Posted in Casita Colibrí, Gardens, Travel & Tourism, Weather, tagged Mexico, Oaxaca, popular travel destinations, rain, rain storms, rainy season, rooftop garden, video on August 12, 2022| Leave a Comment »
At long last, thunder is rumbling and rain is pouring down on the highways, byways, and rooftops of Oaxaca. If you look closely, you can see the buckets collecting the runoff from the new pergola.
Oaxaca, a largely agricultural state, desperately needs the rain. Let’s hope it lasts!
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Travel & Tourism, Weather, tagged cloudy sky, dusk, eerie sky, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, popular travel destinations, rain storms, rainbow, rainy season on September 15, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Pink sky at night, sailors’ delight.
Pink sky in the morning, sailors take warning.
What about a weird sky at dusk?
Last night’s sky over Oaxaca was the talk of locals on Facebook. Rain came an hour later.
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Flora, Travel & Tourism, Weather, tagged Mexico, Oaxaca, popular travel destinations, rain, rainy season, video on September 4, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Yesterday’s view from my front door…
A late afternoon deluge. This is the rainy season in Oaxaca!
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Flora, Gardens, Travel & Tourism, Weather, tagged Barrio de Jalatlaco, clouds, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, rainy season, terrace garden, terrace views, trees on August 25, 2021| 6 Comments »
With storms to the north and storms to the south, Oaxaca is stuck in the middle. And the rain keeps falling. Sometimes, the sun peeks through the clouds…
And, sometimes it doesn’t…
Sometimes it rains in the late afternoon, sometimes at night, and sometimes (like today) the rains come on and off throughout the day. ‘Tis the season.
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Travel & Tourism, Weather, tagged Basilica de la Soledad, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, popular travel destinations, rainy season, sunset, Templo de San José on May 27, 2021| 7 Comments »
Alive, well, back in Oaxaca, and enjoying the views from Casita Colibrí.
I arrived three days ago and, unbeknownst to me (as it was supposed to go all the way through to Oaxaca) my checked bag was held up in customs at the Mexico City airport. I can’t imagine what the problem was. Perhaps 5 dry sticks of Sure deodorant? 4 pairs of gardening gloves (1 for me 3 for gifts)? 3 used books? Or, maybe the 15 used compost-able plastic bags I brought back to line my waste baskets? No explanation was forthcoming, but they did put my suitcase on the next flight that evening and delivered it to my apartment around 9 PM — nothing confiscated, no customs fee, and NOTHING missing!
From the evening I returned, I began sneezing, nose began running, and I developed a head-crushing sinus headache. Except for a quick trip to the pharmacy to buy an allergy medicine, I spent all Tuesday in bed. This has never happened before, but everyone is telling me that this season, this year is really bad for allergies. By Wednesday, I was feeling a little stuffy, but much better.
The rainy season was just beginning when I left six weeks ago and now, the hills are turning green, the garden is lush, and tonight, as the sun sets, thunder is rumbling, lightening is flashing in the distance, and a few raindrops have fallen. It’s good to be back!
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Travel & Tourism, Weather, tagged garden, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, popular travel destinations, rain, rainy season on August 10, 2018| 4 Comments »
It’s been a rainy season that “is not” more than “is.” However, tonight around 6:00 PM, I heard the unmistakable sound of rain and looked out the window.
This is incredibly good news for the mostly subsistence farmers in the valley of Oaxaca, as crops have been struggling and reservoirs are low.
The lack of rain has even impacted weavers who rely on plants, rather than chemicals, to dye their yarn.
We have also had a little hail along with continuing thunder and lightning.
Two hours and counting… Giving thanks to Cocijo (Zapotec god of rain, thunder, and lightning) and hoping this isn’t a one hit wonder.
Posted in Celebrations, Culture, Travel & Tourism, tagged Desfile de Delegaciones, Guelaguetza, Mexico, Oaxaca, Parade of Delegations, photographs, photos, rain, rain ponchos, rainy season on July 15, 2017| 7 Comments »
This evening, the rain began falling as the delegations for the first Saturday Guelaguetza desfile began gathering. Are we having fun, yet?
However, just like last year, the show must go on and the dancing must be done.
Some even looked like they were having fun. Of course, they were well covered!
I wasn’t, so this wimpy gringa headed back to her casa and a glass of wine (insert smiley face). By the way, to add insult to injury, tonight’s press is reporting that the route was changed — and it wasn’t just me who was clueless. Ahhh… Oaxaca!!!
Posted in Flora, Geography, Travel & Tourism, Weather, tagged El Picacho, goats, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, rainy season, rivers, Teotitlán del Valle on June 8, 2017| 6 Comments »
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 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 on June 2, 2017| 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 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 on June 1, 2017| 2 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 Celebrations, Culture, People, Travel & Tourism, tagged Danza de la Pluma, danzantes, Desfile de Delegaciones, Guelaguetza, Javier Gutiérrez Hernandez, Malinche, Mexico, Oaxaca, Parade of Delegations, photographs, photos, popular travel destinations, Quetzali del Rayo Santiago Ruiz, rain ponchos, rainy season, Subalternos, Teotitlán del Valle on July 24, 2016| 6 Comments »
Yesterday, as the Guelaguetza dancers gathered at the Cruz de Piedra and Conzatti Park waiting for the desfile (parade) of delegations to begin, the sky darkened, thunder rumbled, lightening flashed, the wind picked up, and the rain began falling. While they may be making their first appearance (in recent memory) at the Guelaguetza, the Grupo de Danza de Pluma Promesa from Teotitlán del Valle came prepared.
They donned rain ponchos and covered their penachos (headdresses) with clear and specially sized plastic bags.
They were good to go!
Dance master and choreographer extraordinaire, Javier Gutiérrez Hernandez, must have hauled his old costume out of storage to fill in for one of the danzantes. But he looked stoked!
I’m not sure which Subalterno this is. Florentino Martínez Ruiz is that you? Or, is it Juan Bautista Ruiz? Before and during the desfile, both clowned around a little and assisted the danzantes a lot.
There is something about kids and rain… Five year old, Quetzali del Rayo Santiago Ruiz (Malinche) looked happy as a clam.
Perhaps there was a little trepidation among the danzantes at the conditions and concern if the desfile was really going to happen.
However, at almost exactly 6 PM, police sirens sounded, the leading band struck up, and the parade of Guelaguetza delegations began dancing their way through the city’s rain slicked streets.
Not long after it began, the torrential downpour subsided and the plastic began coming off the danzantes penachos.
After 35 minutes of dancing through, what became, a light drizzle, they reached the intersection of Crespo and Morelos, only a half a block from the parade’s end at the Plaza de la Danza. Next on their dance card, Monday evening’s Guelaguetza performance! I’ll be watching on the local CORTV station. However, if you are not in Oaxaca, CORTV will also be streaming the 10 AM and 5 PM Guelaguetza performances live, this week and next.
Posted in Animals, Casita Colibrí, Culture, Food, Travel & Tourism, Weather, tagged chicatanas, culinary traditions, food, insects, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, rainy season, tzicatana, video on June 14, 2016| 8 Comments »
The rainy season has come and with it, the emergence of chicatanas (also known as, tzicatanas) — a pre hispanic insect delicacy in this corner of the world. My first experience with these giant “flying ants” was at the Oaxaca airport five or six years ago, where I was greeted with, what can only be characterized as, an infestation. They were flying through the terminal, crawling on the floor, and being chased by toddlers to teens, as adults watched in amusement. Since then, I’ve come to know and even love these little critters — especially in salsas and mole.
Two years ago, I awoke to my own infestation on the terrace. However, yesterday morning only a lone female chicatana put in an appearance. Darn, just when I’d actually considered gathering them up like these children and attempting to make chicatana salsa!
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Churches, Travel & Tourism, Weather, tagged Basilica de la Soledad, Casita Colibrí, clouds, CONAGUA, Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, popular travel destinations, rainy season, Templo de San José, weather on April 15, 2015| 9 Comments »
We had spectacular electrical storms Sunday and Monday nights, with thunder rumbling continuously, lightening flashing in all directions, and torrential rain. And, today, I awoke to a rare early morning downpour — 8 inches of pergola runoff collected in my buckets. Noticias, the Facebook group Bloqueos y Accidentes en Oaxaca, and Reportes en Oaxaca, Mexico all show major flooding throughout the city from this morning’s surprise.
This morning’s view of Templo de San José and Basilica de la Soledad. Where did Monte Albán go?
All of this has me asking, is this the beginning of an early rainy season? Then, there is the report from Conagua (Mexico’s national water commission) that, due to El Niño, there could be a significant increase in the number of Pacific Coast hurricanes this season. Hmmm… it looks like we may be in for a bumpy and wet ride!
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Churches, Science & Nature, Travel & Tourism, Weather, tagged Mexico, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, rainbows, rainy season, Templo de San Felipe Neri, video Rainbows All Over Your Blues on September 9, 2014| 6 Comments »
Last year the rainy season was almost non-existent and the campesinos were worried. Four years ago it rained almost everyday from early July to late September and landslides and major flooding resulted. This year the rains have been on again, off again, and on again. But Mother Nature always manages to paint rainbows all over your blues.
View from Casita Colibrí of the bell towers of San Felipe Neri and the Indian laurels in the zócalo.
Posted in Buildings, Creativity, Culture, Transportation, Travel & Tourism, Weather, tagged graffiti, Mexico, murals, Oaxaca, photographs, photos, popular travel destinations, rainy season, street art, urban art on July 7, 2013| 3 Comments »
Ahhh… I’m back in my new and improved Casita Colibrí. Friday night, with lightning flashing all around the Embraer, my fellow passengers and I bounced our way across Mexico and back to Oaxaca. Gracias, Hurricane Erick for Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride! With appreciation and relief, spontaneous applause erupted when the little plane landed.
There have been many changes in the 7 weeks I’d been gone… Juan finished the screens on my doors and windows; they are beautifully made and not a single mosquito has been seen or heard! I left at the end of the dry season; golden-brown hills and fields and a constant coating of dust dulled nature’s and human-applied colors. I returned to the lush green hills and fields of the rainy season and the lustrous green leaves and red-orange blossoms of my African tulip trees.
And, new street art gleamed…
Oaxaca in technicolor!
Mexican Peso Converter
View From Casita Colibrí 