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

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Tlacolula y San Marcos Tlapazola

Sunday, market day in Tlacolula, is always a joy. There is such a diversity of people, languages, items for sale and food, food, food. We found ourselves back at our favorite barbacoa right in the center of a bustling area filled with places to eat. These are mostly family run operations and it was great to watch the young girls work the crowds "Sit right here, no waiting. We have it all."There were eight of us so we ordered a kilo of borrego and some of the rich lamb consomme. Meanwhile, someone had gone over to the meat area and purchased a selection of meats to throw on the charcoal grills which were right in front of the meat vendors.You buy it, you cook it, you eat it. All were delicious.Then it was off the ten k. to San Marcos Tlapazola to look for some of their prized deep red-orange pottery.On the way out of town, we passed this sight and stopped to ask directions. The man pointed out the way with a huge smile on his face. He was obviously pleased with his purchase. It was "Look at this cow. Can you believe it?" The smile never left his face. We speculated that he and his son had ridden the bikes into market, bought this vaca for a great price and were happily walking home to fatten it up.We drove south across the valley to San Marcos Tlapazola and a place run by a group of women all of whom make this beautiful and famous pottery. Some just fired. This is highly prized and utilitarian stuff and they know its value. The prices were high, but the quality was exceptional. I bought a few things, the most important being two casuelas, clay cooking pots. The next day, I broke one of them in by cooking a large batch of chiles, tomatoes, onions and garlic with just a touch of fresh orange juice. There is something very satisfying to cook in clay, in the same pots they have been using for hundreds, if not thousands, of years.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

im from the small pueblo of san marcos tlapazola people there are very healthy i dont know of you could tell but that lady the one in the picture was actually 68 years old

Anonymous said...

im from the small pueblo of san marcos tlapazola people there are very healthy i dont know of you could tell but that lady the one in the picture was actually 68 years old

Anonymous said...

People in San Marcos Tlapazola are very dedicated and determined. I am very thrilled to say that every time I go back to visit, it makes me reflect and see all that they do for their living and how hard they work for everything. I have relatives in San Marcos Tlapazola and I enjoy every tradition there is. It has been years I not made potteries but I hope when I go again I will have the opportunity to learn once again. People in San Marcos Tlapazola are very humbled. I love this pueblo. And the food is amazing as well.