It begins... convite in Teotitlan del Valle

No matter how many times I see the convite or procession of unmarried women and girls in Teotitlan del Valle, it is always beautiful and very special. 

Yesterday they began the celebration of la Preciosa Sangre De Nuetra Señor Jesucristo, which will last for the rest of the week. 

There are two convites, another on Friday and the danzantes fill the rest of the time with their version of la danza de la pluma. 

It rained just before the whole thing began, but then it stopped.  No rain, but not much sun either.

So many beautiful faces.

Many of these girls start participating when they are two or three.  They are old hands by now.

Many with families in Teo come back from the States to participate.  It is an important and special tradition in which they take such pride.

It takes real strength to carry one of those baskets and then walk a few kilometers. 

They do start young and this is how they do it.

Selfies ready for Facebook.

 This amazing woman will get a whole separate post of her own.  What until you see it!

Flutter by, butterfly...

Early July in the midst of a good rainy season?.... it doesn't get any better.  The garden is just vibrating with life and everything is growing so well.  I have planted lots of new things that are very happy to be in a new home.  And the birds, bees and butterflies are all having conventions here.  They are attracted by these.

 

This one mariposa dominated the scene for a while as it flitted from flower to flow and posed for me.

"I'm ready for my closeup, Mr. DeMille."

Couldn't quite get the shot with the wings fully open. 

"Sorry, places to go, people to meet......"

How I spent the 4th....

 

Well, it isn't news that I am an absolutely horrible person... and when in Mexico, I do as the Mexicanos do.... and we do thank Mr. Trump for creating all those jobs for us making piñatas in his image.  So when someone showed up with a Trump piñata filled with.... uh... goodies,

I was not the first to take a swing,

but I surely was the last.

More hard work all by hand

More of the incredible work ethic demonstrated daily by folks here.  These men have been repaving this street for a few months.  Well, they are doing the sidewalks and the adjoining little park, too, so it is a sizable undertaking.  I watched them chip out the old stone with chisels and hammers and now they are laying the new paving stones.

 What a job!

This is the Alcala, the pedestrian walkway, normally the street that the guelaguetza's desfiles or parades follow.  It will be interesting to see if they can finish in time.

 The sidewalk pavers waiting to be placed.

They just finished Garcia Vigil, one street over.  This is what the completed project looks like.

July - One of the best months of the year

It is going to be a busy and exciting month as there is something fun happening almost every day.  There is the mushroom festival in Cuajimaloyas, the cheese festival in Reyes Etla, the feria de moles in the city, the guelaguetzas and all its accompanying festivities and the local ones in Etla and Reyes Etla.... and more. 

And it all starts on Monday as they begin the cycle of the danza de la pluma with the celebration of la Preciosa Sangre De Nuetra Señor Jesucristo.  There will be convites or processions starting on Monday and then the dancers take over for most of the rest of the week.   This group is starting its final year of a three year commitment and it has been great to watch them evolve and develop.  They have four more performances and the last one in December will be a culmination of a remarkable achievement and, I am sure, quite emotional for all involved. 

And I look forward to seeing two of my favorites, Ailani Ruiz Ruiz and Juana Lizabeth Contreras Vincente.  Or Doña Marina...

and Malinche, respectively.

They were six years old when they started so I can't wait to see how much they have grown. 

I did this with the last group of dancers and it was a real marvel to behold the changes.

So much to look forward to.....

A quiet moment

Made by hand

The work ethic that people demonstrate here is always almost mind-blowing.  Much of it is grunt work, hard labor.  People do the work, not many have machines to help.  And they just keep going and going and going.  I watch guys carry cement or wet sand in five gallon buckets up hand made ladders all day and joke around while doing it.  Or women carrying heavy loads balanced on their heads while gracefully gliding down the street.  Or grinding corn with a matate?  Hard work!

I noticed these workers just a couple of days ago.  I think it may be the dome on Carmen Alta, but I'm not sure.  I will have to go back and double check.

Prep work, but for what?  Maybe repainting....

 "Throw me up that No. 6 wrench, will ya?"

 But just a day or two later....

 They are replacing all the ladrillos or bricks.

All by hand.... and you can be damn sure that every single one of those bricks was carried up by hand.... and the cement... and the water.....all up those hand-made ladders on the left.

I imagine they will put a skim coat over the bricks, but that remains to be seen.   To be continued....

Photo shoot

While walking by Santo Domingo, I noticed this photo shoot and stopped to watch for a while.  Sights like this are pretty common and one can see the most wonderful things out on the streets.  I always love the weddings, quinceaneras, calendas and use them to practice getting shots. 

 So I took advantage of what was right before me.

I actually managed to get some decent shots even though I was quite a distance away from the action.

 Time for change of outfit and makeup.

 Now that is a tiara.

 You can see how tall she is.  I was not the only one watching.

It turned out to be a study in black and white.  First in black

Then in white.

 A final shot. This is how to strut one's stuff.

The model was so tall, well over six feet.  I was surprised when I showed her a couple shots that I had to look up into her eyes.  It must have been the heels.