Oaxaca-The Year After: Another calenda in Tlacolula

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.

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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.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Another calenda in Tlacolula

Tlacolula, the city of marmotas (over 100, yes, I counted) and traditional calendas that dazzle the eyes with beauty and elevate the soul with a sense joy and happiness. People are real nice there, too.
And so it was last Friday, as we returned for the second fiesta in as many weeks, This calenda or procession began with a mass at the church and then proceeded through the streets, stopping at fourteen different stations for blessings, food and drink over the span of 8-10 hours. The whole thing is a photographer's dream because of all the beauty and color that swirls all around.

But it is the people that make it all so special.

Placing flowers in the canastas, baskets, that will be carried. They can weigh up to thirty kilos! And the marmotas up to 80 kilos!! No wonder I was shocked by how heavy they were last week when I tried to dance with one.