The zocalo is the center of the social universe in Oaxaca.It is a mad riot of color,sight and sound.Natives and tourists alike share the space.Vendadores,young and old, male and female,aggressively or half-heartedly hawk their wares: globos (balloons),gardenias,rebozos (shawls),sweets , chicles (Chiclets),and a myriad variety of souvenirs, some of which are now made in China.The plaza is lined with cafes- in one corner a marimba plays, in another,Mariachis wail as the Oaxaca State Orchestra sets up in the kiosk.Humand rights marches and calendas all process to this place.It is a powerful magnet that draws EVERYONE! They say if you need to see someone in Oaxaca,sit in the zocalo.Eventually they will pass through.
Sebastian and I have strolled down to the zocalo every night.His evening snack is some freshly made papas fritas (potato chips) or papas a la francesca (french fries) from Mr's Cara de Papa (Mr. Potato Head.)On the corner of the zocalo is this cart with several young guys peeling,slicing and dicing potatoes at lightening speed.They fry them up in a huge vat of oil- yum!We also like tamals sold by a couple in front of the farmacia on the other end of the zocalo- they are some of the best that Oaxaca has to offer!
And so, it is with great sadness that we leave the zocalo but we know that with great happiness, we will return!
4 comments:
Darn! Now I am hungry for some papas!
I am sure you are sad to be counting down the last days and hours of your visit, but we will all be glad to have you back.
On a side note: our laptop's video graphics card died last night. Karen, I did get your e-mail with Friday's arrival information and I tried a brief reply in the computer's "safe mode." In any case, the laptop is "in the shop" for a few days until the graphics card can be ordered, shipped, and replaced, so I will not see any e-mails until it is back.
But I will see you both Friday evening at the airport, and you know you can always call and leave a message if any of the travel details should change.
See you soon,
--Tim
It's always better to leave a place thinking about when you can return again, than to be counting the minutes until you leave!
It certainly seems that it has been a great trip, and I've really enjoyed reading about it, and seeing the pictures (though the whole live trout thing still has me kinda creeped out).
I hope your trip home is completely uneventful.
Hi, guys!
Just read about the 5.1-R earthquake in Oaxaca State. Did you feel it?
I think Oaxaca is weeping because you are abandoning it tomorrow!
--Tim
funny thing 'bout that quake...last night Sebastian said he was in the studio with his father and Fernando said he thought the ground was moving.Then he said it must have just been in his head!
I never felt it but I've experienced many others here and it really depends on where it originates and sends aftershocks as to how much its felt.
It was just raining buckets full here....
k
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