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Archive for November, 2006

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PFP Attacks Nov 25 During Our Trip To Cajonos

Sunday, November 26th, 2006

I drove Lester and Max to San Pedro de Cajonos yesterday. Left at the intersection at Tlacalula and then an hour and a half up into the Sierra del Sud mountains. Beautiful drive. San Pedro hangs on a cliff above a valley. The Blas family makes Alebrijes there.

Getting back to Oaxaca City about 5pm, I drove up Guerrero St. where Max lives to find milling crowds of frantic people who were attempting to undue the effects of PFP tear gas with handkerchiefs soaked in vinegar and Coca Cola. A march had just gotten to the city and the PFP didn’t much take to having the Zocalo surrounded by APPO supporters.

Exhausted from the day’s drive, I went to bed at 8pm to find out the next morning that over 2000 people, many innocent bystanders, had been arrested and beaten and taken to jails…but not charged. I also found out that Max had a method to his madness…knowing I might have been caught in the middle of it all had I stayed in the city.

It’s Damn Cold In Oaxaca

Thursday, November 23rd, 2006

Well, I don’t know what we did to deserve our weather…we have been freezing our asses off especially at night. I wear everything I’ve got to bed…houses don’t have heat here. I have been turning on the oven and opening the oven door in the mornings…will probably hear from my landlord…

A friend who used to live in Mexico had this to say: “It is too bad you don’t have a wood stove in your apartment. But that is the curse of the middle class. Poor people have fires inside their houses if but a bit drafty. Very rich have heating. Middle class just has the appearance of luxury without the amenities.”

It’s Thanksgiving today. Have been running around a lot so will probably just hole up in my apartment and work on computer pics and videos and music…a luxury.

Oaxaca Villages

Monday, November 20th, 2006
After getting back from Hierve el Agua last Sunday, I holed up in my apartment for two days. It has gotten really cold and windy. There is no heat in the apartment so I turn on the oven ... [Continue reading this entry]

Women’s Marches

Friday, November 17th, 2006
In the middle of November there were a series of Women's Marches protesting the dead and disappeared and the assault of some women by the Federal (PFP) who had been occupying the Zocalo.

Hierve El Agua

Tuesday, November 14th, 2006
Last weekend I took Mica, Bardo and the kids from Hauyapam, and Charlie, who used to be a coffee bean roaster in Oaxaca in the 70's but now is a roaster in Canada and here for a few weeks, in ... [Continue reading this entry]

Zapateca Mescal Distillery

Friday, November 10th, 2006
Yesterday, Charlie and I visited an American and his wife, Tony & Rebecca Raab, who have a beautiful bed and breakfast called Casa Raab about 20 minutes outside the city. Tony has built a hand-made authentic Zapateco mescal still. ... [Continue reading this entry]

So Goes Life In Oaxaca

Thursday, November 9th, 2006
I went to Santo Domingo yesterday to check out the activity there. The teachers and their supporters have moved their encampment up the hill to the streets in front of Santo Domingo Church where marches now end and speeches are ... [Continue reading this entry]

Oaxaca Students Battle PFP At University

Sunday, November 5th, 2006
At 8 in the morning the PFP advances upon the University of Oaxaca and begins firing at the radio and the university campus. Helicopters fly over and descend upon the radio university. At 9 in the morning 2 military convoys ... [Continue reading this entry]

Wedding Today In XoXo

Saturday, November 4th, 2006
Charly, Mica, Bardo, their kids and I went to a wedding today...a happy thing. Someone related to Mica. A professional couple. The wedding was in the very nice home of a relative...as is often the case the house ... [Continue reading this entry]

Today Zocalo & Santo Domingo

Wednesday, November 1st, 2006
This morning I took the car to the Toyota Service Agency to have the oil changed in the car...after all, I did drive it from Oregon to Oaxaca in southern Mexico...a darn long ways. This afternoon I joined my landlord ... [Continue reading this entry]