I’ve been watching these guys from my terrace for well over a month…
… and dodging the debris on the sidewalk, below.
Late this afternoon, they were still up there as thunder began rumbling and rain began falling. Finally, they packed up shop… and I was relieved!
Posted in Labor | Tagged ex-convento San José, Mexico, Oaxaca, School of Fine Arts, workers | Leave a Comment »
More than one norte americano has asked, “What’s up with the KKK-like hoods?” Ahh… a reference question for the librarian!
They date back to 15th or 16th century Europe. Members of lay religious charitable organizations (cofradías) would don the masks and hoods to guarantee anonymity and promote humility in their service. The Spanish brought the tradition to Mexico.
References:
Posted in Celebrations, Holidays | Tagged Cofradía, Confraternity, Procesión del Silencio, Viernes Santo | Leave a Comment »
The Procesión del Silencio departed from the Iglesia de la Preciosa Sangre de Cristo and proceeded up the Alcalá to Gómez Farias, where it turned left and left again and down García Vigil to Independencia and then back up the Alcalá. Once the procession began, fellow blogger Chris (Oaxaca-The Year After) and I left the masses on the Alcalá and positioned ourselves on a wall overlooking García Vigil, for an unobstructed view.
Posted in Celebrations, Holidays | Tagged Mexico, Oaxaca, Procession of Silence, Semana Santa, video, Viernes Santo | Leave a Comment »
Spectators, participants, and the ever-present vendors waiting for the Procesión del Silencio…
More to come…
Posted in Celebrations, Holidays | Tagged Good Friday, Mexico, Oaxaca, Procession of Silence, Semana Santa, Viernes Santo | Leave a Comment »
I opened the front gate this morning to find the sidewalk had morphed into an Estación de la Cruz.
Worshipers prayed, recited the appropriate devotions, and then slowly moved on.
Posted in Celebrations, Holidays | Tagged Estaciones de la Cruz, Good Friday, Holy Week, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, popular travel destinations, ritual procession, Semana Santa, Via Crucis, Viernes Santo | Leave a Comment »
Today was Jueves Santo (aka: Holy Thursday or Maundy Thursday).
Believers gathered to commemorate the Last Supper of Jesus. Tables are set up in church doorways selling pan bendito (3 buns for 5 pesos of blessed bread). And, where there are more than ten people, vendors gather….
Outside Iglesia de la Preciosa Sangre de Cristo — I suspect her life hasn’t been half as sweet as the dulces she was selling.
A little sweetheart on his best behavior and waiting to process.
Would you buy pickled carrots or peppers from this woman?
The rains came and the capas del agua vendors miraculously appeared outside Santo Domingo.
After visiting the prescribed 7 churches, I rewarded myself with my (hopefully, not last) supper — a flor de calabaza and quesillo empanada, cooked to order. Yummm….
Posted in Celebrations, Holidays | Tagged Holy Thursday, Jueves Santo, Maundy Thursday, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, Semana Santa | Leave a Comment »
And now a pause in our Semana Santa coverage…
Yesterday was a momentous day at Casita Colibrí. I arrived home just in time to watch the removal of my late, previously mentioned, but definitely not lamented, baby-size tinaco and the installation of my gigunda, new, and much wished for, tinaco. It was a sight to behold!
These guys looked so young… but worked efficiently and seemed to know exactly what they were doing. I sure hope so!
Fingers and toes, but not eyes, are crossed that this will, at long last, solve my every-other-day lack of water problem.
Posted in Environment, Home | Tagged Casita Colibrí, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, tinaco, water | Leave a Comment »
Yesterday, on the stairs leading to the Basilica de la Soledad, I bought my woven palm fronds from these gals. 
However, this gal insisted I take her picture, too!
And today, on the plaza in front of the Basilica, the faithful waited for the outdoor mass and the blessing of their palms.
Sisters, perhaps?
Posted in Holidays | Tagged Basilica de la Soledad, Oaxaca, Palm Sunday, ritual, Semana Santa | 4 Comments »
Posted in Celebrations, Holidays | Tagged Coro de la Ciudad, Día de la virgen de Dolores, Oaxaca, Sexteto de Cuerdas Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, video | Leave a Comment »
I’ve been wanting to write this post for almost two months…
Back in February, when L was visiting, we, along with thirty or so other curious and interested (mostly) gringos, toured two of the libraries Libros Para Pueblos has established — one in Santiago Etla and another further up the valley in San Pablo Huitzo. Local officials and library staff welcomed us and school children read from story books, gave book reports, and performed skits. It was a non-touristy introduction to Oaxaca for L, and a moving, informative, and inspiring experience for both of us.
Libros Para Pueblos is a program of the Oaxaca Lending Library and is staffed by a dedicated group of volunteers, spearheaded by Janet Stanley, a one woman dynamo! Its mission is, “putting books into the hands of the children of Oaxaca” by establishing libraries in the villages of the state of Oaxaca, thereby encouraging a love of reading and promoting education.
As I explained in my previous post, Books… children… What’s not to like?!, the need in this state is enormous. Little by little, progress is being made and over the past ten years, Libros Para Pueblos has set-up, always with the support and participation of the local communities, over 40 libraries. It is a much-needed program and well worth supporting.
Posted in Education | Tagged books, education, libraries, Libros Para Pueblos, Oaxaca, Oaxaca Lending Library, reading, San Pablo Huitzo, Santiago Etla | Leave a Comment »
Today’s topic on Fresh Air was The Worldwide Thirst for Clean Drinking Water, in which, the program’s website states, “Investigative reporter Charles Fishman says the past 100 years have been the golden age of water in the developed world — but now that’s about to change. He profiles communities grappling with water shortages and details the efforts to conserve water in The Big Thirst.”
In the interview, Fishman makes the point that in the USA, “We don’t even take [water] for granted because taking it for granted would suggest we pay attention to it.” Not so, living in Mexico; water is considered precious and, thus, respected and conserved. Water deliveries, be they the non-potable I wrote about yesterday, or listening for the vendors of garrafons (1 equals 20 liters) of drinking water shout from their pickup trucks, “¡Agua!… ¡Agua!… ¡Agua!,” are an important part of daily life here.
I highly recommend clicking on, The Worldwide Thirst for Clean Drinking Water to hear Terry Gross’s interview with Charles Fishman, discussing his new book, The Big Thirst: The Secret Life and Turbulent Future of Water.
My garrafon of veggie and fruit washing, drinking, cooking, and teeth brushing water…
Yikes, it’s raining… gotta go put out my buckets to catch rain to store in my garden watering barrel!
Posted in Environment | Tagged Fresh Air, Oaxaca, The Big Thirst, water | Leave a Comment »
Flying into any airport in Mexico, you see them, Mexico’s ubiquitous rooftop water delivery system, the tinaco. This is mine…
After living with and cursing it for the past 16 months, word has it I might be getting a newer and larger one. Even though I’m not superstitious, I’m keeping my fingers crossed!
*** For those of you who are dying to know how the water system here works: Municipal water is regularly (or, not so regularly) pumped into an aljibe, a storage tank under our courtyard and driveway; a bomba (pump) is run daily for an hour to bring water from the aljibe up into the tinacos sitting on the various rooftops of the apartment complex. When we turn on our tap, water flows (or dribbles) from our faucets courtesy of gravity.
I might add, this is non potable water. Drinking water is a completely different story…
Posted in Environment | Tagged Oaxaca, tinaco, water | 1 Comment »
Look up! Tree trimmers at work on the Alameda. Never fear, Protección Civil is on the job.
As are the recyclers… official and unofficial.
Posted in Environment | Tagged Oaxaca, recycling, scavenging, Tree trimmers | 2 Comments »
I sure hope no one needs a taxi in el centro today.
Double-parked on Independencia and lined up for blocks on side streets, empty taxis sit…
A protest against “pirate” taxis.
By the way, pink taxis, lavender taxis, and green taxis were lined up on other streets, which would have added more color to this entry. But, alas, I violated the first rule of photography: Always carry an extra battery! I know, my feeble excuse of, I’d only gone out to buy velcro adhesive for my mosquito screen door project, is no excuse.
Posted in Labor, Protests | Tagged blockade, demonstrations, huelga, Mexico, Oaxaca, protest, strike, taxis | 1 Comment »
Yesterday…
3:00 pm Storm clouds gathering
7:30 pm Lightening spotted and distant thunder heard
8:00 pm Patter of rain on tin roof
8:45 pm Rain in earnest
9:30 pm Hail??? Yes!!! ***
*** It was 72ºF outside!
h/t Glenn for title inspiration
Posted in Weather | Tagged Oaxaca, weather | Leave a Comment »
Mexican Peso Converter
View From Casita Colibrí 
