The here and now... and what and why

Complacency is a trap. At least that’s what I was thinking when I up and left the comfort of a Yankee prep school gig, where I taught music, amongst other things, for 28 years. There was also that life long career as a composer, musician and artist.

First, it was a year in St. Thomas, USVI, working as a reporter and shooting photography and then, a year in San Agustin Etla, Oaxaca, Mexico.
Time passed.
More time passed and a year back in the Athens of America followed by a hasty return to Oaxaca where it is all happening.
A couple of years in San Sebastian Etla and now, just down the road in San Pablo Etla. Life is good.

Click on an image to see it larger.
For additional photography please visit my flickr page.
You can find my music on Jango (World & latin - Worldbeat) and at iTunes and most online stores.
¡Soy consciente de todas las tradiciones del Internet!
If you are coming to Oaxaca, please contact me for tours or advice.

Santo Domingo

Santo Domingo
The view from Corazon del Pueblo

The hereafter re me

My photo
Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico
Musician, photographer, videographer, reporter, ex-officio teacher, now attempting to be a world traveler

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Ahhhhhhhhh......

My flight in was nowhere nears a dramatic as the one last year, when I went to meet a friend at the airport and watched her plane land between storms on either side of the valley and underneath one of the most vivid rainbows I have ever seen. Still, aside from being in a middle seat on the longest leg of the flight, the tail end from Mexico City to Oaxaca was pretty spectacular with towering clouds and glimpses of lush green landscapes. I got video of it on my new flip camera, but have not seen it yet.

There is such a difference between rainy and dry seasons. In April, after six months of no rain, it is brown, brown, brown. When the rains come in May, the land questions it, asking if it is just teasing, but then the skies open up and the countryside is transformed. My first night here we had a wonderful long soaking rain. The same last night.

Interesting to see the changes that have occurs during my absence. Lots of construction projects are done and many more in progress.This is Calle N. Bravo and M. Alcala. These workers were just cranking. I am always struck by the power of sheer gut work, the heavy lifting of stones, the wheelbarrows of cement, the five-gallon buckets of wet sand, all done by hand. That's how they built Monte Alban.
Restoration of the south wall of the interior of Santo Domingo is proceeding.APPO and the teachers are still ensconced in the zocalo. They still have problems. I can't see how the businesses are surviving down there. Actually, lots of places are really hurting and probably will not make it. It will be interesting to see if tourists show up for the Guelaguetza later this month bringing an influx of much needed money.

As always, the graffiti is amazing.And comes from many sources. Malcolm lives!
More later... but it feels great to be back.The day ended with this sight from the house in San Agustin Etla.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Are they paving Alcala with unsold books from Libreria Amate Books?

Christopher Stowens said...

Yes, how did you know?