We visited the capital city of Veracruz, Xalapa, and some neighboring communities! Xico had the Texolo waterfall, a nice view, and a quaint little town, Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz was preparing for the celebration of Santa Maria Magdalena with streamers of flowers and decorations on every street. We happened upon a parade of bulls and dancers and music! The bulls were made of paper mache and full of firecrackers on the top for later on that night! Each color group had a bull, carried on the shoulders of a selected one, and dancers--red t-shirts, blue, green, yellow, etc. They paraded down the street, dancers trying to avoid the spinning ¨bulls¨. We walked down the cobblestone streets to the bottom of a hill. We had a lovely seafood lunch there beside the babbling water.
Alas, we had to climb that hill to get back to the bus! We roamed the streets again and saw the crowd getting ready for a horse parade. Horses with men riders and beautiful little girls and women dressed in beautiful dresses for the procession!
We visited a family owned coffee farm and museum. It wasn´t a plantation exactly because these trees for arabica coffee are grown in the shade, usually near banana trees! The owner gave us a tour and of course a taste of coffee beans and fresh coffee. The beans are picked when they turn a red color; then the beans are skinned and dried and soaked in water. A mortar used to skin the beans came from Africa. Other easier processes are used today.
Wonderful coffee!
We have arrived in Puebla yesterday! Puebla is one of the oldest and largest cities in Mexico, mainly due to a Volkswagen plant here. We visited Cholula, the widest Mayan site. The food is different, but I do like those poblano peppers with cheese! The streets are busy with people walking and hanging out until late, but stores seem to close early here. I enjoyed a coffee
and listened to the sounds of a smooth, piano player in the lobby.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Veracruz
Late Sunday, we arrived in Veracruz, the port city of Mexico. We visited another middle school, Escuela Tecnica # 130. It was a pleasure to talk with educators and students about family, school and fun!
Veracruz is a busy place as well, with lots of people walking in the plaza and along the waterfront. Our hotel was beside the naval hospital and residences. We walked along the wharf and visited the Gran Cafe de Parroquia, known for its coffee. Believe it or not, I did not have any because I was full from the huge seafood lunch I had at Villa Rica. After the red snapper, shrimp soup, tastes of lobster and more shrimp, then ice cream, I could not eat another thing, even that night. I managed to wade in the water at the beach at Boca del Rio, it´s a hot tourist spot.
The aquarium visit was nice! I love the lazy manatees and the dolphins! Some of our group went in with the sharks.
Tuesday--On the way to Xalapa, we climbed to the top of the Totonac cemetery in Quaihuiztlan! Wow, the view was spectular from the top. The totonac tombs are made of stucco, then came the Toltecs and built larger ones, then still came the Aztecs and built their own style. We could see the Gulf and the mountain where Hernan Cortes landed and settled. Then we went down 120 steps to another area where Cortes met with the Aztecs. There they had a temple for the Gods of War and the God of Death. Unfortunately we had to climb back up the steps after seeing the ball court. I thought I was in good shape, but I was huffin´and puffin´by the time I got back to the top. Luckily, thank God, I recovered, so that was definitely my exercise for the day. Some of the others were much more adventureous and climbed further up the tall mountain. They talked about how spectacular it was, but I was happy for them!
Veracruz is a busy place as well, with lots of people walking in the plaza and along the waterfront. Our hotel was beside the naval hospital and residences. We walked along the wharf and visited the Gran Cafe de Parroquia, known for its coffee. Believe it or not, I did not have any because I was full from the huge seafood lunch I had at Villa Rica. After the red snapper, shrimp soup, tastes of lobster and more shrimp, then ice cream, I could not eat another thing, even that night. I managed to wade in the water at the beach at Boca del Rio, it´s a hot tourist spot.
The aquarium visit was nice! I love the lazy manatees and the dolphins! Some of our group went in with the sharks.
Tuesday--On the way to Xalapa, we climbed to the top of the Totonac cemetery in Quaihuiztlan! Wow, the view was spectular from the top. The totonac tombs are made of stucco, then came the Toltecs and built larger ones, then still came the Aztecs and built their own style. We could see the Gulf and the mountain where Hernan Cortes landed and settled. Then we went down 120 steps to another area where Cortes met with the Aztecs. There they had a temple for the Gods of War and the God of Death. Unfortunately we had to climb back up the steps after seeing the ball court. I thought I was in good shape, but I was huffin´and puffin´by the time I got back to the top. Luckily, thank God, I recovered, so that was definitely my exercise for the day. Some of the others were much more adventureous and climbed further up the tall mountain. They talked about how spectacular it was, but I was happy for them!
weekend (Oaxaca)
Saturday--Free day, so we took the optional tour to Ocotlan and Coyotepec. In Coyotepec is the home of Doña Rosa, a woman who begin to make shiny, black pottery back in the 50s. Her grandson explained the process. The black pottery pieces were beautiful.
In Ocotlan, we visited the church and home of Rodolfo Morales, painter and philanthropist. He had some bright color interesting depiction of women. The exhibit also included the work of four sisters, Aguilar. Their pottery was alive with vibrant colors and sometimes, exaggerated, comical expressions of women. We walked to one of the sisters´homes, Josephine. She had some awesome work.
Sunday before leaving Oaxaca, we visited the Zapotec Mayan site of Monte Alban (white mountain). The Mayan history was explained for that site. The people planted crops by the sun and moon. The temple areas with "acoustics" was built for large gatherings and meetings. The buildings are aligned with the stars. The family dwellings were discovered to have areas underneath for family burials. We went down into such an area. The bodies would be buried there, maybe at different times. Little chambers of stone were built to hold urns or family offerings. The tour guide´s theory was that the Olmecs were connected to Mongolians ?. I will have to investigate more.
In Ocotlan, we visited the church and home of Rodolfo Morales, painter and philanthropist. He had some bright color interesting depiction of women. The exhibit also included the work of four sisters, Aguilar. Their pottery was alive with vibrant colors and sometimes, exaggerated, comical expressions of women. We walked to one of the sisters´homes, Josephine. She had some awesome work.
Sunday before leaving Oaxaca, we visited the Zapotec Mayan site of Monte Alban (white mountain). The Mayan history was explained for that site. The people planted crops by the sun and moon. The temple areas with "acoustics" was built for large gatherings and meetings. The buildings are aligned with the stars. The family dwellings were discovered to have areas underneath for family burials. We went down into such an area. The bodies would be buried there, maybe at different times. Little chambers of stone were built to hold urns or family offerings. The tour guide´s theory was that the Olmecs were connected to Mongolians ?. I will have to investigate more.
Zapotec Weavers, other updates
Friday, July 16th---Mescal is made from the roasted agave plant (tequila is made from blue agave). The plant is roasted, then ground, then distilled. It comes out from the vat pure 60% to 80%. It is diluted to 40%, then flavors are added. We tasted coffee, coco, coconut, pineapple, peanut, herbs, strawberry and others. Take a shot of mescal with a slice of orange and worm salt!
Teotitlan del Valle--The Zapotec women´s cooperative welcomed us so warmly with a wonderful lunch, then they explained to us about their group of about 14 women. They weave handmade rugs and tapestries, but most importantly, they have worked on several projects over the years to improve their community. 1. Making cook stoves for local women, raised on platforms, so that fewer burns result from fires on the floor of the house. 2. Placing trash containers around the community to encourage preservation of the environment 3. Care baskets with essential supplies for local elderly women 4. Currently, they are planting 600 trees and turning some donated land into a park. Wow--these are beautiful, dynamic women!
We participated in a group Mayan cleansing--incense burning, rosemary and water, flower petals on the floor. I prayed for peace and anything not in God's spirit to be bound!
Teotitlan del Valle--The Zapotec women´s cooperative welcomed us so warmly with a wonderful lunch, then they explained to us about their group of about 14 women. They weave handmade rugs and tapestries, but most importantly, they have worked on several projects over the years to improve their community. 1. Making cook stoves for local women, raised on platforms, so that fewer burns result from fires on the floor of the house. 2. Placing trash containers around the community to encourage preservation of the environment 3. Care baskets with essential supplies for local elderly women 4. Currently, they are planting 600 trees and turning some donated land into a park. Wow--these are beautiful, dynamic women!
We participated in a group Mayan cleansing--incense burning, rosemary and water, flower petals on the floor. I prayed for peace and anything not in God's spirit to be bound!
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Oaxaca
We arrived in Oaxaca on Wednesday night. The next day, we had a full day. First, we visited the Universidad de Tierra, a learning space. This university facilitates learning for the needs of a varied student population. It is a radical approach--no teachers, no graduation; but a lifelong learning process to develop the skills that an individual wants (and needs) to be successful in his or her community. Some of the research projects are being developed to assist with recycling, water purification, media, etc. The goal of education should be that we prepare students to be critical thinkers and problem solvers. I wonder when we will embrace such a concept in totality.
Next, we walked around the market to sample roasted chapulines (grasshoppers)--a really big seller on every corner. I tasted a tiny bit. It tasted like smoked sawdust. Oh well, the saying goes if you eat some, you will return to Oaxaca. Let's see if my taste does the trick. The market also has lots of activity--selling clothes, shoes, a fish section, shrimp, yellow chickens with feet attached :-); other meat; fruits, breads, etc.
We stopped at La Soledad where we sampled and watched the chocolate making process. I sampled moles as well--black, red and reddish. The mole tasted pretty good, so for lunch I ordered this dish with mole. The pork and beef, potatoes and string beans were covered with the black sauce. It tasted like sandy saucy something. I know not to try that again.
Okay, last stop was the OLLIN school, run by Omar Nunez. Omar is a former Fulbrighter working to teach young people English to better prepare them for the future. I have learned so
much about indigeneous people and some of the challenges facing the young people today. Identity text is being used by Omar to assist students in acknowledging their roots and embracing their multilingual abilities through artistic expression. I am thinking of ways to use this information about the many languages and indigeneous groups when I return. We need more effective ways to communicate with our Mexican students and families.
I can't wait to share my experiences with the Zapotec women's cooperative in Teotitlan, but next post.......
Next, we walked around the market to sample roasted chapulines (grasshoppers)--a really big seller on every corner. I tasted a tiny bit. It tasted like smoked sawdust. Oh well, the saying goes if you eat some, you will return to Oaxaca. Let's see if my taste does the trick. The market also has lots of activity--selling clothes, shoes, a fish section, shrimp, yellow chickens with feet attached :-); other meat; fruits, breads, etc.
We stopped at La Soledad where we sampled and watched the chocolate making process. I sampled moles as well--black, red and reddish. The mole tasted pretty good, so for lunch I ordered this dish with mole. The pork and beef, potatoes and string beans were covered with the black sauce. It tasted like sandy saucy something. I know not to try that again.
Okay, last stop was the OLLIN school, run by Omar Nunez. Omar is a former Fulbrighter working to teach young people English to better prepare them for the future. I have learned so
much about indigeneous people and some of the challenges facing the young people today. Identity text is being used by Omar to assist students in acknowledging their roots and embracing their multilingual abilities through artistic expression. I am thinking of ways to use this information about the many languages and indigeneous groups when I return. We need more effective ways to communicate with our Mexican students and families.
I can't wait to share my experiences with the Zapotec women's cooperative in Teotitlan, but next post.......
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