spontaneous applause erupted when the little plane landed.
There have been many changes in the 7 weeks I’d been gone… Juan finished the screens on my doors and windows; they are beautifully made and not a single mosquito has been seen or heard! I left at the end of the dry season; golden-brown hills and fields and a constant coating of dust dulled nature’s and human-applied colors. I returned to the lush green hills and fields of the rainy season and the lustrous green leaves and red-orange blossoms of my African tulip trees.
And, new street art gleamed…
Oaxaca in technicolor!
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Gardens, Weather, tagged Mexico, Oaxaca, photo, photographs, rain, weather on April 21, 2013| 2 Comments »
Listening to the rhythm of the falling rain.
Ahhh… At long last, relief from weeks of energy sapping heat and a long very dry winter.
Posted in Churches, Travel & Tourism, Weather, tagged Basilica de la Soledad, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, popular travel destinations, sidewalks, weather on April 17, 2013| 10 Comments »
… go out in the midday sun!
For more than a week, most afternoons have found me holed up inside my apartment with curtains drawn against an unrelenting sun — a semi-successful attempt to retain the cool air I’d ushered in when doors and windows were thrown open first thing in the morning.
These May-like temperatures, in the mid to high 90s F during the day, have been THE major topic of conversation amongst Oaxaqueños, ex-pats, and visitors, alike. If you must venture out, as I did yesterday, you hug that sliver of shadow. Umbrellas come in handy too!
The multiplex theaters on the outskirts of the city are some of the very few buildings with air-conditioning. However, to get there, one must take a sweltering bus or taxi ride through traffic clogged streets, never knowing when a bloqueo or road construction will bring your retreat to a scorching halt. A better alternative is to follow the lead of these priests processing into the Basilica and head to the nearest church. Mil gracias to the architectural gods for their thick stone walls and soaring ceilings!
¡Hace mucho calor! Time for a siesta…
Posted in Buildings, Travel & Tourism, Weather, tagged Basilica de la Soledad, Casita Colibrí, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, rain, weather on April 4, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Was it December? Maybe it was November the last time the city saw rain… until this afternoon. Those specks you see are very welcome raindrops on my window.
It brought thunder and lightning, but fell gently. It only lasted an hour, but cooled and cleansed the air.
I can see clearly now…
Posted in Science & Nature, Travel & Tourism, Weather, tagged arboles, Cabellos de Ángel, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, plants, popular travel destinations, Pseudobombax ellipticum, Shaving Brush Tree, trees on March 16, 2013| Leave a Comment »
We are in the middle of the dry season; the mountains surrounding the valleys of Oaxaca are golden. It’s still winter and my African tulip trees remain leafless against the sun and blue sky. However, Mother Nature is hinting that Spring is coming; time for you guys to shave those winter beards. And, this time of year, la madre naturaleza supplies the brushes — the Pseudobombax ellipticum.
According to the Oaxaca Garden and Nature Club website, its common name in English is the Shaving Brush Tree.
As you can see above, the flowers can be red or white.
By the way, one of its common names en español is Cabellos de Ángel.
Angel Hair or Shaving Brush? You decide!
Posted in Creativity, Culture, Weather, tagged graffiti, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, street art, urban art, wall art on March 13, 2013| 4 Comments »
It may be March, but Oaxaca is doing May weather — daytime temperatures in the high 80s/low 90s and the nights are sheets only.
I scream, you scream…
Even the walls scream for ice cream!
Posted in Creativity, Culture, Science & Nature, Travel & Tourism, Weather, tagged dry season, Mexico, Oaxaca, Oración al sagrado elemento agua, photographs, photos, popular travel destinations, SAGA, street art, urban art, wall art, water on March 3, 2013| Leave a Comment »
It’s the dry season, no rain in a couple of months, and we are reminded how sacred and precious water is.
At the top of the wave:
“Fluye hermana agua de las nubes a la tierra y de la tierra a las nubes.” (Sister water flowing from the clouds to earth and from the earth to the clouds.)
A line from the poem, Oración al sagrado elemento agua.
Posted in Environment, Gardens, Parks & Plazas, Science & Nature, Weather, tagged Alameda, Indian Laurel tree, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, trees, zócalo on October 2, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Instead of the coming of age novel, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, we have the real life drama of a tree falls in Oaxaca. Heading down to the mercado this morning, I was brought up short by this heartbreaking sight.
According to reports, there were many present to hear and see one of the grand 130+ year old Indian laurels topple during a storm on Saturday night. And, worst of all, ten people were injured, two seriously. Trees in the city, including Indian laurels in the Zócalo, have been plagued by adversity. A laurel in the Zócalo fell a few years ago, damaging a nearby building, and most recently in May 2011, I wrote about a laurel on the Alameda that toppled. Resurrection was attempted and guy-wires remain to this day holding it upright. I guess the experts decided this latest one was beyond rescue.
Controversy reigns, as many assert that these trees should be able to withstand the rain and less-than gale force winds. Thus speculation over the cause runs rampant. Root rot appears to be the immediate culprit but the big question is, why?
And, as Chris sadly noted a couple of months ago, regarding the diseased flamboyant trees in front of Santo Domingo de Guzmán, Any tree is hard to replace.
Posted in Celebrations, Culture, Religion, Travel & Tourism, Weather, tagged convite, El Picacho, Fiesta a la Natividad de la Virgen María, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, popular travel destinations, Teotitlán del Valle, Virgen de la Natividad on September 9, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Waiting for the convite… Fiesta a la Natividad de la Virgen María.
September 8 was a rainy day in Teotitlán del Valle.
Mexican Peso Converter
View From Casita Colibrí 