The guelaguetzas in the outlying villages surrounding the city are much more intimate and well, fun, because one can see everything up close and personal. So we were off to nearby Los Reyes Etla for a morning fiesta. I have written about the church in Los Reyes many times. It is in such a beautiful setting with the church overlooking a wide and lush valley.
Oh, an supposedly it was the church in
Nacho Libre, the Jack Black film. No Jack today. I think we were the only gringos there.
All the guelaguetzas follow pretty much the same format with dancers from the various regions marching in, performing and then throwing gifts typical of their area, out to the crowd as a finish.
The souvenirs include handcrafts and fruit.
Yes, they throw pineapples and mangos out in to the crowd so one has to be aware and on one's toes with arms outstretched.
Los Reyes has a wonderful round dance floor set amongst the stone outcropping. If one takes a 360 view, you can see mountains surrounding the entire scene. It has a cosmic feel. Unfortunately, prudence says to cover the whole thing with a huge tent canopy making it tough to get good shots. Plus, the hardest thing about shooting dancers in action is they just keep moving, darn it. What's with that?
Gotta dance.
We arrived with the ladies from Pinotepa and followed the band in.
Banda Oro Blanco from Los Reyes Etla
Three princesas.
Try dancing with a heavy canasta on your head.... in heels, no less. Ay!
One of the nicest things about the smaller guelaguetzas is that some of the dancers are quite young. This girl looks about ten or twelve at the most.
No, she is not dancing with a piña for a partner. This is her guy.
Chris, you silly boy. You can't get it all in one post. You haven't even mentioned the feria de queso which was right next to the dancing. Stop... at least for now. You are cracking me up.
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