Posted in Casita Colibrí, Churches, Flora, Gardens, Travel & Tourism, tagged crocosmia plant, flowers, Jasmine flowers, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, Templo San Felipe Neri, terrace garden, views, wind chimes on June 27, 2020| 2 Comments »
When the outings are few and far between and limited to walking distance, I’m appreciating the views from and around Casita Colibrí even more.
June 3, 2020 – Templo de San Felipe Neri in early morning
June 3, 2020 – Jasmine in the afternoon
June 4, 2020 – Wind chimes in the late afternoon
June 5, 2020 – Crocosmia around noon
June 5, 2020 – Looking southeast over the city in early evening
Be safe and well and look for the beauty.
Posted in Buildings, Churches, Food, Health, Science & Nature, Tragedy, Travel & Tourism, tagged Chapulines, construction workers, coronavirus fallout, COVID-19 fallout, disasters, earthquake, grasshoppers, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, Templo de San José on June 24, 2020| 8 Comments »
This morning’s headline in NVI Noticias: Oaxaca revive pesadilla de los sismos en lo más álgido de la epidemia por COVID-19 (Oaxaca relives the nightmare of earthquakes in the height of the epidemic by COVID-19). I wasn’t in Oaxaca for the 8.1 earthquake September 7, 2017, so I don’t know what it felt like. However, I still have vivid memories of experiencing the magnitude 6.9 Loma Prieta earthquake in the San Francisco Bay Area. As scary as that one was, yesterday’s 7.5 temblor was definitely more violent and lasted longer.
The good news is I, my neighbors, and all my friends in Oaxaca are okay and the city sustained mostly minor damage. However, there is much devastation to roads, homes, and other structures closer to the epicenter near Huatulco. And, saddest of all, the death toll is now up to seven. For a more complete report, with dozens of photos, click on the article, Suman siete muertos por el terremoto.
Two months ago work stopped on the roof and bell tower of Templo de San José — due to virus restrictions on construction sites. This morning, workers returned to check out earthquake damage.
This, and the state of Oaxaca’s coronavirus statistics, like most of Mexico, continue to rise precipitously. And, unfortunately, many of the hospitals near the quake’s epicenter sustained damage. (Click on image to enlarge.)
Side by side statistics: June 19 and June 23. Grey=cases notified; green=negatives; orange=suspected; red=confirmed; turquoise=recovered; black=deaths
Oh, and did I mention, we have had massive rain storms the last two nights? We are all wondering what is next, locusts? 
Yikes, look what I found on my screen door this morning! At least in Oaxaca, we know what to do with chapulines (grasshoppers) — toast them on a comal with lime and salt. They are a great source of protein. Yummm…
Posted in Creativity, Culture, People, Tragedy, Travel & Tourism, Violence, tagged Benito Juárez image, coronavirus fallout, COVID-19 fallout, George Floyd image, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, protest art, stencils, street art, urban art, URTARTE, wall art on June 22, 2020| 8 Comments »
From the streets of Oaxaca, Benito Juárez is masked and throwing hand sanitizer, as the Covid-19 denier-in-chief looks down from el norte.
Police violence and protests captured on cell phones and broadcast live on the internet fill our screens and walls.
George Floyd, plus countless others, are dead but not forgotten.
There is no joy in Oaxaca as the twin plagues of the virus and racism command our consciousness here, there, and everywhere.
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 on June 19, 2020| 12 Comments »
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 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 on June 13, 2020| 6 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 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 on June 9, 2020| 12 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 Casita Colibrí, Flora, Gardens, Travel & Tourism, tagged cactus flowers, Casita Colibrí, Cleistocactus flowers, flowers, Gymnocalycium flower, Jatropha podagrica, Mexico, Monadenium flowers, Oaxaca, photos, Quaqua flowers, succulent flowers, succulents, terrace garden on June 6, 2020| 15 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, tagged bees, Dragon fruit, garden, Hylocereus undatus, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, white flowers on June 3, 2020| 7 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 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 on June 1, 2020| 8 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, 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 on May 29, 2020| 4 Comments »
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) on May 23, 2020| 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, 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) on May 20, 2020| 20 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 Animals, Health, Travel & Tourism, tagged #DogsAtHome, #QuédateEnCasa, coronavirus fallout, COVID-19 fallout, dogs, MEX-COVID19 Daily Briefing, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos on May 17, 2020| 6 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 Creativity, Culture, Neighborhoods, Travel & Tourism, tagged Mexico, murals, Oaxaca, photos, popular travel destinations, street art, urban art, wall art, Zempasuchil Studio on May 14, 2020| 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 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 on May 11, 2020| 4 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.
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