Posted in Culture, Food, Travel & Tourism, tagged Carina Santiago, cocina de humo, comal, food porn, Kalisa Wells, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, sheep, Teotitlán del Valle, Tierra Antigua on June 13, 2021| 6 Comments »
I know, the recent blog posts have been few and far between — and they will continue to be so for a couple of weeks. After twelve years, I am moving across town to a new-to-me, but old to the city, neighborhood. In the meantime, enjoy photos from our recent comida at the Tierra Antigua cocina de humo (traditional outdoor kitchen).
Stay tuned for news from the new Casita Colibrí neighborhood and home.
Posted in Creativity, Culture, Travel & Tourism, tagged churches, El Picacho, Mexico, murals, Oaxaca, outdoor kitchen, photos, popular travel destinations, Templo de la Preciosa Sangre de Cristo, Teotitlán del Valle, Tierra Antigua on June 7, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Several days ago, I finally returned to Teotitlán del Valle.
This was my first visit since the 30th anniversary celebration of Tlamanalli on February 14, 2020.
The pandemic hit soon thereafter and my adventures outside the city ceased.
Needless to say, I got a little emotional as I reconnected with sights, sounds, and, most of all, friends.
There wasn’t nearly enough time to check in with everyone as we (visitors from California and I) had been invited for comida at Tierra Antigua.
We spent hours and hours dining on delicious food prepared by Carina Santiago and her staff and catching up with her family and Kalisa, who is now based in Teotitlán.
However, now that I and many of my older friends in Teotitlán are fully vaccinated, I will be back soon!
Posted in Animals, Celebrations, Creativity, Culture, Food, Travel & Tourism, tagged baskets, canastas, convite, Danza de la Pluma, danzantes, Fiesta de la Preciosa Sangre de Cristo, fireworks, Grupo de Promesa de la Danza de la Pluma 2019-2021, livestock, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, popular travel destinations, Saint Peter, Taekwondo, Teotitlán del Valle, Tierra Antigua, Tlacolula de Matamoros on July 15, 2019| 2 Comments »
I returned to Teotitlán del Valle late Friday afternoon to view the convite of of unmarried women of the village and Grupo de la Danza de la Pluma 2019-2021 danzantes (dancers) process through town — an invitation to further festivities honoring La Preciosa Sangre de Nuestro Señor Jesucristo. Though that wasn’t the only activity on my agenda; I would be spending the weekend with my amiga K, who was house-sitting for another amiga N. It would be a weekend in the countryside for this city gal!
I arrived late afternoon on Friday…
Canastas (baskets) lined up in front awaiting the procession under the gaze of the sacred mountain, El Picacho.
Grupo de Promesa de la Danza de Pluma 2019-21 arriving in front of the church, waiting to process.
Guys who launch the cohetes (all bang, no bling rockets) announcing the procession.
The convite begins — unmarried women of Teotitlán del Valle carrying the aforementioned canastas (baskets).
After the convite, an early evening encounter with a burro as mi amiga K and I walked to Restaurante y Galería Tierra Antigua .
Saturday…
Early morning view of the campo in Teotitlán del Valle.
Breakfast gathering of cocineras (cooks) and friends in the cocina de humo at Restaurante y Galería Tierra Antigua.
Encounter with a bull while walking back to the house.
Returning to the church to watch the late afternoon performance of the Danza de la Pluma.
Following the Danza de la Pluma, late night watching the toritos, castillo, and fireworks in front of the church.
Sunday…
During mass, shopping baskets parked in the church atrium.
Off to market day in Tlacolula de Matamoros. The upside down St. Peter encountered in the Señor de Tlacolula chapel.
Taekwondo competition in front of the municipal buildings in Tlacolula de Matamoros.
Returning to Teotitlán del Valle, still life in front of the sacred mountain, El Picacho, seen while walking back to the church in the afternoon.
Final Danza de la Pluma performance in the church atrium at the 2019 Fiesta de la Preciosa Sangre de Cristo.
It was a lively, delicious, and exhausting weekend. Did I mention, I walked an average of 4.5 miles per day? Wouldn’t have missed it for the world! Muchisimas gracias to all who made it an unforgettable weekend!
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Flora, Travel & Tourism, tagged Flamboyán trees, flower of the day, flowers, hibiscus, Mexico, Night Blooming Cereus, Oaxaca, photos, Teotitlán del Valle, Tierra Antigua on June 26, 2019| 7 Comments »
Summer showers bring more flowers.
Night blooming cereus on the terrace of Casita Colibrí
Flamboyán at Tierra Antigua, Teotitlán del Valle
Hibiscus at the home of Edmundo Montaño and Alicia Lorenzo, Teotitlán del Valle
Beauty and blessings brought to the land and people of Oaxaca by Cocijo.
Posted in Food, People, Restaurants, Travel & Tourism, tagged Celia Florian, cocinceras, food, Las Quince Letras, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, restaurants, Tierra Antigua, women cooks on October 1, 2018| 5 Comments »
At the risk of alienating readers who were drooling with envy over yesterday’s Chiles en nogada post, I bring you today’s lunch. This time I was dining with friends, which makes already delicious food taste even better.
Tres cocinera (3 cooks): Celia Florian, Carina Santiago, Kalisa Wells
Comida at Las Quince Letras where mis amigas Carina Santiago of restaurant and gallery Tierra Antigua in Teotitlán del Valle, Kalisa Wells (cocinera and new neighbor), and I were joined by the restaurant’s delightful owner/chef and ambassador extraordinaire of Oaxaca gastronomy, Celia Florian. (An aside: Celia and I were on the same flight from Mexico City to Oaxaca on Saturday night and I apologize to the other passengers for briefly blocking the aisle as we greeted each other with hugs.)
Appetizer of Garnachas Istmeña
Aguacate relleno
Chile de agua vinagreta
Dessert of warm pastel de elote
What a delicious and delightful way to spend my second day back home in Oaxaca.
Mexican Peso Converter
View From Casita Colibrí 