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!
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 | 2 Comments »
Today, the 20th of November, Mexico commemorates the 108th anniversary of the beginning of the Mexican Revolution. It raged on for ten years, as various factions battled for power, and the peasantry fought for, in the words of Emiliano Zapata, ¡Tierra y libertad! (Land and liberty!)
From the smallest of pueblos to the mega metropolis of Mexico City, most every town and city has a street named 20 de noviembre, including Oaxaca. In addition, Oaxaca has a 20 de noviembre market, where you will find Conchita, my favorite chocolate store, Pasillo de Humo (hall of smoke/grilled meats), aisles of stalls filled with bread, and lines of counters offering menudo and other traditional street food — a very popular destination for locals and adventurous tourists.
Alas, the Mexican Revolution has a complex and bloody history — 1.9 to 3.5 million lives were lost, revolutionary leaders assassinated each other in turn, and promises were repeatedly broken. The goals of land, water, liberty, justice and law for the peasantry and workers went unrealized. However, once the armed conflict ended, a cultural revolution began that celebrated and honored working people, peasants, and Mexico’s indigenous roots and helped to forge a new Mexican identity. As the documentary The Storm That Swept Mexico concludes:
“If we celebrate the revolution, it appears as though we are celebrating the status quo: the miserable conditions of the farmers, workers and the average Mexicans. And if we are the inheritors of that revolution, then there is nothing to celebrate. Now if we think of the Revolution as an explosion of creative energy then I think we do have reason to celebrate because it was a movement to create a nation more just, more equal, more honest, and an identity we could be proud of.”
To highlight a Oaxaca connection, today’s NVI Noticias published the article, Enciende Madero mecha revolucionaria; Visita Oaxaca en 1909, about Francisco I. Madero’s visit to Oaxaca to light the fuse of revolution in this remote state.
By the way, in 2005, Article 74 of Mexican labor law established the third Monday of November as the “official” holiday — thus following the USA’s “time-honored tradition” of creating 3-day holiday weekends and setting the stage for the bargain hunting shopping extravaganza promoted as Buen Fin.
Posted in Celebrations, Culture, History, Holidays | Tagged Buen Fin, Día de la Revolución, documentary, history, Mexico, Oaxaca, Revolution Day, The Storm That Swept Mexico | 4 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 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 | 14 Comments »
Up until my first visit to Oaxaca, I had no idea that bananas came in any other color than yellow. However, I soon discovered a Banana bonanza of sizes, shapes, and colors — and red bananas became my favorite. I haven’t seen them for a while, but on a visit to Central de Abastos, I pulled up short in front of these babies!
This variety of banana is smaller and the peel is thicker than the common yellow Cavendish, but it hides a creamy sweet flesh that is perfect for slicing over a bowl of cereal or served with a sprinkling of lime juice and a dash of Tajín Clásico seasoning. We asked what this variety is called and the vendor just shrugged and said, “Plátano morado.” He says purple, I say red. Whatever they are called, they are delicious!
Posted in Flora, Food, Markets, Travel & Tourism | Tagged bananas, Central de Abastos, markets, mercados, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, Plátano morado, plátanos | Leave a Comment »
Day three of cut roses from the Mercado de Abastos. Gracias a Kalisa!
Crown of Thorns… new addition to the rooftop garden from the weekly Sunday plant sale in the Jardín Morelos.
Winter may be coming, but there are always flowers blooming in Oaxaca.
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Flora, Gardens, Travel & Tourism | Tagged Casita Colibrí, Crown of Thorns, flowers, garden, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, roses | 6 Comments »
Several pan de muerto festivals sprung up in the valley of Oaxaca during Día de los Muertos — including a Festival del Pan de Muerto in Villa Díaz Ordaz, a Feria del Pan de Muerto Adornado in Villa de Zaachila, and a Feria del Pan y Chocolate in the city of Oaxaca. While the intention of these fairs is to attract tourists, both foreign and domestic, the primary market remains ofrendas (offerings) to the difuntos (departed) — who must be fed during their brief return to visit with their loved ones.
And, like apron styles, pan de muerto (bread of the dead) varies from village to village, be it sold at a feria, mercado, or neighborhood panadería.
Panadería Yalalag in Oaxaca city.
San Pablo Villa de Mitla.
San Pablo Villa de Mitla.
Mercado, 20 de noviembre, Oaxaca city.
Villa de Zaachila.
Villa de Zaachila.
Villa de Zaachila.
Villa de Zaachila
Villa de Zaachila.
Though my difuntos have departed and my altar has been disassembled, I couldn’t consign my beautiful (but stale) pan de muerto offerings to the garbage can.
Pan de muerto from Yalalag, Mitla, and Zaachila.
So, here they remain in a basket on my counter — until they disintegrate or the hormigas (ants) enjoy a feast.
Posted in Celebrations, Creativity, Culture, Food, food festival, Holidays, Travel & Tourism | Tagged bread of the dead, Day of the Dead, day of the dead bread, Día de los Muertos, feria, Mexico, Oaxaca, pan de muerto, photos, popular travel destinations, San Pablo Villa de Mitla, Villa Díaz Ordaz, Villa de Zaachila, Villa Hidalgo Yalalag | 8 Comments »
Under the dappled sunlight filtering through the 500 year old ahuehuete trees in the panteón of Tlacolula de Matamoros, lovingly placed fruit and nuts nourish the souls. (Click on images to enlarge)
In the afternoon, when the light and shadows dance on the graves, beautiful still lifes greet the departed, their living family, friends, and visitors. It is a tranquil setting to contemplate the words of Octavio Paz (The Labyrinth of Solitude, the other Mexico, and essays, Grove Press, 1985, p. 54)
The opposition between life and death was not so absolute to the ancient Mexicans as it is to us. Life extended into death, and vice versa. Death was not the natural end of life but one phase of an infinite cycle.
Posted in Celebrations, Creativity, Culture, Food, Travel & Tourism | Tagged cemetery, Day of the Dead, Día de los Muertos, death, fruit, graves, Mexico, nuts, Oaxaca, Octavio Paz quote, panteón, photos, Tlacolula de Matamoros, tombs | 8 Comments »
Today, at 3:00 PM in Teotitlán del Valle, as leaves in the mountains and fields rustled, the arrival of the difuntos (departed) was announced with the sound of cohetes (rockets) and church bells. Incense burners were lit and placed in front of ofrendas in each home’s altar room — the smoke and scent of copal helping to guide the spirits home for their yearly twenty-four hour visit.
Tonight they will feast on tamales amarillos — special tamales that are traditionally served three times a year in Teotitlán — in July for the Fiesta de la Preciosa Sangre de Cristo, in October for the Fiesta de la Virgen del Rosario, and today, November first, in honor of the returning difuntos.
As we have done for many years, blogger buddy Chris and I came to the home of Zacarías Ruiz and Emilia Gonzalez with our offering of pan de muertos and a bottle of mezcal to place on their altar — paying our respects to their difuntos. In turn, we were offered mezcal and cervesas (beer), followed by the aforementioned tamales amarillos.
The tamales were days in the making. Several of the family’s organic free range chickens were sacrificed; corn from their milpa was nixtamalized to make a silky smooth masa; and the ingredients for mole amarillo were toasted, chopped, blended, and boiled. The final preparation began at 3:30 this morning — 250 tamales were assembled, filled, and wrapped in fresh green leaves from their milpa and placed in the steaming pots. The results were to die for!
For me, more than painted faces and parades, this is what makes experiencing Día de los Muertos in Oaxaca so special.
Posted in Agriculture, Celebrations, Culture, Food, Travel & Tourism | Tagged Day of the Dead, Día de los Muertos, farm to table, food, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, popular travel destinations, tamales, Teotitlán del Valle | 8 Comments »
As my grandchildren finished their trick or treating up in el norte, I put the final touches on my Día de los Muertos ofrenda (offering) here in Oaxaca.
A yellow (the color of death in pre-hispanic southern Mexico) cloth covers two chests; papel picado (cut tissue paper), signifying the union between life and death, has been added, along with the traditional flowers of Day of the Dead — cempasúchil and veruche (domesticated and wild marigolds), their scent to guide the spirits, and cockscomb to symbolize mourning. Visitors brought the sunflower and, since my grandfather, father, and father-in-law were avid gardeners, it is for them!
There is salt to make sure the souls stay pure and chocolate, peanuts, pecans, apples, mandarin oranges, and pan de muertos (Day of the Dead bread) to nourish them.
The sweet smell of copal incense and its smoke help guide my loved ones to the feast I have prepared. And, there is water to quench their thirst, as they travel between worlds, not to mention mezcal and cervesa (beer).
But, most important of all, there are the tangible remembrances of my departed — photos and some of their favorite things.
Revolutionary catrina and catrin for my revolutionary comadre and compadre, Sylvia and Nat.
Yarn and a crochet hook for my dear grandmother who many of the abuelas (grandmothers) in Oaxaca remind me of — always wearing an apron, never wearing pants, and incredibly adept with crochet and embroidery thread. And, for my adored grandfather, a San Francisco Giants baseball cap. My grandparents moved next door at the same time the Giants moved from New York to San Francisco and grandpa and I listened to many games together on his transistor radio, as I helped him in the garden.
There are other cherished friends and relatives on my altar, but pride of place goes to my parents. For my father, who was killed when I was only two and a half, there is beer (below the above photo) — alas Victoria not Burgermeister! And for my mother, a fan to cool herself as she dances and a bottle of port to sip before she sleeps.
It’s been a two-day labor of love as I wanted everything to be perfect for my difutos (departed) to find their way and feel welcome in my Oaxaca home.
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Celebrations, Creativity, Culture, Travel & Tourism | Tagged altars, calaveritas, Catrinas, cempasuchitl, Día de los Muertos, flowers, incense, marigolds, Mexico, Oaxaca, ofrenda, papel picado, photographs, photos, sugar skulls, veruche | 17 Comments »
Not all the Día de los Muertos murals in Villa de Zaachila were finished, some were still works in progress…
with ladders and paints standing by…
waiting for their artists to pick up the brush…
or spray can, as the case may be.
I first saw many of the murals in the summer of 2017 and was happy to see they are still intact, albeit some are a little faded. Celebrated by the community, the new murals join the old and become a part of the landscape of the village.
Posted in Celebrations, Creativity, Culture, Holidays, Travel & Tourism | Tagged calacas, Catrinas, Day of the Dead, Día de los Muertos, faces, Mexico, murals, Oaxaca, photos, popular travel destinations, skeletons, skulls, street art, Villa de Zaachila, wall art | 4 Comments »
A regalito (little gift) to my calaca and calavera loving grandson from today’s visit to Villa de Zaachila for their first Feria del Pan de Muerto, Mole, Chocolate y Espuma.
From murals along the outer side of the panteón (cemetery) in Villa de Zaachila. Click to enlarge images.
Posted in Celebrations, Creativity, Culture, Holidays, Travel & Tourism | Tagged calacas, Day of the Dead, Día de los Muertos, Mexico, murals, Oaxaca, photos, popular travel destinations, skulls, street art, Villa de Zaachila, wall art | 2 Comments »
This morning, on the way to my Oaxaca Lending Library cataloging shift (once a librarian, always a librarian), I made a detour through Jalatlaco, where the murals always give one pause.
I was on my way to Clinica Hospital Florencia to check on my 92 year old neighbor who had a pacemaker installed yesterday afternoon (once a nurse, always a nurse).
Like Oaxaca, she is strong…
She is proud…
And, she is back home after only 24 hours and feeling GREAT!!!
Posted in Creativity, Culture, Travel & Tourism | Tagged art, Barrio de Jalatlaco, Mexico, murals, Oaxaca, photos, popular travel destinations, Spray Kings, street art, wall art | 11 Comments »
Today the sun (finally) came out and hundreds (thousands?) of pots of cempasúchil (aka, cempoalxóchitl, cempaxochitl, cempoal, zempoal, flor de muertos) arrived in the city center.
This was a photo op not only for yours truly but also the local press, as they trailed after the wife of Oaxaca’s governor while she viewed the unloading…
and planting of the iconic Día de los Muertos flowers in the beds of the Zócalo and Alameda.
The color and fragrance of the cempasúchil provide a lovely setting to sit and contemplate the world (and check your cell phone).
Oaxaca is putting on her best to welcome her difuntos (deceased) along with the thousands of tourists who will soon be arriving.
Posted in Celebrations, Culture, Flora, Holidays, Travel & Tourism | Tagged cempasúchil, Day of the Dead, Día de los Muertos, Día de Muertos, flowers, marigolds, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, zócalo | 6 Comments »
Not all cotton bolls are white…
Roberta French, who built my apartment complex in Oaxaca many decades ago, established a textile weaving business and planted coyuche (koyuchi), a natural brown cotton. She is no longer with us, but her plant survives and grows up onto my balcony. This time of year, the yellow, pink, and rose flowers bloom, die, form pods, and brown cotton fluff results.
And the results? Here, at my apartment complex, the plant is solely decorative. However, the traditional way of growing, spinning, and weaving brown cotton is still practiced in some communities in coastal Oaxaca, Mexico. And, I have been lucky enough to have been gifted an old huipil woven of coyuche and acquired a new one at an expo-venta here in Oaxaca city. If you would like more information on coyuche and its cultivation and weaving, I recommend checking out the Katyi Ya’a collective.
Posted in Agriculture, Casita Colibrí, Creativity, Flora, Gardens, Textiles, Travel & Tourism | Tagged algodón, Casita Colibrí, cotton, cotton bolls, coyuche, flowers, garden, Katyi Ya'a, photos, plants, textile traditions, textiles | 7 Comments »
It’s been fifty years since two African American US Olympic medalists, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, cast their eyes downward and raised clenched fists on the medals’ stand during the playing of the “Star Spangled Banner” (national anthem of the USA) at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. Boos and racial epithets were hurled from the stands, both were kicked off the US team, ordered to leave the Olympic Village, and, upon returning to the USA, they received hate mail, death threats and experienced harassment. However, their gesture became iconic and their stance against racial injustice is celebrated the world over, including Oaxaca.
Taller de Gráfica Experimental de Oaxaca, Calle La Noria at Melchor Ocampo, Oaxaca de Juárez
“I don’t have any misgivings about it being frozen in time. It’s a beacon for a lot of people around the world. So many people find inspiration in that portrait. That’s what I was born for.” –John Carlos (The man who raised a black power salute at the 1968 Olympic Games)
What most of the world didn’t see or hear about — because it was conspicuously absent from the covers of the country’s major newspapers — was that two weeks before, in what came to be known as the Tlatelolco Massacre, somewhere between 300 and 2,000 peacefully protesting students in Mexico City were murdered by Mexican military and police forces.
The echos from 1968 continue today… Colin Kaepernick continues to be castigated and denied employment as an NFL football player for taking a knee during the playing of the “Star Spangled Banner” and 43 student teachers from Escuela Normal Rural Raúl Isidro Burgos in Ayotzinapa, whose bus was ambushed in Iguala, Guerrero four years ago, continue to be missing.
Posted in Creativity, Culture, History, Politics, Protests, Violence | Tagged Ayotzinapa, black power clenched fist, Colin Kaepernick, Escuela Normal Rural Raúl Isidro Burgos, graffiti, John Carlos, Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico City Olympics, murals, Oaxaca, Okupa Visual Oaxaca, photos, street art, student teachers, students, Taller de Grafica Experimental de Oaxaca, Tlatelolco Massacre, Tommie Smith, wall art | 11 Comments »
Mexican Peso Converter
