It was early morning in the garden and the clock was ticking. She isn’t called a Night Blooming Cereus for nothing.
First one approached.
It was followed by others. However, these weren’t friends and this wasn’t a party, it was seriously cereus work.
That is about as exciting as it gets at Casita Colibrí during these days of Covid-19 under the “semáforo rojo” — the red stoplight — as contrasted with orange, yellow, and the much longed for green. Stay safe!
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Environment, Flora, Gardens | Tagged bees, Cee's Flower of the Day (FOTD) challenge, Epiphyllum hookeri, flowers, Mexico, Night Blooming Cereus, Oaxaca, photos, plants, terrace garden | 12 Comments »
Last Sunday morning’s walk took us up and across Niños Heroes (aka, highway 190) into Barrio de Xochimilco and Colonia La Cascada. The (albeit sporadic) rains have begun, the field-burning has ended, and planting has begun. Thus, the air was fresh and the sky was varying shades of blue — depending on direction and hour. Humans and Mother Nature showed off their creativity. So, we kept walking…
It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood!
Posted in Creativity, Culture, Neighborhoods, Travel & Tourism | Tagged Barrio de Xochimilco, bird images, bougainvillea, bugambilia, Colonia La Cascada, light and shadows, Mexico, murals, photos, popular travel destinations, rooftop decor, street art, tinaco, urban art, wall art | 4 Comments »
There will be no dancing in the streets or up on Cerro del Fortín this year. Due to Covid-19, La Guelaguetza, Oaxaca’s “máxima fiesta” has been canceled. However, thanks to the artist Bouler (Uriel Barragán), a few of the dancers can be seen dancing on the walls of Barrio de Jalatlaco.
If his work looks familiar, it is because this image from two weeks ago is part of the above series. In addition, he also painted the mural honoring Macedonio Alcalá in Jardín Carbajal.
Posted in Celebrations, Creativity, Culture, Travel & Tourism | Tagged Barrio de Jalatlaco, China Oaxaqueña dancer, coronavirus fallout, COVID-19 fallout, Flor de piña dancer, Guelaguetza dancers, light and shadows, Mexico, murals, music, Oaxaca, photos, popular travel destinations, street art, urban art, Uriel Barragán Bouler, wall art | 4 Comments »
Dear friends and lovers of Oaxaca,
While the areas where you live may be loosening up on Covid-19 precautions, Oaxaca is not. Cases and deaths continue to rise at an alarming rate and, as a result, a few days ago the governor instituted a ten-day shelter-in-place order. Masks are mandatory in public, we are not to leave our homes except for groceries, medications, or medical treatment, limits have been put on bus service, and the hours and days of the mercados have been significantly reduced.
Photo from Facebook page of the Mexican Dreamweavers
While tourism provides the economic life-blood of Oaxaca and restaurants, hotels, and artisans would welcome your business, the people and medical infrastructure cannot afford the Covid-19 virus that might come along with you and your dinero. Oaxaca is one of the poorest and most indigenous states in Mexico and, as a result of poverty and inadequate health care, it has high rates diabetes and heart disease — both high risk factors for coronavirus mortality.
While right now you can only dream about coming to Oaxaca, there are ways you can help. You can join those of us living here by financially helping out your Oaxacan friends, by donating to your preferred hotels and restaurants, and by placing an order with your favorite weaver, carver, or other artisan. Buying mezcal futures from traditional mezcaleros is even an option — and the bottles will be waiting for you when next you return.
While I have no place to wear it right now, I bought this beautiful rebozo (shawl) from the Mexican Dreamweavers. Patrice Perillie, the Dreamweavers’ Director, knew I’d been admiring and wanting one for years, so she recently contacted me to (gently) suggest that ordering one now would have a greater and much-needed financial impact on the cooperative’s members. It is made from brown coyuchi cotton, yarns dyed with indigo, purple tixinda, and red cochinilla, and woven by Amada Sanchez Cruz on a backstrap loom. Isn’t it stunning?
From the Mexican Dreamweavers “About” page on Facebook”
In the community of Pinotepa de Don Luis, situated on the Costa Chica of Oaxaca, artisans of Mixtec origin, masters in the art of weaving on back-strap looms, weave beautiful cloth that they use in different types of dress. There is the posahuanco which is a type of skirt of pre-hispanic origin; the huipil, a tunic dress used for special occasions; and the reboso, a shawl used by the women both for warmth and to carry things, including their babies!
The women weavers of this community have formed a cooperative called “Tixinda” which has over 60 women, both young and old, who are passing down the 3,000+ year old tradition of spinning and weaving from one generation to the next. In addition to producing their traditional dress, Tixinda also produces table linens, bed linens, throw pillows and bags, using both traditional and contemporary designs.
To view the Mexican Dreamweavers inventory and to buy, click their Facebook Shop
For more information, please contact Patrice Perillie, Director:
Telephone USA – (212) 629-7899
Telephone Mexico – (954) 102-1792
Email – mexicandreamweavers@hotmail.com
Posted in Creativity, Culture, Health, People, Textiles, Travel & Tourism | Tagged Amada Sanchez Cruz, clothing, coronavirus fallout, COVID-19 fallout, helping the local community, huipil, Mexican Dreamweavers, Mexico, Oaxaca, Patrice Perillie, photos, rebozos, shawls, textile traditions, Tixinda cooperative, weavers, woman wearing rebozo | 12 Comments »
Given the barrage of bad, sad, depressing, and infuriating news these days, I’m finding it difficult to string together more than a few words. However, who needs words when Mother Nature is speaking from my terrace — succulents and cactus to the rescue.
Quaqua
Monadenium
Cleistocactus
Gymnocalycium
Jatropha podagrica
Wishing all health, safety, and a bounty of beauty!
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Flora, Gardens, Travel & Tourism | Tagged cactus flowers, Casita Colibrí, Cleistocactus flowers, flowers, Gymnocalycium flower, Jatropha podagrica flowers, Mexico, Monadenium flowers, Oaxaca, photos, Quaqua flowers, succulent flowers, succulents, terrace garden | 15 Comments »
Remember my Pitahaya (Dragon fruit)? In just a few years, five stalks, picked up from the field of a friend in San Martín Tilcajete in 2012 and planted in my garden, became a year-round green wall along the chain link fence that separates the terrace of Casita Colibrí from the neighboring property. Its perfumed massive white glow-in-the-dark flowers beckoned bats and bees and the resulting luscious red fruit were garden highlights.
Do you also remember that a taproot grew into the wall and down into the apartment below? Alas, the result, in the fall of 2016, was having to cut down the entire wall of Pitahaya. However, some the stalks were saved and planted along the wall adjacent to the apartment’s garbage can/recycling collection area. Lucky us, last night into early morning, the Pitahaya put on quite a show and put the bees to work!
A win win for all concerned!
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Flora, Gardens | Tagged bees, Dragon fruit, garden, Hylocereus undatus, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, white flowers | 7 Comments »
Sunday’s walk went from blue to pink — with a few colors in between.
The colors were kind of like my mood over the course of two hours of walking.
Posted in Creativity, Culture | Tagged blue sky, bougainvilla, bougainvillea, building colors, graffiti, Mexico, murals, Oaxaca, photos, popular travel destinations, rock sculpture, stained glass doors, torito, urban art, wall art, wall colors | 8 Comments »
From the walls of Oaxaca… mural by artist Efdot.
To the streets of the USA… music and lament by singer-songwriter Alex Call.
The message is the same.
Posted in Creativity, Culture, Music, People, Protests, Travel & Tourism | Tagged "I Can't Breathe" song, Alex Call, Efdot, In memory of George Floyd, Mexico, murals, music, Oaxaca, photos, street art, urban art, wall art | 4 Comments »
Lurking around the corner from the birds. Perhaps this is what they were talking about.
Hmmm… Could this be the cat that swallowed the canary?
Posted in Creativity, Culture, Neighborhoods, Travel & Tourism | Tagged cat images, Jesus Flores (artist), Mexico, murals, Oaxaca, photos, popular travel destinations, street art, urban art, wall art, Walpaq (muralista) | 4 Comments »
Wandering around the streets and alleys of the Marcos Perez / Lic. José Vasconcelos neighborhood, I began to see birds gathering — and they seemed to be talking.
“Ahhh, what a comfortable perch.”
“Is anybody home?”
“What did you say?”
And then there were the hummingbirds…
“Please don’t tie me down!”
“Come fly with me.”
“I’ll race you!”
What delightful gifts the Argentinian artist Jesus Flores (aka, Walpaq) has left for the people of Oaxaca!
Posted in Creativity, Culture, Neighborhoods, People, Travel & Tourism | Tagged bird images, Colibríes, hummingbirds, Jesus Flores (artist), Mexico, murals, Oaxaca, photos, popular travel destinations, street art, urban art, wall art, Walpaq (muralista) | 20 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.”
Posted in Animals, Health, Travel & Tourism | Tagged #DogsAtHome, #QuédateEnCasa, coronavirus fallout, COVID-19 fallout, dogs, MEX-COVID19 Daily Briefing, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos | 6 Comments »
The culture, color, and magic of the murals of Panorámica del Fortín.
Thank you to the artists of the Zempasuchil Studio for brightening our days.
Posted in Creativity, Culture, Neighborhoods, Travel & Tourism | Tagged Mexico, murals, Oaxaca, photos, popular travel destinations, street art, urban art, wall art, Zempasuchil Studio | 6 Comments »
Sunday morning’s walk found empty streets…
Looking south on Calle Macedonio Alcalá.
Looking north on Calle Macedonio Alcalá.
Closed parks…
Jardín Conzatti.
“Parque Cerrado” – Parque Juarez El Llano.
And, beauty.
Templo de la Preciosa Sangre de Cristo seen from the atrium of Templo Santo Domingo de Guzmán.
Flamboyant trees from the atrium of Templo Santo Domingo de Guzmán.
Yesterday, there were 25 new Covid-19 cases in the state of Oaxaca, including the first two in Tlacolula de Matamoros.
Posted in Flora, Gardens, Parks & Plazas, Signs, Travel & Tourism | Tagged closed signs, Conzatti, coronavirus fallout, COVID-19 fallout, El Templo de la Preciosa Sangre de Cristo, empty streets, flamboyantes, Jardín Conzatti, Llano Park, Mexico, Oaxaca, Parque Juarez El Llano, photos | 4 Comments »
Informational: Symptoms and methods of prevention.
Advertising: Stay at home, Café Lavoe offers you home delivery.
Service: A hand washing station at the Av. de la Independencia entrance to Mercado IV Centenario.
It’s my favorite — a quintessential example of the Oaxacan ingenuity and creativity!
Posted in Creativity, Culture, Markets, Signs, Travel & Tourism | Tagged coronavirus fallout, COVID-19 fallout, Mercado IV Centenario, mercados, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos | 8 Comments »
More from Sunday’s stroll along Panorámica del Fortín…
Oaxaca, even in these days of Covid-19, is always alive.
Posted in Buildings, Creativity, Culture, Neighborhoods, Travel & Tourism | Tagged graffiti, Mexico, murals, Oaxaca, photos, playgrounds, shadows, shrines, street art, views, vistas, wall art | 2 Comments »
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