How about exchanging guns for guitars?
From the walls of Oaxaca.
Posts Tagged ‘photographs’
I read the news today oh boy…
Posted in Creativity, Culture, Violence, tagged graffiti, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, street art, urban art, wall art on May 21, 2013| 2 Comments »
A picture is worth 1000 words
Posted in Education, Environment, Signs, tagged environmentalism, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, popular travel destinations, recycling, street art, Teotitlán del Valle, wall art on May 18, 2013| 1 Comment »
Santa María Tlahuitoltepec in B&W
Posted in Celebrations, Culture, Travel & Tourism, tagged Fiesta de Mayo, fiestas, Mexico, Mixe, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, Santa María Tlahuitoltepec, sierra norte on May 15, 2013| Leave a Comment »
The Fiesta de Mayo in Santa María Tlahuitoltepec lasted three days, though we were only there for a few hours on day two. There was to be a rodeo that night — a corral had been set up and bulls were arriving as we were leaving.
A timeless quality… but, not to be mistaken for being frozen in time. We are already making plans to return.
Into the Mixe
Posted in Celebrations, Culture, Travel & Tourism, tagged Ceremonia del Tepache, Fiesta de Mayo, fiestas, Mexico, Mixe, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, Santa María Tlahuitoltepec, sierra norte on May 14, 2013| 11 Comments »
Saturday, we drove up into the Sierra Norte, to the Mixe region of the state of Oaxaca. Our destination was Santa María Tlahuitoltepec and its Fiesta de Mayo. We had been attracted to their unique women’s traje (costume) by the work of one of the vendors at an artesanía feria in the city a couple of months ago. She invited us to the fiesta and so we went.
After winding our way up mountain roads filled with switchbacks and potholes, we turned off on a dirt road for the final ten minutes of our seventy-six mile journey from the city. We had climbed from 5,100 feet to over 7,800 feet above sea level on our three-hour drive up into pines. The name Tlahuitoltepec is made up of two Nahuatl words — Tlahuitol translates as “arched” and Tepec as “hill.” I can attest, Santa María Tlahuitoltepec is definitely built on a (very steep) “arched hill.” This is the same village that, at the end of September 2010, was hit with a devastating landslide that killed 11 residents, following record rainfall. And, as we drove up to the village, engineering work to repair and reinforce the hillside and road was visible and ongoing.
We weren’t exactly sure where we were going, stopped to ask, and were told to follow the signs to “el centro.” Our first indication that we were headed in the right direction was the sound, quickly followed by the sight, of a band playing and walking in the same direction we were. It was one of three youth bands we saw and heard during our brief stay; music is obviously very important in this remote mountain village. The pueblo plays host to the Center for Musical Training and Development of Mixe Culture and according to this article, an estimated 70% of the population can read music and many who can’t, play by ear.
And, along with music comes dance. Santa María Tlahuitoltepec will be participating in this year’s Guelaguetza in July — and its Ceremonia del Tepache is featured in one of the promotional videos. While there, we watched as a youth exhibition group performed three traditional dances to the appreciative crowd that filled the stands of the municipal court.
The uniqueness of each village never ceases to delight and impress me. You know when you are there, because you couldn’t be anywhere else.
Check out Oaxaca-The Year After for more photos from Saturday’s excursion.
Never a dull wall in Oaxaca
Posted in Creativity, Culture, Travel & Tourism, tagged graffiti, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, street art, street signs, urban art, wall art on May 9, 2013| Leave a Comment »
And now a return to the amazing street art from the walls near Calle de Melchor Ocampo and Calle de La Noria…
Never a dull moment or wall in Oaxaca!
New day dawning
Posted in Culture, Travel & Tourism, tagged Casa Elena, El Picacho, Las Granadas, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, Teotitlán del Valle on May 7, 2013| 7 Comments »
Saturday afternoon, I returned to Teotitlán del Valle with my neighbor Marga for that evening’s world premiere of “La Festividad de los Muertos,” a film documenting Day of the Dead in Teotitlán (more about that in an upcoming post). Transportation back to the city late at night would have been challenging, so it was an ideal excuse to finally spend the night in one of my favorite villages. Marga booked the last room at Casa Elena and I stayed across the street at Las Granadas (both recommended).
Sunday morning, I was awakened by roosters crowing, burros braying, cohetes (all bang, no bling fireworks) exploding, and the sound of a band playing. Breakfast wasn’t to be served until 8:30 am, so I went for an early morning walk.
An enchanting way to begin the day.
Celebrating children and culture
Posted in Celebrations, Culture, Holidays, Travel & Tourism, tagged basili, children, Children's Day, Children's Guelaguetza, costume, culture, Día de los Niños, Guelaguetza, Infantil Guelaguetza, Mexico, Mixteca, Oaxaca, parade, photographs, photos, traje on April 30, 2013| 8 Comments »
Today is Día de los Niños (Children’s Day) and it’s a big deal here. Oaxaca began her celebrations days ago. The 6th Festival of Children’s Story Telling opened on Saturday, yesterday an exibition of traditional toys (Colección Hanni Sager Juguete tradicional) had its inauguration at the Museo del Palacio, and Friday, the Guelaguetza Infantil calenda filled the streets from Santo Domingo to the Basilica de la Soledad.
As several bands played, the children from Oaxaca’s preschools wearing the traditional costumes from the 8 regions of the state of Oaxaca waited, posed, walked, danced, and threw candy to the appreciative crowds gathered on the sidewalks along the ten-block long route. (Note, some of the little girls already practicing holding canastas (baskets) on their heads!)
Parents and teachers, many also wearing traje from the Cañada, Costa, Istmo, Mixteca, Papaloapan, Sierra Norte, Sierra Sur, and the Valles Centrales regions, proudly walked alongside the children. Vive Oaxaca concluded their article,
With such events from the early years of life are taught to love our Oaxacan culture, traditions, music and preserve the best legacy we have: our roots. Congratulations to the teachers and parent to correctly perform with great momentum this holiday culture. [Google translation]
Where is everyone?
Posted in Creativity, Culture, Parks & Plazas, Travel & Tourism, tagged Mexico, microphone, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, Plaza de la Danza, speakers on April 28, 2013| 2 Comments »
Plaza de la Danza…
Microphone, speakers, and pigeon…
We are all here…
Where is everyone???
Hummingbird of the Mixteca
Posted in Creativity, Culture, Language, Music, Travel & Tourism, tagged Chikirriyó'i, colibrí, hummingbird, marble mason, Mexico, Mixteca, music, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, popular travel destinations on April 26, 2013| 5 Comments »
Wednesday in the Mixteca…
How could I resist? Photo, yes. Dining, no. We had already eaten and so were not tempted to try Restaurant El Colibrí, across the street. However, still scratching my head about the relationship between marble (marmol) and hummingbird (colibrí).
This librarian couldn’t resist doing a little research. According to Wikipedia, the hummingbird in Aztec culture was, “emblematic for their vigor, energy, and propensity to do work along with their sharp beaks that mimic instruments of weaponry, bloodletting, penetration, and intimacy.” Hmmm… the tools and strength needed by a marble mason. Now, it’s beginning to make sense.
(Thanks Chris for stopping so I could take the above photos.)
And now a song from the Mixteca, “Chikirriyó’i” (“El Colibrí”) (The Hummingbird):
Comida corrida, French-style
Posted in Food, Restaurants, Travel & Tourism, tagged Comida Corrida, Dondé está el Chef?, food, Gío, Jean Michel Thomas, lunch, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, popular travel destinations, restaurants on April 24, 2013| 8 Comments »
A meal named for the 3 parts of a bullfight? Yes, the origin of the name of Mexico’s ubiquitous 3-course, fixed price, midday meal, Comida Corrida, is derived from the “Tres tiempos” of a “Corrida de toros.”
Ordinarily, simple and substantial, chef Jean Michel Thomas of Gío (aka, Dondé está el Chef?) has taken it to a French infused gourmet level — all for only 80 pesos. My lunch on Monday…
Crema de Flor de Calabaza al Aji Panca accompanied by Agua de Jamaica
Tartare de Atún Fresco con Tomate y Arroz a la Mostaza de Dijon
Pastel de Chocolate Oaxaca con Coulis de Mango
Gío currently can be found at Eucaliptos 407A, Colonia Reforma, in the city of Oaxaca. It is open Monday through Friday, from 2:00 – 5:00 PM.
¡Buen provecho!
Matria, 3 weeks later
Posted in Agriculture, Buildings, Creativity, Culture, Environment, Gardens, People, Science & Nature, Travel & Tourism, tagged abandoned buildings, art, art installation, earth day, exhibition, Matria Jardín Arterapéutico, Megan Glore, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, Primavera, Seasons, Spring on April 22, 2013| Leave a Comment »
On this Earth Day, I thought I’d post photos of the Matria, Jardín Arterapéutico project. These were taken 3 weeks after my previous visit. Despite 90+° (F) temperatures since the garden was planted, it is thriving and very few plants have been lost.
The key to the garden’s success? Megan Glore and her team of volunteers are listening to what the plants are telling them and responding accordingly — just as we should all be doing with Mother Earth.
Relief, at long last
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Gardens, Weather, tagged Mexico, Oaxaca, photo, photographs, rain, weather on April 21, 2013| 2 Comments »
Listening to the rhythm of the falling rain.
Ahhh… At long last, relief from weeks of energy sapping heat and a long very dry winter.
Without words…
Posted in Environment, Protests, Science & Nature, Signs, tagged environmentalism, George Harrison quote, Juventud popular revolucionaria, los arboles, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, trees on April 19, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Only mad dogs and Englishmen…
Posted in Churches, Travel & Tourism, Weather, tagged Basilica de la Soledad, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, popular travel destinations, sidewalks, weather on April 17, 2013| 10 Comments »
… go out in the midday sun!
For more than a week, most afternoons have found me holed up inside my apartment with curtains drawn against an unrelenting sun — a semi-successful attempt to retain the cool air I’d ushered in when doors and windows were thrown open first thing in the morning.
These May-like temperatures, in the mid to high 90s F during the day, have been THE major topic of conversation amongst Oaxaqueños, ex-pats, and visitors, alike. If you must venture out, as I did yesterday, you hug that sliver of shadow. Umbrellas come in handy too!
The multiplex theaters on the outskirts of the city are some of the very few buildings with air-conditioning. However, to get there, one must take a sweltering bus or taxi ride through traffic clogged streets, never knowing when a bloqueo or road construction will bring your retreat to a scorching halt. A better alternative is to follow the lead of these priests processing into the Basilica and head to the nearest church. Mil gracias to the architectural gods for their thick stone walls and soaring ceilings!
¡Hace mucho calor! Time for a siesta…
Like a bird on a wire…
Posted in Creativity, Culture, Music, Travel & Tourism, tagged Bird On a Wire, graffiti, Leonard Cohen, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, popular travel destinations, street art, urban art, wall art on April 15, 2013| 4 Comments »
More from the wall art at Calle Melchor Ocampo and La Noria. I can’t help thinking of Leonard Cohen’s, Bird on a Wire.
Like a bird on a wire,
Like a drunk in a midnight choir
I have tried in my way to be free.
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