Calenda in Tlacolula

At certain times of year, there are so many things happening one just can't do them all. We missed all the action in Tlacolula last weekend while we were in Teotitlan del Valle, but caught this calenda last Sunday and it was, as always, simply a blast. 

Tlacolula is into marmotas, the large globes, big time and having tried it myself I can never believe how good they are at it.  It is really hard.

This guy was dancing, with no hands... in the wind!  What strength and balance.

And the canastas that the ladies dance with are heavy, too.  They just make it look easy.

Probably because they get blessed just before dancing.

There were several different groups dancing, each with an accompanying band.

I always love seeing how young some of the musicians are... and good players, too.

 And we saw danzantes from Teotitlan del Valle! ... in the next exciting installment.

The stuff of memories...

We have watched these two dancers grow and mature right before our eyes. 

Ailani Ruiz Ruiz and Juana Lizabeth Contreras Vicente are Doña Marina and Malinche, respectively, in the group of dancers from Teotitlan del Valle that we have being watching dance the danza de la pluma for the last few years.

 

Sadly, I am just starting to realize that they will only be dancing two more times and then.... their three year commitment will be over.  A new duo will replace them, first dancing with a whole new group next July.

I have shot so many shots of them, right from the beginning, looked at those shots for so many hours over the years, well.... it has been an honor and such a sweet experience just watching them.  Three years is a lot of time for a six-year old and that's the age they started.  Now....

Sigh ....

All about Bea....

Looking at this shot of the back of photographer Beatriz Ruiz's head, I noticed just how beautiful and intricate her braiding is....  I remember several times watching her mother, Claudia, work on Bea's hair, gently rubbing in oils and combing it, caressing it.... for the entire time, maybe an hour, we were just sitting having a normal conversation and I remember watching the whole process and being mesmerized. 

Her hair looks so perfect, a work of art... and love..... and what a pleasure for Claudia it must be.... maybe an every day ritual and task.  It seems quite special.

Fashionistas

Just recovering from a fun, but very wet and rainy couple of days in Teotitlan del Valle.  The convite got a good drenching and the danzantes and castillo and fireworks, had some long delays as the heavens opened up.  It has been so dry, I am sure the rain made many people very happy.... me, included.

No matter what the weather, it is always an adventure and this time was no exception.  The rain put a serious damper on things....  and the light was never great for photos, but there are always shots to be taken, especially when there are such wonderfully interesting and photogenic subjects.

There oughta be a law... for being that cute.  And I love how she carries herself and her fashion sense.  She danced her own dance while watching the danzantes.

And then this wonderful dress right along her abuela's very traditional plaid.

Somehow, these outfits look like they come from a different era, but still work perfectly.

And the guys?  They are just cool.

Beatriz!!

This is Beatriz Ruiz, daughter of good friend, Antonio Ruiz, the master weaver from Teotitlan del Valle. 

Yesterday, we were there for the convite, the procession of unmarried women and girls, which is always a special and beautiful event.  And this is Bea five years ago as she carried her canasta through the streets of the village. (It's all about Bea).  Time certainly has passed.

And this is Beatriz yesterday, quite the professional photographer now with her photos included in exhibitions in the city and in Teotitlan.

And this may be where it all started. 

I think I gave her her first camera to use.  I wanted to see what the convite looked like through her eyes.  Here are those shots.  Ain't life sweet?   Beatriz is a such a wonderful person, as are her two brothers, Diego and Antonio, and it is all because her parents and grandparents have passed it all on.... and yes, it certainly takes a village.....

All I've Got (Is Rock and Roll)

My latest weaving with sound... All I've got (Is Rock and Roll)

Vistas

Lots of periods of rain have rejuvenated the dry ground and I am not the only one enjoying the lushness of the land.  These shots are from yesterday's afternoon walk. 

 

These made me think of the Ten Ox Herding pictures, a zen mediation and lesson.

Fragrant mandalas

The sweetest fragrances hang in the early morning air before the winds catches them, so sublime, one of the best moments of the day.  A gardenia...

A flor de mayo or plumeria.  Heaven scent,

I keep some of these on various tables in the house just so I can take a hit every now and then.  Ahhh....

Market day in Etla

Wednesday is market day in nearby Etla.  Today, there seemed to be more action than usual, but I just blow through and hit all my normal vendors.  Everything looked so fresh and healthy.  It is so easy to eat well here... and for almost no money. 

The peso is 16.8 to the dollar, so you do the math.  Things are really inexpensive.... and so tasty.

And in keeping with my mandala series, how about this one?

I eat a lot of carrots, in fact, in almost every meal ... but not quite this many.

Milpas

Finally, some decent rain yesterday.  However, I drove a big loop yesterday through Tlacolula, Mitla, and over to Ocotlan and things look very dry for rainy season.  The corn in many areas looks so feeble and dry. 

This milpa (read this short history and description) is right around the corner from me and I always love the genius and the hundreds or thousands of years of knowledge and experience that goes into each of these.  It represents a deep understanding of the interdependence and necessary respect of nature and its cycles.

A milpa is one the most traditional and ancient arrangements of growing plants that aid each other.  So there is always corn, squash and beans and often more.  There are almost as many varieties and combinations as there are milpas.  And that is why Monsanto is thought to be so evil here.  Domestic corn was developed ten thousand years ago near Mitla and there are so many different strains and varieties that are threatened by wind-driven cross pollination, that people are scared and upset... uh...  make that livid.

As one who is a plant person, always in touch with plants, I always have loved the whole concept and rich history of milpas.  Judith Haden has been working with Susana Trilling on a recipe and photography book for the last few years that documents the miracle of the milpa.  Check out https://www.facebook.com/milpafromseedtosalsa?pnref=story.

Morning delivery

This morning is cool and crisp, about 50F.  The flowers are dripping with dew and everything is glistening.  Freshly picked for market.

And the Deal of the Day.... look at all this super fresh garlic, already broken apart and cleaned.  And with the devalued peso.... $.60 US.  That's about what I would pay for one clove in Boston.

Somebody always has to butt in..

Cactus in bloom.

 The flowers open with the sun and close up for business when the sun sets.

Meanwhile, while they are open, it is a wild party.  Bees love this particular bisnagaand almost seem intoxicated by it.  I can almost touch their butts without get a buzz... I mean a reaction..

More morning mandalas..

Mother Nature in all her glory.

 Portulacas...

It is all there....

 There is a lot of life happening in these shots..... Cactus flower.

 In truth, it is all very sexy... well, it is all about the propagation of the species, isn't it?

Calendula.... almost looks like a heart.  I will have to meditate on it.

The work continues...

Chip, chip, chippin' away.

One of the things I love about this place is watching people do their daily work.  I have waxed eloquent about the work ethic here.  It is really exceptional and often the work is done slowly, by hand and it shows in the quality of the finished product.

It seems as if every governmental administration approaches the challenges of street work differently.  I have been watching these projects for months now.  This is right at the top of the Alacala.  They have been pushing to finish it.  This was early last week.

And two days later.

And this is the next street over, Garcia Vigil, recently finished and opened, complete with bike lane on the left.

It is really a well designed street.  The benches prevent double parking on either side and there are cut-ins for deliveries.  And little lights in the ground to light the way.  As in all things. it's an art!

Morning mandala

Mother Nature, Gaia, is the best teacher, the one who has all the answers.

 This is a gaillardia flower from the garden.... uh... just in case Gaia is reading this, a little rain sure would be nice.... Jes' sayin'.

Update:  Oop....  It's a Gazania.  Gracias to Mary Ellen Sanger for the correction.

Sigh...

I'm an immigrant.... a legal one... I think..... of course, no one calls us immigrants, they call us expats... which I guess may be just one snake on the Medusa head that is El Norte, the U.S., these days.

I weep for the country...

It is so hard to watch from the outside looking in.... a shooting of journalists on live TV, "anchor babies", proposed mass deportations and then, the piece de resistance, The Donald giving the old heave ho to Ramos, which just shows how far things have gotten out of hand.

'Nuf said... except underestimating what a respected icon and spokesperson for much of the Hispanic world, Ramos is, well.... it is just downright stupid.  No, I do not mean this equally angry looking looking Donald.  You know the one... or should that be The One?

Listen, this place has problems, obviously, but Mexico does not hold itself up as a paragon of virtue and all things good and powerful... nor does it invade other countries, but not to worry, it has the whole corruption, classism, racism and torture thing down... oh, then there are the cartels.... but the US has Monsanto, so there.

But compared with the US, this place is much more sane and grounded.  El Norte is just so filled with hate... and guns.... and bought and paid for politicians.... and a sycophantic press... and hate... and hate... and hate...

Party on, Garth.

Chili today, hot tamale??

Really? 

No, no ice pellets, but a cool damp wind.