I discovered something special.... Yesterday, on the last Monday of the month, I went up the foothills to nearby Trinidad de Viguera. My local fruit vendor said there was a guelaguetza there on the cancha or basketball court and what a beautiful event it turned out to be. My fruit lady immediately saw me and gave me a big hug, so I was cool as the only gringo for kms.. The first thing I noticed was how many young people were there, dressed up and ready to dance. And they were dancing dances I had never seen before.There were less than five hundred people there and I bet half of them were kids. The whole vibe or flavor of the event was so heart-warming. I felt like I had a real insight into the whole guelaguetza thing. I saw such pride, joy and togetherness, like no other time. Everybody was a part of it because they were all family. Watching parents get with their kids before and after they danced was just so sweet. And of course, I teared up for the Flor de Piña, as I always do. There were adults dancing, too and a folkloric group from Xoxo, which was quite good. The best part was that it was mostly just the people from Viguera and that made it much more intimate. And the food was real good, too!
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.
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
The hereafter re me
- Christopher Stowens
- Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico
- Musician, photographer, videographer, reporter, ex-officio teacher, now attempting to be a world traveler
3 comments:
Where is Trinidad de Viguera?
That looks beautiful Chris
Viguera is just after Puebo Nuevo on the way north to the Etlas. Take a left at the big statue of Benito, which is 3 kms before Hacienda Blanca.
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