BootsnAll Travel Network
Add this blog to: MyYahoo, Google, Bloglines, RSS


Articles Tagged ‘Santo Domingo’

More articles about ‘Santo Domingo’
« Home

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 given. Vendors from the Zocalo now line Alcala St. running down from the church and TVs sitting precariously on boxes run non-stop videos. Traditional and contemporary Mexican music blares loudly nearby. Vendors provide a variety of food…tacos and memelitos…unique to Oaxaca. There are information tables and a few banners fly…walkers having to duck under nylon supporting lines. What activists say that “the people” want is a deepening of democracy — fair elections, a free press, responsive government, public safety and jobs. I suspect there is lot more going on than that.

As an expat living here for six months, I have yet to explore the abundant beauty of this primarily indigenous State…cooking classes, art museums, music…and Spanish language classes!

And so goes life in Oaxaca.

Posted in Mexico, Oaxaca | 1 Comment »

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 Geraldo and his mother Socorro in the Zocalo. The streets leading into the Zocalo are still blocked by police but after determining you are ok, they move aside and let you through. The place is bare save hundreds of riot-control police sitting and lying around…much like the teachers and protesters before. Sitting at a cafe having a beer, Socorro clapped and cheered, along with some others who were also sitting at the cafe…yelling Bravo at every movement of the police. They look quite young…Socorro told one he was a “baby.” He just laughed. Some of the young hip affluent Oaxacan women are eyeing the guys…once in awhile we see couples, a PFP and a local girl, walking about. I just took pictures. They asked me if I was ever frightened while I have been living here…no of course not I answered. Then they asked if the presence of the police bothered me. Of course not, I said. What I didn’t say was that I would be much happier if they weren’t here…they don’t exactly add to the esthetics of the place.

Leaving the Zocalo about 5:00pm, I walked up the hill to Santo Domingo Church where the protesters are now ensconsed. The mood here was somber…a couple musical groups playing soft music. A “garden” of ceramic human sized figures are placed right in front of the church. The hundreds of votive lights glowing in the dark will be beautiful tonight but I am too drained and tired to wait around to see it. Only about half of the teachers have returned to classes.

Posted in Mexico, Oaxaca | No Comments »

International Tourists

Thursday, October 12th, 2006
Tomorrow Thursday at 10 AM there will be a people's consulta at Santo Domingo Plaza in front of the church, which the "international tourists" will attend, carrying their cameras and wearing a hat and sunglasses." Note: I will not ... [Continue reading this entry]

Posted in Mexico, Oaxaca, World Watching And Politics | No Comments »