photos | View From Casita Colibrí | Page 87

Feeds:: Posts; Comments

Posts Tagged ‘photos’

Expect the unexpected!

Posted in Culture, History, tagged costumes, Donají, fashion, Guelaguetza, legend, Mexico, Oaxaca, Official shield, photo shoot, photography, photos, Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán, traje, travel, Zapotec on July 16, 2012| 5 Comments »

Early Saturday morning I was on my way to the doctor’s office, thus walking with purpose. However, turning onto Constitución, along the south side of Santo Domingo, I had to pause…

A photo shoot in progress? I didn’t actually have a doctor’s appointment, just dropping by for a consultation (common here), so I lingered.

HE was obviously modeling “glamed-up” Aztec. But SHE…

Hmmm… Japanese??? Of course not! Comparing it to images found in the codices, it, too, is an extremely stylized expression of the fashion and hair of some classes of Aztec women.

¡Muy hermosa!

Update: I think Sheri is probably correct. This may be a promotion for, or at least evoke, the annual reenactment of the Donají la leyenda, during Guelaguetza. It is the legend of Princess Donají, a Zapotec princess who was kidnapped and decapitated by rival Mixtecos. Her beautiful head was later found intact by a shepherd under a lily. The body and head were reunited and buried together near, what is now, the city of Oaxaca’s airport. The face of Donají appears on the official shield of the city of Oaxaca de Juárez.

The elevation and celebration of this story makes me wonder how today’s Mixtecos feel about it…

Read Full Post »

Just asking…

Posted in Creativity, Culture, tagged graffiti, Mexico, Oaxaca, photography, photos on July 14, 2012| 2 Comments »

Who do you love?

Read Full Post »

Dying day

Posted in Creativity, Home, Textiles, tagged Casita Colibrí, cotton dying, cotton yarn, dye bath, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, textiles, yarn dying on July 13, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Have I mentioned there is a weaving business that operates out of the apartment complex where I live? Most of the operations have recently moved offsite — apparently, not so the dying.

I returned home on Tuesday to find a fire roaring…

A dye bath roiling…

Luci and Luís rinsing and removing excess water from newly dyed cotton yarn…

And, a new view from Casita Colibrí…

Hanks now just “hanging out” above the looms…

Read Full Post »

Thinking baseball…

Posted in Culture, Sports & Recreation, tagged baseball, beisbol, Guerreros de Oaxaca, Linda Oaxaca, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, sculpture of baseball players, seventh inning stretch on July 10, 2012| Leave a Comment »

MLB All Star Game is on Cablemas (Lo siento mi maestra, el idioma es el Inglés.) and players from my San Francisco Giants are kicking “you know what!” I’d hoped to take the ferry (a very civilized way to go) to a Giants’ game when I was in the Bay Area last month, but, alas, time got away from me.

Oaxaca has a Minor League team, the Guerreros de Oaxaca, a Triple-A team in the Mexican League and their stadium is within (long) walking distance. Alas, I haven’t been to one of their games this season, either! However, last week I did wander by their office; the door was open and revealed this wonderful sculpture…

Closeup of baseball player on sculpture with bat on shoulder, wearing Guerreros de Oaxaca cap and jersey.

By the way, during the seventh inning stretch, fans rise and sing, “Linda Oaxaca” (Beautiful Oaxaca). It always brings a smile and I’ll take it over “God Bless America” every time!

Read Full Post »

Respect and ritual

Posted in Celebrations, Churches, Culture, Religion, Travel & Tourism, tagged cargo system, cargosMexico, danzantes, Doña Marina, festivals, fiestas, La Preciosa Sangre de Cristo, Malinche, Oaxaca, patronal festividad, photographs, photos, soldados, Teotitlán del Valle, travel on July 9, 2012| Leave a Comment »

The convite (covered in the Uplifting post) is only one of the traditions of the patronal festival of La Preciosa Sangre de Cristo. During the five days of the celebration, the church is filled with floral arrangements and believers stream in and out clutching flowers; the Danza de la Pluma (with Moctezuma, Cortez, Malinche, Doña Marina, danzantes, and soldados) is performed several times; and the cargo holders of the community preside, are honored, and presented with fresh fruits, vegetables, sacred herbs, and beverages.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Sunday was another amazing day in Teotitlán del Valle. And I haven’t even mentioned the tacos and tamales we devoured during our three visits this past week!

Read Full Post »

Uplifting…

Posted in Celebrations, Culture, Religion, tagged convite, danzantes, El Picacho, festivals, fiestas, La Preciosa Sangre de Cristo, Mexico, Oaxaca, parade, patronal festividad, photographs, photos, sacred mountain, soldados, Teotitlán del Valle, travel on July 7, 2012| 10 Comments »

Late yesterday afternoon, we returned to Teotitlán del Valle for the convite (parade) of unmarried young women and girls, a part of the annual patronal festival of La Preciosa Sangre de Cristo. The sun was shining, the rains of two days before were nowhere to be seen, and the sacred mountain, El Picacho, gracefully, but commandingly, presided as the soldados and danzantes entered the church courtyard.

Bands also arrived to take part…

Canastas (baskets) were lined up, ready to be carried…

The young men of the village gathered…

Family and friends awaited…

And then the young unmarried women and girls, the stars of the evening, raised the canastas over their heads…

Balancing the canastas, they processed from the courtyard, down several long and cobblestone blocks, turned left, and headed back up another street to where they had begun, to be greeted by proud family and friends, who had gathered to acknowledge and celebrate the young women and girls of Teotitlán del Valle.

For some inexplicable reason, we never cease to feel moved and uplifted by this ritual.

Read Full Post »

Food for the soul

Posted in Celebrations, Culture, Travel & Tourism, tagged festivals, fiestas, La Preciosa Sangre de Cristo, Mexico, Oaxaca, patronal festividad, photographs, photos, Teotitlán del Valle, travel on July 5, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Yesterday, fellow blogger, Chris, and I drove out to Teotitlán del Valle for their yearly patronal festividad de La Preciosa Sangre de Cristo. The rains came and we didn’t stay long. But, as we almost always find, just being out there provides much appreciated food for the soul.

Read Full Post »

Room with a view

Posted in Buildings, Churches, Gardens, Weather, tagged African Tulip trees, Casita Colibrí, garden, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, Templo de San José on July 4, 2012| 4 Comments »

Late yesterday afternoon; outdoor room (aka: my terrace) with a view. Ahhhhh….

And, despite the clouds above, this morning I can report, no rain for 36 hours!

Read Full Post »

Under construction

Posted in Buildings, Food, Markets, tagged grocery shopping, markets, Mercado IV Centenario, mercados, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, renovation on June 30, 2012| 3 Comments »

One of the pleasures of living here, is grocery shopping at the traditional mercados. As the map from my local Mercado IV Centenario shows, the variety of items sold rivals any US supermarket chain.

The freshness and quality far exceeds anything the chains have to offer and you can’t beat the personal attention.

There is something comforting about being recognized and greeted by favorite vendors and gratifying about purchasing tamales proudly sold by the loving hands that made them.

However, on May 14, 2012, Mercado IV Centenario, operated by the municipio of Oaxaca de Juárez, began a much-needed major renovation. The doors have been locked…

and demolition has begun.

According to a May 25th article, the project includes a new roof and bathrooms, waterproofing, installing tile floors, interior and exterior painting, and rehabilitation of the water, sanitation, and electrical systems. In addition, an access door on the busy avenida Independencia will be constructed.

For the duration of the renovation, the merchants and their stalls have been relocated under a big blue tent in Jardín Morelos on Independencia, across from the chain supermarket, Soriana. Rather than hurting business, the vendors report sales have increased at the temporary site and are hoping to bring the new customers along when they move into the newly renovated Mercado IV Centenario.

Read Full Post »

¡Bienvenido verano!

Posted in Buildings, Creativity, Culture, tagged 142 Throckmorton, California, first day of summer, graffiti, Mexico, Mill Valley, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, street art, travel, wall art, Zio Ziegler on June 20, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Wanna see me pull a rabbit out of my hat?

Happy first day of summer.

From the walls of Oaxaca…

To the walls of Mill Valley…

Reclining bull painted on side of wall

by artist, Zio Zieler

Enjoy!!!

Save

Read Full Post »

¡Feliz día del padre!

Posted in Celebrations, tagged Día del Padre, Father's Day, fathers and children, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos on June 17, 2012| Leave a Comment »

The fathers of Oaxaca…

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Read Full Post »

Surreal in SF

Posted in Creativity, Culture, Exhibitions, Museums, People, Travel & Tourism, tagged Alejandro Santiago Ramírez, Alredo Canseco, Ariel Mendoza Baños, art, arts, exhibitions, Francisco Toledo, Jorge López García, Juan Alxázar Méndez, Justina Fuentes Zárate, Marimar Suárez Peñalva, Mexican consulate, mexican consulate in san francisco, Mexico, Oaxaca, Oaxacan surrealism hits the SF Mexican consulate, photographs, photos, Rubén Leyva, Rufino Tamayo, San Francisco, The Magic Surrealists of Oaxaca, travel on June 15, 2012| 2 Comments »

As hoped, I managed to make my way to the Mexican Consulate in San Francisco for The Magic Surrealists of Oaxaca. It’s the exhibit (I mentioned a few days ago) that celebrates the Zapotec artists of Oaxaca from Rufino Tamayo and Francisco Toledo to those they encouraged and influenced.

On the consulate’s ground floor the scene was a familiar one — signage and conversations en español; the eagle, serpent and green, white, and red of the Mexican flag prominently displayed; waiting room filled with patiently waiting people — a sliver of Mexico in San Francisco. Climbing the two flights of stairs (elevator was broken) up to the third floor, a friend and I found the exhibit…

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

According to the article, Oaxacan surrealism hits the SF Mexican consulate, the consulate’s cultural affairs attache, Marimar Suárez Peñalva, hopes the gallery and its exhibitions will offer Mexican expats an opportunity to connect with the creativity, not just the bureaucracy (my word), of their culture. However, I don’t know how many of those waiting on the first floor make it up to the third floor; early in the afternoon, we had the gallery to ourselves.

And yes, works by Tamayo and Toledo are included, but I thought I’d feature some of the lesser known artists. By the way, did you notice the name, Alejandro Santiago Ramírez? This is the same Alejandro Santiago of the 2501 Migrantes sculptures that I’ve previously written about.

Read Full Post »

Graphic design, Oaxacan style

Posted in Creativity, Culture, tagged AK Crew, Biek, graffiti, Macs, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, Ser, Serckas, street art, wall art on June 8, 2012| 2 Comments »

Walking back from grocery shopping, with a lighter than usual load, I took a detour and stumbled on this wall only two blocks from home.

Doing a little research, I found a video of it being painted…

Graphic design, Oaxacan style!

Read Full Post »

Image enhancement

Posted in Buildings, Food, Gardens, Parks & Plazas, Renovation, tagged frozen dessert, ice cream, Jardín Sócrates, Mexico, Nevería Malena, neveria, nieves, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, public spaces, renovation, Socrates Garden on June 2, 2012| 2 Comments »

On my first visit to Oaxaca, I was introduced to Jardín Sócrates, part of the Templo de la Soledad/Plaza de la Danza complex, between Independencia and Morelos. The original Jardín Sócrates was constructed as a public garden in 1881 and remodeled for its 100th birthday.

I have a weakness for ice cream, sherbet, and gelato and, thus, was completely “in heaven” being surrounded by stands selling the most amazing flavors of milk and water based frozen desserts.

Everyone has their favorite vendor, my friend G was partial to Nevería Malena, and so we sat down at one of their yellow and white iron tables.

It was SO hard to decide what to order; being tempted by too many choices and being mystified by what many of the flavors actually were.

What in the world is Beso de Angel? I settled on a scoop of Leche Quemada (burnt milk) with a scoop of Tuna (fruit of the nopal cactus NOT the fish) on top. I was hooked!

As it worked out, two years later I moved into an apartment only a block away and I pass by Jardín Sócrates at least a couple of times a week. However, in mid October 2011, carpenters began constructing wooden puestos along Independencía below the Jardín. Ready for a feria? I wondered. Then they were painted! These took on a semi-permanent character. Hmmm…

Soon, a sign went up explaining the Jardín Sócrates was undergoing an “image enhancement,” courtesy of the federal and municipal governments.

Demolition soon began, including the removal of the original green cantera (stone) pavement.

And, the neverías began moving down to the temporary puestos on Independencia. I found Nevería Malena, ordered my usual, and asked how long the relocation was going to last. “No sé.” (“Don’t know.”) was the answer.

Eight new stalls were constructed, the cantera was replaced with red terracotta tile, and new tables, chairs, and umbrellas materialized. After five months, the newly “enhanced” Jardín Sócrates opened on March 29, 2012.

It does look lovely — orderly and coordinated — but I kind of miss the color and funkiness of the old.

Read Full Post »

Beyond the broken window…

Posted in Buildings, tagged abandoned buildings, buildings, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, rubble on May 28, 2012| 3 Comments »

It may look like a dilapidated building on the outside, but you never know what lies behind those walls.

Sometimes, when the timing is right the massive iron gates are opened to let the residents pass in or out, one catches a glimpse of a courtyard filled with lush tropical plants, splashes of bright colors, a stone pathway winding its way through a garden, and often a burbling fountain to block the sounds of the city.

Other times, what lies beyond, is nothing more than as advertised! But, beautiful in its own way…

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »