On this Valentine’s Day, I’m celebrating with Oaxaca’s walls that speak of things we love.
In Mexico we say, ¡Feliz Día del Amor y la Amistad! (Happy Day of Love and Friendship!)
Posts Tagged ‘murals’
For the love of murals
Posted in Creativity, Culture, Holidays, Travel & Tourism, tagged Día del Amor y la Amistad, murals, Oaxaca, photos, popular travel destinations, street art, urban art, Valentine's Day, wall art on February 14, 2026| 5 Comments »
Focusing on the joy
Posted in Celebrations, Churches, Creativity, Culture, Exhibitions, Holidays, Neighborhoods, Travel & Tourism, tagged alebrije, beaches, calendas, demonstrations, holiday decorations, Mexico, murals, New Year's Eve, New Year's wish, Newton Massachusetts, Oaxaca, photos, popular travel destinations, San Francisco Bay Area, Teotitlán del Valle, wedding calenda on December 31, 2025| 6 Comments »
As 2025 moves from the front windshield to the rear view mirror, instead of focusing on the (metaphoric) traffic nightmares of speed demons, red light runners, and auto wrecks that can lead to what Reading the Pictures refers to as “carnage fatigue,” I’d like to follow their example and look back at those experiences and sights that brought me joy — my “rebuke to narcissism and the cult of personality [preferring] togetherness as the new order.”
¡Feliz Año Nuevo! My wish for 2026 is that you experience many moments of joy and they help sustain and embolden you through the greed-fueled chaos that tries to engulf and silence us. Muchisimas gracias for reading!
Happy Birthday Oaxaca de Juárez
Posted in Celebrations, Creativity, Culture, History, Holidays, Travel & Tourism, tagged 493rd anniversary, Happy Birthday Oaxaca, Mexico, murals, Oaxaca, photos, popular travel destinations, street art, street sweepers, trees, urban art, wall art on April 25, 2025| 2 Comments »
Ah, Oaxaca. Another year, another birthday. Today, marks the 493rd anniversary of the elevation Oaxaca de Juárez to the rank of a city by Charles V of Spain. It was a political move by villagers to keep Antequera, as it was then called, out the hands of the Marquis, Hernán Cortes, who controlled the surrounding territory and villages. And, in honor of her birthday, I’m posting some of my favorite recent Oaxaca sights.
Of course, we know Oaxaca’s history goes back thousands of years before Spain even existed. Her past is still present and that’s one of the things I love most about Oaxaca.
Taste of my return
Posted in Animals, Casita Colibrí, Creativity, Culture, Food, Travel & Tourism, tagged cats on a roof, flowers in a vase, Mexico, murals, Oaxaca, papel picado, photos, popular travel destinations, street art, tamales, urban art, wall art on January 31, 2025| 10 Comments »
After being in el norte for an entire year (by far the longest I’ve been away from Oaxaca since I relocated 15+ years ago), I’m back! It’s been mostly a smooth return — well, except for my refrigerator’s failed fuse, causing a freezer full of tamales, mole, and soup stocks to spoil. Thankfully, my neighbors discovered it the day before my return and emptied and cleaned the refrigerator and an electrician replaced the fuse a mere ten hours before my arrival. Since then, this past week has been spent restocking the larder, cleaning, attending to the garden, catching up with friends, and enjoying my home, my neighborhood, and the flavors of Oaxaca — including…
The murals…
The streets…
The door-to-door flower vendor…
The comida…
And, let’s not forget, the view from Casita Colibrí!
It’s SO good to be back — alas, if only for a month. However, I intend to relish every moment!
Month of Juquila, Guadalupe & Soledad
Posted in Celebrations, Creativity, Culture, Religion, Travel & Tourism, tagged Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe, Día de la Virgen de Juquila, Dia de la Virgen de la Soledad, festivals and fiestas, Mexico, murals, Nuestra Señora de la Soledad, Oaxaca, photos, popular travel destinations, religious celebrations, street art, urban art, Virgen de Guadalupe, Virgen de Juquila, Virgen de La Soledad, Virgin of Guadalupe, Virgin of Juquila, Virgin of Solitude, wall art on December 7, 2024| 6 Comments »
If you don’t like clanging bells, fireworks bursting in air, and navigating procession-blocked streets (at all hours of the day and night), you might want to avoid being in Oaxaca in December. The month heralds seemingly round-the-clock joyous, sometimes solemn, and mostly noisy celebrations. This month, honoring the feast days of the Virgins of Juquila, Guadalupe, and Soledad elicits some of the most enthusiastic, lengthy, and loud festivities of the year.
December 8 marks Día de la Virgen de Juquila — the first of the three virgins being celebrated this month. Observances began weeks ago as pilgrims began their peregrinations to her tiny Chatino village of Santa Catarina Juquila. And, in Oaxaca city, processions began filling the streets, cohetes (rockets) began exploding, and church bells sounded announcing special misas (masses).
Next on the on the calendar is the more widely known date of December 12, honoring la Virgen de Guadalupe, aka, Queen of Mexico, Empress of America, and patron saint of México. However, the celebrating has already begun and besides fireworks, processions, and church bells chiming, professional photographers set up “Guadalupe grottos” outside Oaxaca’s Templo de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe so, after being blessed inside the church, parents can have their little boys and girls, dressed in traditional traje (costume), photographed. Once finished, all can partake in the rows upon rows of food stalls, carnival rides, and puestos selling toys, Santa hats, Christmas lights.
Last, but not least for Oaxaqueños, is December 18, the feast day of the much loved and revered, Queen of Oaxaca, La Santísima Virgen de La Soledad (Virgin of Solitude). Festivities with special religious rites, processions, and fireworks usually begin in early December, overlapping with Juquila and Guadalupe. Soledad’s celebration culminates with hundreds of her devotees camping out in the atrium of her church, the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad, on the night of December 17 — with musical entertainment throughout the night, afternoon cultural performances the next day, and several outdoor masses from before dawn to nightfall on the 18th. Food stalls take over the stairs leading to the Basílica and the street below (Independencia) is closed for several blocks with carnival rides and stalls selling more sweets and savories, religious tchotchkes, clothing, and much more. It’s lively, crowded, and loud!
I’m still in el norte and all is quiet. While it makes for a better night’s sleep, I’m missing the raucous and joy-filled cacophony that fills Oaxaca’s days and nights in December.
Sights along the way
Posted in Churches, Creativity, Culture, Travel & Tourism, tagged Iglesia de Los Siete Príncipes, Mexico, murals, Oaxaca, photos, popular travel destinations, street art, Templo y exconvento de los Siete Príncipes, urban art, wall art on November 23, 2024| 7 Comments »
Last January, I needed to go to the Aragal shipping facility to pick up a Christmas present — two jars of Salsa Macha made for me by K, best gal pal and former neighbor who was my personal cocinera (cook) during those dark days of Covid. The salsa made a circuitous journey from K’s kitchen in Teotitlán del Valle to my kitchen in Barrio de Jalatlaco. The route included being tucked in the back of our friend’s van while we all enjoyed a day trip to Ocotlán and San Antonino Castillo Velasco, once back in the city, being forgotten as I scrambled out of the van amidst bumper-to-bumper traffic, venturing up over the mountains to Puerto Escondido in said van, belatedly being remembered, and thus shipped by my van-owning friend back to me in Oaxaca.
And so, two weeks after it began its journey, I found myself walking south to Aragal to retrieve my errant gift. This is not a route I normally traverse and it’s definitely not in a touristy part of the city. However, being Oaxaca, there was no end of sights to surprise and delight — from the sacred of the Templo de los Siete Príncipes to the profane of the street art along the way.
The two glass jars of Salsa Macha made it intact with only a tiny bit of leakage. Whew! And, no surprise, the salsa was super delicious.
Muertos guys & gals
Posted in Celebrations, Creativity, Culture, Holidays, Travel & Tourism, tagged calacas, Catrinas, Day of the Dead, Day of the Dead decor, Día de Muertos, Mexico, murals, Oaxaca, photos, popular travel destinations, skeletons, street art, urban art, wall art on October 27, 2024| 9 Comments »
It’s Halloween time up here in el norte and the occasional house features spiders poised to pounce in webs strung across bushes, witches with broomsticks guard front gates, and pumpkins decorate entries signaling trick or treaters are welcome. A few skeletons have moved into the neighborhood but none are as well dressed and accessorized as those seen last year loitering on sidewalks, hanging out on walls, and dining in the restaurants of Oaxaca during Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead).
What can I say? I’m missing these guys and gals inhabiting Oaxaca this time of year.
Here and there, it’s up to us
Posted in Creativity, Culture, Environment, Travel & Tourism, tagged environmentalism, Mexico, Mill Valley, murals, Oaxaca, photos, recycling bins, street art, Teotitlán del Valle, urban art on October 15, 2024| Leave a Comment »
The world is your home. Take care!
Never forget…
No matter where one lives, the fate of the earth is in our hands.
Close encounters of the mural kind
Posted in Creativity, Culture, Travel & Tourism, tagged Mexico, murals, Oaxaca, photos, popular travel destinations, street art, urban art, wall art on August 11, 2024| 5 Comments »
On the streets of Oaxaca, you never know when you will see…
…close encounters of the mural kind.
Taste of Oaxaca in Brooklyn
Posted in Creativity, Culture, Food, Restaurants, Travel & Tourism, tagged Brooklyn, Diana Montaño Santiago, Mexican restaurants, murals, Oaxaca cuisine, photos, popular travel destinations, Sobre Masa, street art, Zack Wangeman on June 2, 2024| 2 Comments »
I’m still in el norte. The good news is I’m missing the multiple months of unrelenting 90º+ F (ugh!) weather Oaxaca has been experiencing. The bad news is my taste buds have been missing the flavors of Oaxaca. However, last Sunday, while visiting my Oaxaca snowbird neighbors at their home on Long Island, New York, we ventured into the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn for brunch at Sobre Masa.
The restaurant is the creation of young couple, Diana and Zack Wangeman — both born and raised in Oaxaca and offspring of treasured friends of mine. Zack is a classically trained chef and Diana, a Mexican doctor who grew up in the kitchen of Tierra Antigua, the restaurant in Teotitlán del Valle of her traditional cocinera mother, Carina Santiago. My craving for the complex flavors and real nixtamalized tortillas I have come to know and love, was more than satisfied! (Please forgive the images below, as I was too busy diving into each dish and kept forgetting to take photos.)
If you find yourself in and around New York City, get thee to Brooklyn, enjoy the sophisticated flavors of traditional southern Mexico cuisine, and begin to understand why Oaxaca has become one of the foodie capitals of the world. In addition, like Oaxaca, murals decorate neighborhood walls!
Vehicular juxtaposition
Posted in Creativity, Culture, Transportation, Travel & Tourism, tagged car, Mexico, motorcycles, murals, Oaxaca, photos, popular travel destinations, street art, urban art, wall art on April 4, 2024| 4 Comments »
Sometimes the sights along the streets of Oaxaca make me chuckle.
And, I just have to stop and record the scene.
Art never dies
Posted in Creativity, Culture, Music, Neighborhoods, Travel & Tourism, tagged Barrio de Jalatlaco, Dios nunca muere, Macedonio Alcalá, Mexico, murals, Oaxaca, photos, popular travel destinations, street art, urban art, wall art on February 23, 2024| 4 Comments »
Another mural in progress by Bouler in Barrio de Jalatlaco.
The paint, brushes, and song by Macedonio Alcalá (sung by Javier Solis) may proclaim…
God never dies…
But, I think art never dies.
Domesticated by corn
Posted in Agriculture, Celebrations, Creativity, Culture, Food, Travel & Tourism, tagged Carina Santiago, corn, Día Nacional del Maíz, food, Los Guardianes del Maíz (documentary), maíz, Mexico, murals, National Day of Corn, Oaxaca, photos, popular travel destinations, street art, Teotitlán del Valle, urban art, wall art on September 29, 2023| 6 Comments »
Today, September 29, Mexico celebrates Día Nacional del Maíz — a day honoring the sacred maíz, symbol of the country and base food crop for most of the nation. In Oaxaca, one never has to look far to see corn and not just in fields. Corn is depicted in murals, featured in decorations, and (of course) on most every dining table, most every day.
In the words of cocinera tradicional Carina Santiago, at the beginning of the trailer (below) for the tremendous documentary, Los Guardianes del Maíz / The Keepers of Corn, “Corn was not domesticated by man, man was domesticated by corn.”
Back in Oaxaca
Posted in Celebrations, Creativity, Culture, Neighborhoods, Travel & Tourism, tagged Barrio de Jalatlaco, Mexico, murals, Oaxaca, papel picado, photos, popular travel destinations, street art, urban art, wall art, wedding calenda on August 24, 2023| Leave a Comment »
I got out of Dodge (aka, San Diego) last Friday morning, August 18, 2023 — just in time. Happiness was missing the historic arrival in California of Tropical Storm Hilary. Whew!!!
It’s good to be back.
Handwriting is on the wall
Posted in Creativity, Culture, Travel & Tourism, tagged Mexico, murals, Oaxaca, photos, popular travel destinations, San Antonino Castillo Velasco, San Pablo Villa de Mitla, street art, urban art, wall art on August 17, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Tomorrow, I return to the land where the handwriting is on the wall.
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- Of marigolds and fruit
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- Beacon to my departed
- No Kings, Oaxaca style!
- Independence Day, Oaxaca style
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- There and here
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- A donkey not a warhorse
- Honoring the artisans
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- Month of Juquila, Guadalupe & Soledad
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