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, November 30, 2011

Vuelvo

Ahhhh.... I'm back.  My bag is somewhere else, but I am here, only slightly dazed and confused.
I got in last night to crystal clear skies and colder temperatures than any I experienced in Boston.  I would tell you exactly how cold it was, but the outside thermometer I just got.... is in my bag.

I shopped like an Egyptian, I mean Mexican, and brought back all sorts of good stuff... crunchy peanut butter, soy sauce, cheddar cheese, perelite....  Hope it all makes it here.

No better way to get going than market day in nearby Etla.  These gentlemen, down from Puebla, were set up right next to my car and the aroma of fresh garlic greeted me as I opened my door.  Talk about ahhhh....
What's more the street dog that I always try to buy lunch food whenever I see him, actually wagged his tail when he saw me.  He got a nice big fat tamale with pork and flor de calabasa from Doña Melisa, my tamale lady.  I told Melisa that there was no one in Boston who could touch her tamales.  She has no idea.  Hers are consistently some of the best I have eaten here and I have bought from her every week for a few years now.

 It is funny, but this all seems so much more normal to me than anything I experienced in El Norte.  And shopping for food?  Reverse culture shock.

Here's what I got for about $15 US.
Tortillas, five tamales, four chiles rellenos, cheese, salsa, avocados, tomatoes, tangerines, sweet rolls and of course, garlic.

It's good to be back.

2 comments:

Michael said...

Hey Stowe- You're photos and stories remind me of the Philippines. The Philippines went through a period of Spanish colonization as well, and while the food might not compare to Mexico, the smile on the faces, the shop set ups, the architecture, all seem to fall in line. One day, I think I should visit you in Oaxaca and you should join me to the Philippines. It would be such a unique experiment to compare old Spanish roots in two parts of the world.

Christopher Stowens said...

Michael, come! And bring your sister and her family. You would love this culture. I have been following your adventures. You lead the life I could only have wished for you.