OMG! OMG! OMG! - Home Depot?

That's right.  Home Depot has arrived in Oaxaca and the opening was an evento grande, a big deal.

 

Let's face it, multi-nationals are just what the name says, multi-national and they are here to stay.  Oaxaca has Sam' Club, Office Depot, KFC, Micky Dees, Walmart, all the car dealers, the list is long.  The argument about whether or not they corrupt the culture is long over.  I always say Oaxacans deserve the same purchasing opportunities as everyone else and I like that most of these franchises are located well away from the city center and there was/is a conscious effort to preserve the zocalo and surrounds areas.  So this Home Depot was built on what seemed to be wasteland behind Sam's and KFC.  It is normal Home Depot size.. huge, with plenty of parking.  However, the first Sunday after its opening there was nary a spot to be found. 

 

We were just like everyone else and wanted to check it out.  The store was packed and the atmosphere was really upbeat.  Seeing so many things on display, all with the prices displayed, not a normal thing here, especially with hardware, building materials, was great. 

As a normal male, like comedian, Tim Allen, I love the smell of WD-40 in the morning... It smells like.... (primal grunt).. tools.  Needless to say, I think it is great that Home Depot is here.  I know, I know,  I am a horrible person....  It appears to be a very well staffed operation, lots of amiable and eager-to-help people.  I mean, there were lots of employees and they all seemed as happy as the customers. 

It was way too crowded to actually buy anything, but I plan to return when things quiet down.  Not that I need anything, but  I am sure I will think of something.

Perfect for the times....

OK, clue me in.  "Calm down and kill the princess."  What the heck does that even mean?  Lots of times I ask folks if they know what the words on their tees mean and lots of times they don't know.  In this case, neither of us had a clue.  On the other hand, this one needs no explanation.

 Frida lives!

Off to check out the new Home Depot.... if there are no blockades. Hey, it could happen as we enter into the fourth week of Seccion XXII protests.  Needless to say, the situation is deteriorating and the governor is outta town.  SSDD.

Adding to the viral flow....

This is pretty, no, really, amazing.  Great harmonies and mind-blowing in terms of the technology and techniques involved.  It's good to be alive just to hear things like this.

Post by Deonadre' Sanders.

Music is the meaning of life. (Use headphones to hear the incredible bass this guy sings.)

Hidden treasures

Life imitating art?  It would seems so.  A bit messy these days

But as in life, it's all in the details.

Hidden treasures...

Catching a glimpse into the hidden courtyards, often reveals the most wonderful sights.  Obviously, these are recently carved, as opposed to being hundreds of years old and from some church. 

 No, these look to be one person's work, all commemorating one of Mexico's iconic figures.

 I wonder if they end up elsewhere or if they live here all the time.

OMG! - Look at that!!!

¡Que milagro!

This always cracks me up.

People's reactions to seeing a squirrel.

As one who had sixteen (16!!!!) squirrels living in my house in MA at one time, clearly one of the levels of Hell, my reaction is somewhat staid in comparison.

They start young in Teotitlan del Valle

One of the things I realized quite a while ago was that in order to really bask in the natural essence of any one culture (and truly grok it), one must be born into that culture.  Think samba and Brazil or Cuban rhythms or here in Oaxaca, carrying heavy canastas or penachos on your head and dancing. 

Sure, you can learn how to samba or play Cuban music, but I am talkin' about being born into something, so that it is precognitive.  I see it all the time here with little kids, who do things so naturally that they are not even thinking about it.  And they are good at it.

I see three-year-olds doing things I wish I could, like the steps to the danza de las plumas.  So it was great to see the infantiles doing their thing in front of the municipal building in Teotitlan del Valle on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

The once and future Monctezuma?

Doña Marina

It is highly competitive and a great honor to be one of the official dancers.  I know that as soon as women become pregnant and know they will have a girl, they start thinking about the child being either Malinche or Doña Marina.  It is a very serious competition.  The current girls are six.  They will be nine when they finish and I assume their replacements have already been chosen.

These kids are good already, ready for prime time.

Lots of help from parents who were anxiously standing by with water and advice.

Look at that face!  No wonder the traditions live on.

Feria del Hongos - Cuajimaloyas 2014 - High Times

Last Sunday was the second and final weekend celebrating the hundreds of kinds of mushrooms that grow in and around the mountain village of Cuajimaloyas.  To get to the village go to Tlacolula and turn left and then follow the signs way up into the mountain for 30-45 minutes.  The road is fine if you ignore the rock slides, really no problem.  And then.... up in the clouds.  It was misting heavily or lightly raining and it was cold.

 Soon enough it looked like this.

This feria has gotten quite popular and in no time at all people starting arriving. 

There were displays and mushrooms for sale for cultivation. 

And of course, great mushrooms to eat.  The village is also known for potatoes and because of the soil they have a wonderful rich flavor.  We had hongos and papas, (shrooms and potatoes) in a salsa roja in a taco that was sublime.  But we were just getting started.  This was one of the best "street food" taste treats I've had in quite a while. 

It was mushrooms and cheese in a very light tortilla that was fried and then covered with beans, cheese and salsa.  There were two niñas selling buñuelos. 

They gave us a taste and, I don't know if it is the altitude or what, but they were very different, heavier and crunchier than the ones in the city and much better tasting.  I brought a bunch home with me.  This kid was just stylin'.

While the feria was going on, if one looked up (or listened for the screams of joy/terror, you could see folks on an incredible zip line.  Not the thick one.  That's electricity.  The thin one way up there.

I mean, it was long and high.... long and high... really.  It looked great. 

No, I didn't try it, but only because the climb up to the start looked like a real killer.  Yes, that's the start . Maybe next time.  It runs all year long

Any time of year, the trip is worth it just for the alpine air and the views.

Mas maestros....

This gentleman is not a teacher.  I just like his shirt because Oaxaca lives in me, too.

Sadly, I must report that things are going downhill.  Today, Seccion XXII has shut down the shopping centers.  Yesterday, they trashed and looted the PRI office in colonia Reforma.  They took over the toll booths on the carratera in Huitzo.  They attacked the offices of the newspaper, Noticias.  These actions, on top of other minor violent acts, numerous blockades, marches, sit-ins, sleep-ins.... This has been going on for weeks.  Now it is escalating and people are getting more and more worked up. 

I always keep in mind that I am a guest here and that there are many things about which I am completely clueless.  For one, I don't understand these tactics.  They make virtually no sense to me.  I also don't understand where the governor/government is on this or and why the situation is escalating rather than easing. No one seems to be doing anything and each day there is more chaos and more fuel added to the fire.

Reading the comments on FB is fascinating.  I am learning lots of new words.  Here is El Imparcial's FB page.  They seem to be on top of things.

Meanwhile, out here in the country.....

 

In the eye of the beholder

I was just wandering last Saturday, killing time before the desfile started, and came across these scenes.  First, this fashion shoot with a professional model.  It made me think of all the mannequins in stores here, very few of which look anything like oaxaqueñas.  What striking features.  I love the contrast against the wall. 

The whole thing made me think about our varying standards of beauty

Me, I was just having fun.  I  wonder what kind of shots they got.

Within a block I came across this shoot and these models were oaxaqueñas. 

 A very different look.

I recognized this woman from one of the Viernes en Llano that I shot in May.

"How do I look?" "Maahrvelous!"

While I was shooting them, this young lady and her entourage walked by. 

 Quinceanera time!

Around the corner, almost simultaneous to the desfile, this boda.  Certainly a bride is always the most beautiful...

to her groom.

Beauty abounds!