I'm Home!

I got back stateside late Saturday afternoon.  Very glad to be back home and to see my babe after a month apart, the longest separation between us in more than 20 years!  Even though I'm home, I've got to deliver at least one more post about Oaxaca. The Noche de los Rabanos, or night of the radishes, was one of the main reasons I went to Oaxaca.

The festival takes place on December 23rd and is sacred and profane.  Display tables are set-up around the entire edge of the zocalo, or town square, and groups from all over the Valley of Oaxaca create and display scenes made completely with cut and carved radishes!  The festival originated in the late 1800's when farmers began growing many European vegetables introduced by the Spanish, including radishes.  Mexicans didn't seem to like the flavor of the radishes much and they weren't selling so the vendors starting carving them to decorate their market tables at special markets held before the holidays.  The idea caught on and now the state actually sponsors the growing of giant radishes and encourages participation in the event, grand prize is $3,000 pesos or about $250 USD.  Much pride goes into these works of art.

Some are elaborate displays with dozens of finely carved characters depicting various scenes from Mexican history or culture.

Detail from above

Creative use of the natural form of the radish is part of the artistry.

Religious scenes and themes are a major topic area.

As are less sacred scenes, like surfing.

And all important eating!

I took more than 200 pictures at this event, may try to post a few elsewhere, the computer is being slow today in uploading.  The event also includes figures and displays made from dried flowers and also from dried and dyed corn husks, I'll post a few of those tomorrow perhaps.  This is a super tourism event for Oaxaca as well, the square was packed with people from 3:00 in the afernoon until midnight with a line of people stretching for blocks, waiting to make the circuit to view close to 200 displays.

Oaxaca was an amazing adventure but I'm glad to be home, thanks to all of you who've been following my escapades.

Feliz Navidad- Maria

MCC Goes South to Mexico

I'm writing today from the zocalo in Oaxaca, Mexico, the main square in the center of the old town.  Above is my view from the table where I've been sitting for two hours watching the world go by.  The whole place is filled with these brilliant red poinseties for the Navidad.  Every few minutes someone like the lady pictured comes to my table trying to sell me some Oaxacan wares, toys, weavings, bark painting or jewelry.  I just had my first Oaxacan comida of carne asada with mole, guacamole, queso, y frijoles negroes.  Delicioso!

I'll be here for the next month studying Spanish and Oaxacan culture.  Tomorrow I'll wing my way to Puerto Escondido for a few days of sun and fun on the Pacific coast with my amiga Rachel, then return here Sunday to begin my language school.  The air is fantastic, breezy, dry and the temperature is a pleasant 75-80 degrees.

I think I'm embarking on an excellent adventure and will be posting regularly about my escapades here in the historically rich deep south of Mexico.