As I mentioned earlier, the day I left, Presidente Calderon arrived in Oaxaca and there were demonstrations and some violence in the streets.

from the Latin American Herald Tribune

"More than 1 million primary students were left idle when teachers in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca walked out to protest authorities’ violent suppression of a demonstration earlier this week.

A score of people, including three journalists, were injured Tuesday as federal riot police forcibly prevented protesting teachers from entering the main square in Oaxaca city, the state capital, during a speech by Mexican President Felipe Calderon.

The teachers fought back, holding three cops captive for a few hours and punching municipal police chief Marco Tulio Lopez.

On Wednesday, teachers in Oaxaca city led a march from the state education department to the main square, while their colleagues in other parts of the impoverished state blocked roads with protests...."

As always, there are many issues involved and I cannot comment on any of it.  "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool..... "

However, I do have images from Shannon Sheppard, a fellow blogger (View from Casita Calibri) 

And this remarkable note from Henry Wangeman of Amate Books.

"Yesterday was interesting, very 2006. There were hundreds, perhaps a thousand, of heavily equipped riot police. The President had lunch in the botanical garden and protesters from the zocolo tried to get near. Most businesses on Alcala held there customers hostage behind large closed doors for at least an hour. The riot police outside shouted, "Keep you doors closed. Do not come out yet." The protesters were no match for such a professional and overwhelming police force. They seemed to dissipate into lonely
incidents. 

At five I went to the Mezcalteco with Jon. It is right in front of the drive-in gate at the botanical garden. We had to lie and say our hotel was right there to get through the police barricades. So we are all alone in the tasting room putting it to good use. Outside, there is a flurry of rushing activity across the street. I walked to the window and there is the President getting into the front passenger seat of the first large black SUV. The car pulls out slowly. The few people around are scuttling to their positions and respective cars. Making the turn onto Reforma the president is right in front of me, 7ft away, with only a glass window pane separating us. He looks at me and I lift my small jicara of magic brew in the air as if to bless him. He breaks into a wide generous smile and raises his open hand. I breathe, barely audible, "Don't mess things up".  He continues to smile and speeds off. So you know he cannot be all bad. The way he broke into a spontaneous smile means he loves mezcal too.

Or more sadly, perhaps he already knows, that like theology, Mezcal is the last comforting refuge of chaos."

Thanks to Shannon and Henry.