Hello from warm and wonderful Oaxaca!
I am still behind on sending these newsletters so I am doing a quick "catch-up" attempt. This edition should finish the ten wonderful days that Madeline, Pattie and Bill spent with us in January.
On the left, is a photo of Madeline and Pattie with Cliff Hindeman, one of the founders of the Oaxaca Street Children program. They went to interview Cliff about his work on this wonderful program that helps children get to school by providing sponsors who cover the costs of their uniforms, shoes and school supplies. For some of the poorest families in Oaxaca, this is an impossibility and the kids often are on the streets selling trinkets and candy instead of going to school.
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| Madeline and I enjoying one of the unique treats found in the streets of Oaxaca: baked platanos and sweet potatoes made in this wood fired rolling oven that sounds like a steam engine: toot, toot! |
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| With Pablo at the ruins of Monte Alban, an ancient Zapotec city that flourished between 500 BC and 1200 AD and had approximately 25,000 residents! |
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| Here is our cooking instructor, Luz, with the ingredients at the start of our culinary adventure. |
We all went to Luz's cocina at our Spanish school to make mole' coloridita with chicken, and a wonderful soup with squash blossoms, nopal cactus and other vegetables. She also showed use how to make aguas frescas: we cut the perfectly ripe pineapple, and put the pieces in a blender with water and "nada mas (nothing else)!" Yum, so refreshing and healthy.
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| Alan and Bill working on the soup |
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| As the soup simmers on the stove, I toasted bread that went into the mole' coloridita. |
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| So delicious! |
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| Most likely these adorable children will be gracing the pages of travel brochures enticing people to come enjoy the culture and the warmth of Oaxaca. |
Alan noticed a photo shoot going on one afternoon in front of the beautiful old church of Santo Domingo so he took a few shots, too.
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| Pattie and Bill inside the temple at Mitla. It is one of the most beautiful ruins in all of Mexico built by master craftsman without the use of mortar! |
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| Looking out from the ruins |
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| Remains of Mixteca drawings on the walls at Mitla date from 1200- 1500 AD. You can see the layer of limestone plaster underneath. A coating of iron oxide was put over the white, then scratched off while still wet to make the drawings. |
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| Who are those mujeres divinas? |
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A very appropriate photo of Tree Committee founder, Mrs. Lab, with her advisers and chaperones! We are in front of the giant 2000 year old tree at Santa Maria del Tulle.
When Alan was taking this shot, I told him what I always tell him, "Make sure we look thin!" Our favorite guide, Pablo, was with us that day and, funny guy that he is, came back with, "In front of that tree you look like toothpicks!"
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| Another appropriate shot, at the Peace Pole. May Peace Prevail on Earth |
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| I know you all wanted another shot of the ever popular Gigantes! As you can see, the Oaxacans never tire of this entertainment. Of course, this was to celebrate a wedding at Santo Domingo church. When the guests exit the church, they are greeted by the gigantes, a raucous band and lots of bottle rockets: Boom! Boom! |
Hope you are all doing well. We send you lots of love for El Dia del San Valentin, February 14th.
Mucho amor,
Kathy y Alan
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