By any other name...

This is Myztezyz, also known as Mistico, Sin Cara, Astro Boy, Astro Boy I, Dr. Karonte Jr., Komachi.

Wrestling, like soap operas or telenovelas, has a whole different place in Mexican culture.  Lucha Libre is huge all through Mexico, but I know nothing about it.  Lots of folks like the whole mask thing and vendors sell them everywhere.  I just see the posters like this one and wonder.... Somehow this guy does not look that scary to me.

Something about the kitty cat mouth....

Great names on the same bill.... Lalo el Loco!!!

Keep on dancin'

It was a pleasant surprise to see danzantes from Teotitlan del Valle at the calenda in Tlacolula last Sunday.  What was interesting was that these dancers were from the group that danced from 2008-2010 or two groups ago. 

So that raised a few questions for us to contemplate.  Do dancers just keep on dancin'?  It would appear so.

And from whence did this incarnation of Doña Marina and Malinche come, because they probably hadn't been born yet to be the originals with this group?  

Cute as ever and very good dancers.

They stole the show.

 They had all the right moves

It is always such a pleasure to see the pride of Teotitlan.

The danza de la pluma in Teotitlan has so many threads to follow....

and in the coming months, there are plans to further explore some of them.  In the meantime, we will keep beating that drum that Teotitlan del Valle is one magical and deep village.

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.