A razor wire (aka, concertina wire) frame for an African Tulip tree blossom.
The rainy season not only brings lush greens, it brings the brilliant red-orange of the Árbol de tulipán to Oaxaca.
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Flora, Gardens | Tagged African tulip tree, Árbol de tulipán, Casita Colibrí, Flame Trees, garden, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, popular travel destinations, trees | 2 Comments »
This morning, sun and blue sky welcomed the Solsticio de verano in Oaxaca — a beautiful way to begin the longest day of the year.
View from the terrace: Templo de San José, founded by the Jesuits in 1559, on the left; Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad (Basilica of Our Lady of Solitude), constructed between 1682 and 1690, on the right; and the green mountain in the far distance between the two is Monte Albán.
Happy Summer Solstice to all!
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Churches, Environment, Travel & Tourism | Tagged Basilica de la Soledad, Mexico, Monte Albán, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, Summer Solstice, Templo de San José | 4 Comments »
Fathers of Oaxaca playing a leading role in introducing the next generation to the music, dance, and respect for the traditions of Oaxaca…
Learning to carry a marmota in La Guelaguetza parade of delegations in Oaxaca city – July 2016
Following La Guelaguetza parade of delegations in Oaxaca city – July 2016
Watching masked dancers at the mock wedding during Carnaval in San Martín Tilcajete – February 2017
Giving angels a lift during the Lunes Santo procession in Teotitlán del Valle – April 2017
Happy Father’s Day to all the loving fathers (biological and adoptive), stepfathers, grandfathers, godfathers, and father figures everywhere, may you continue to do what you do.
¡Feliz Día del Padre!
Posted in Celebrations, Children, Culture, Holidays, Travel & Tourism | Tagged Día del Padre, Father's Day, fathers and children, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, popular travel destinations | 2 Comments »
What could be called, A terrace transformed – Phase 4, is currently underway at Casita Colibrí. A highlight is the addition of several trees, including a guava (known here as, guayaba) already bearing fruit. I see pitchers of agua de guayaba in my future.
Once this phase of my growing garden is finished, a blog post will no doubt result. Stay tuned…
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Flora, Gardens | Tagged garden, guava, guayaba, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, Psidium rufum, purple guava, terrace garden, trees | 6 Comments »
Walking along the sidewalks of Oaxaca…
I get the feeling I’m being watched… by Oaxaca’s revolutionary street art.
Posted in Creativity, Culture, Travel & Tourism | Tagged graffiti, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, popular travel destinations, stencils, street art, wall art | 4 Comments »
How many of us knew that eighty years ago, in the midst of the Spanish Civil War, children of Spanish Republicans, facing the danger posed by the fascist government of Francisco Franco, were provided refuge in Mexico by President Lázaro Cárdenas? 463 children sailed across the Atlantic Ocean, landing in Veracruz on June 10, 1937. After a being warmly welcomed, these child refugees were put on a train to Morelia. Most never returned to Spain. In the brief interview below, one of the still-living refugees, 87 year-old Amparo Rius Munoz, offers lessons for today.
http://players.brightcove.net/665003303001/4k5gFJHRe_default/index.html?videoId=5467422137001
The documentary, The Children of Morelia – Crossroads and Perspectives will be shown at the Festival Internacional de Cine de Morelia (Morelia International Film Festival), October 2017.
Posted in History, Immigration, Politics | Tagged Children of Morelia, Mexico, Morelia, refugees, Spanish Civil War, video | Leave a Comment »
Late afternoon and middle of the night thunder, lightning, gusting winds, torrential downpours, and gentle showers — the rainy season has arrived and appears to be hanging around. This is good news, as there has been an Historical Drought in Oaxaca. What a difference a month makes…
Goats scrounging for food in Teotitlán del Valle – May 3, 2017
Streams have begun running in Teotitlán – June 6, 2017
Cerro Picacho and surrounding mountains have already turned green – June 6, 2017
Splashes of green now dot the rocky landscape at La Cuevita in Teotitlán – June 6, 2017
A green Teotitlán del Valle with a dam that is filling is a beautiful sight
This is good news, as this is an agricultural village and state.
Posted in Flora, Geography, Travel & Tourism, Weather | Tagged El Picacho, goats, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, rainy season, rivers, Teotitlán del Valle | 6 Comments »
… from my rooftop garden in the city.
Opuntia – April 2017
Lizard on the terraza – June 2017
A feathered friend watching from a distance – June 2017
Hibiscus flower this morning – June 2017
Posted in Animals, Casita Colibrí, Flora, Gardens | Tagged birds, cactus, flowers, gardens, hibiscus, lizards, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos | 4 Comments »
Along with much-needed rain and sparkling green cantera, tropical storm Beatriz also brought the one-day-a-year appearance of chicatanas (aka, tzicatana, tzicatl).
What, you might ask are chicatanas? They are giant flying ants that emerge with the first rains of the season — and by giant, I mean about 4 cm from the head to the tip of the wings for the females. (As in much of the insect world, males are smaller.) Known by the Nahuatl long before the arrival of the Spanish, they were mentioned in the 16th-century Florentine Codex which talked about the tzicatana living below ground and cultivating fungus to eat.
By this morning, the rain had stopped and when I returned from an early errand, I found chicatanas — queens (wings) and soldiers (wingless with vicious front pincers) — crawling around on my terrace and balcony. There were probably many more earlier, but I had been in a hurry and hadn’t noticed. By 10:30 AM they were gone.
Oh, and have I mentioned that they are a delicacy and a great source of protein? I’ve had chicatana salsa and chicatana mole several times. Below is Mole de Chicatanas I sampled during the Mole Festival in 2014. It’s from the Sierra Sur region of Oaxaca and made with chicatanas, pork ribs or loin, chile costeño, peanuts, and much more. It was yummy (and I was a picky eater as a child!), so I had it again at last year’s festival.
If you won’t take my word, check out this Bizarre Foods episode set in Oaxaca. (Chicatanas start at 1 min. 40 sec.) By the way, these are the dreaded leaf-cutter ants. However, it is the much smaller workers who can strip a tree overnight and are the bane of gardeners here. At least their queens and soldiers are good for something!
Post script: On a somber note, tropical storm Beatriz also brought flooding, mudslides, more downed trees, collapsed roads, and a current death toll of three.
Posted in Animals, Casita Colibrí, Culture, Food, Travel & Tourism, Weather | Tagged culinary traditions, Florentine Codex, food, insects, Mexico chicatanas, mole de chicatanas, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, rainy season, tzicatana | 4 Comments »
Rain has been falling in the city for over 24 hours, as Tropical Storm Beatriz slowly moves up Oaxaca’s coast and up and over Sierra Madre del Sur mountains. According to the National Hurricane Center, “over a foot of rain is possible in Mexico’s Oaxaca state through Friday with isolated amounts up to 20 inches possible.”
At various times in her past, because of the native green stone used to construct her buildings and pave her sidewalks, Oaxaca has been known as la Verde Antequera — the Emerald City.
Walking through the streets on a rainy day, it’s easy to see where she got her nickname.
While Beatriz may be causing headaches on the coast, the campesinos (and all who depend on them) in the Valle de Oaxaca, are rejoicing.
Posted in History, Science & Nature, Travel & Tourism, Weather | Tagged cantera, Emerald City, green stone, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, rain, rainy season, tropical storm, Tropical Storm Beatriz, Verde Antequera | 2 Comments »
Sorry folks, the bus doesn’t stop here. Why? You ask. Doesn’t red mean “stop”? Not here. Not now. There is DANGER; this edifice is in a bad state!
And, make sure to produce, disseminate, and teach about the dangers of buildings in hazardous states of disrepair. As Mother Nature has reminded us twice within the past week, this is earthquake country.
Posted in Buildings, Creativity, Signs, Transportation, Travel & Tourism | Tagged Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, popular travel destinations, poster art, posters, street art, street signs | Leave a Comment »
In front of Santo Domingo de Guzman…
Enjoy the day. It’s a jungle out there!
Posted in Celebrations, Education, Travel & Tourism | Tagged caps and gowns, graduation, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, students, Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán | Leave a Comment »
A word to the wise, be careful what you wish for…
After almost two weeks of 90º+(F) temperatures, late this afternoon lightening flashed, thunder rumbled, gusty winds replaced still humid air, and on Tlaloc’s command, torrential rain and hail pounded Oaxaca city. Water began coming in closed doors and windows, plants and chairs overturned on the terrace, an empty concrete bag flew up and over a ten foot fence and across the forty-five feet of my terrace landing at my doorstep, and power went out for almost two hours.
This evening, at Casita Colibrí, plants have been righted, chairs have been retrieved and stacked, and flooded floors have been mopped. However, in other parts of the city, there are reports of trees and power lines down, massive flooding, and a roof collapsed at Central de Abastos. Initial news reports (en español):
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Gardens, Science & Nature, Weather | Tagged garden, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, rain storms, storm damage, weather | 7 Comments »
This morning there were three… And, when I came out to greet my night blooming cereus, they looked wistful.
Remembering last night’s splendor? Or, reflecting on how fleeting their glory? Me? I’m appreciating their presence in my present.
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Flora, Gardens | Tagged flower of the day, flowers, garden, Mexico, Night Blooming Cereus, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, plants | 4 Comments »
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Riding to the rescue?
May 29, 2017 by spixl
We live in perilous times…
The signs are everywhere…
This guy can’t be the only one riding to the rescue.
We all must do our part.
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Posted in Creativity, Culture, Travel & Tourism | Tagged graffiti, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, political commentary, popular travel destinations, stencils, street art, wall art | 2 Comments »