tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4841571626534055632024-03-05T06:07:11.356-08:00EncantadaI'm went to Oaxaca in July 2011 courtesy of the NEH to study the arrival of the Spanish from the indigenous point-of-view. I'm now plotting to return and continue researching GM corn and colonial architecture in 2013.DBGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164493379521092211noreply@blogger.comBlogger115125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484157162653405563.post-50925253596127919282016-11-03T21:37:00.001-07:002016-11-03T21:37:12.963-07:00Altar completed <p dir="ltr">Three days later. </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixe4p1cANxi1AqM-cTdH-6KUJO-MYqVYzSVBgKNEDx_13VUXidhpk4N8_LdKyij0chHHEYhSCyNrMk9s53aVbyVorrM6aWC4ttJupmZ1G7_q-chEeR4b66IfQETchyphenhyphen_jqWhEAE4hfglbM/s1600/20161102_165516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixe4p1cANxi1AqM-cTdH-6KUJO-MYqVYzSVBgKNEDx_13VUXidhpk4N8_LdKyij0chHHEYhSCyNrMk9s53aVbyVorrM6aWC4ttJupmZ1G7_q-chEeR4b66IfQETchyphenhyphen_jqWhEAE4hfglbM/s640/20161102_165516.jpg"> </a> </div>DBGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164493379521092211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484157162653405563.post-74136593161293819192016-11-03T21:35:00.001-07:002016-11-03T21:35:49.467-07:00Altar in progress<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4aj-1pYRCXPYeLQgbBC-F3sNBtvcqk-ES_WbFif0l5kKVfVSZg8Sa_zvL5qKw9ba-0ziDi5lzNNDpnnNBcFfvgjbCGJpPYY3FPoq1J9pLGtDS2Lh8D30YU2gwlX18YQ47-nl6k6sCh4/s1600/20161030_175621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4aj-1pYRCXPYeLQgbBC-F3sNBtvcqk-ES_WbFif0l5kKVfVSZg8Sa_zvL5qKw9ba-0ziDi5lzNNDpnnNBcFfvgjbCGJpPYY3FPoq1J9pLGtDS2Lh8D30YU2gwlX18YQ47-nl6k6sCh4/s640/20161030_175621.jpg"> </a> </div>DBGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164493379521092211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484157162653405563.post-85140671416296043012016-10-29T18:27:00.001-07:002016-10-29T18:27:07.781-07:00Preparations are underway <p dir="ltr">Tomorrow we're helping prepare a community altar for Day of the Dead, so we spent today in the field cutting marigolds and coxcombs. We were rewarded with a picnic lunch of tortillas, grilled meats and mezcal! </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0qwpjAiZSHpnVi_xjTJwk-IdHkgTDDCd1neqDdK_8ikjEvu_0IXQGfKRCFXbVe6IsDc1X8AkKcsts8Bua0ID8l-JcCibejzCmWbpO4buNly-uxu1AO-SsnrFd_UVlnOeFEKkJ3YwHt4/s1600/20161029_120150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0qwpjAiZSHpnVi_xjTJwk-IdHkgTDDCd1neqDdK_8ikjEvu_0IXQGfKRCFXbVe6IsDc1X8AkKcsts8Bua0ID8l-JcCibejzCmWbpO4buNly-uxu1AO-SsnrFd_UVlnOeFEKkJ3YwHt4/s640/20161029_120150.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaoHGiLOR-zj6dGuqUndOpRnRJlfAgFdi6SYoBIXXJNI196njZecK7RpDsIQkMlGAjbEJr2kRxfjjPOas9tkpG-jxB7p_miBURJHPwUTjF5iLJ_HX02KfikTIK617-vjYexx4-RxjS9nE/s1600/20161029_121837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaoHGiLOR-zj6dGuqUndOpRnRJlfAgFdi6SYoBIXXJNI196njZecK7RpDsIQkMlGAjbEJr2kRxfjjPOas9tkpG-jxB7p_miBURJHPwUTjF5iLJ_HX02KfikTIK617-vjYexx4-RxjS9nE/s640/20161029_121837.jpg"> </a> </div>DBGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164493379521092211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484157162653405563.post-25560124539567599152016-10-27T06:31:00.001-07:002016-10-27T06:33:26.350-07:00Green space in CDMX<p dir="ltr">There are countless parks, big and small, tucked away in crevices or incorporated into main thoroughfares. Each includes water elements and art pieces in often unexpected places.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPHxFhcHVEMv0_9P9cnQZX8WxMn6MYcHB8fX8_E9LVACkAeP0pc74LD9XX57-Wg1TWKX_9JIB7w87kv07Lu0NvWco2Rk2kRDjNQ99307QX9_cRt5dbtdbhO-Q2NEppAyLZUlKYKhwbYA/s1600/20161021_120253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPHxFhcHVEMv0_9P9cnQZX8WxMn6MYcHB8fX8_E9LVACkAeP0pc74LD9XX57-Wg1TWKX_9JIB7w87kv07Lu0NvWco2Rk2kRDjNQ99307QX9_cRt5dbtdbhO-Q2NEppAyLZUlKYKhwbYA/s640/20161021_120253.jpg"> </a> </div>DBGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164493379521092211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484157162653405563.post-7567566112785653852016-10-27T06:28:00.001-07:002016-10-27T06:28:59.331-07:00Nos faltan 43.<p dir="ltr">Mother's encampment on Paseo de la Reforma. </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1v9qHyCV3us0q9SvQF-aw7vFB_-bmAsMp81EWIWHZj7SA8QmfosjjSZLX4uCLReZ4FP0A2X8p0D6OvX9aR1JepCaHELkD03gX29VQK6mL-u9tRGmeRDO-yvDwQ-HJ2ix818iyzy39jmw/s1600/20161021_104911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1v9qHyCV3us0q9SvQF-aw7vFB_-bmAsMp81EWIWHZj7SA8QmfosjjSZLX4uCLReZ4FP0A2X8p0D6OvX9aR1JepCaHELkD03gX29VQK6mL-u9tRGmeRDO-yvDwQ-HJ2ix818iyzy39jmw/s640/20161021_104911.jpg"> </a> </div>DBGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164493379521092211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484157162653405563.post-13338222168587967232016-10-27T06:14:00.001-07:002016-10-27T06:14:37.752-07:00Riots not diets<p dir="ltr">Feminism is alive and well in CDMX.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXb71Udi3jffTo4VCjJVql2vZdRmlkmPocbVqz9REPwBxX0uuxMqsuk51Hxw7ww54ne-g41aqIbvoOnSXW_Jy8fWRI9MB5rqMz1LZJ5GHqywzHIH3jgUzDHDPDmJ361rCDKpBLOmIRsU/s1600/20161021_104502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXb71Udi3jffTo4VCjJVql2vZdRmlkmPocbVqz9REPwBxX0uuxMqsuk51Hxw7ww54ne-g41aqIbvoOnSXW_Jy8fWRI9MB5rqMz1LZJ5GHqywzHIH3jgUzDHDPDmJ361rCDKpBLOmIRsU/s640/20161021_104502.jpg"> </a> </div>DBGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164493379521092211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484157162653405563.post-90533974268609736502016-10-27T06:13:00.001-07:002016-10-27T06:13:25.671-07:00Work<p dir="ltr">Ice is delivered the old fashioned way to the food cart vendors of CDMX.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1hkcFAdoDEl-p6-xXd3OgrAirdnF5khmkmWmZ8o_aa1myq0lksMHTgPZVQ8QszFgpKiHKztTJMdl4dmtLSvrZqSzuQpG3J9m27K6uqPyJ_U0fh6_5g3L_1RPCaCAo98W3C-VW-BoGwOA/s1600/20161021_103913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1hkcFAdoDEl-p6-xXd3OgrAirdnF5khmkmWmZ8o_aa1myq0lksMHTgPZVQ8QszFgpKiHKztTJMdl4dmtLSvrZqSzuQpG3J9m27K6uqPyJ_U0fh6_5g3L_1RPCaCAo98W3C-VW-BoGwOA/s640/20161021_103913.jpg"> </a> </div>DBGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164493379521092211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484157162653405563.post-16472932335228458322016-10-20T15:56:00.001-07:002016-10-20T15:56:32.793-07:00Street food rocks!<p dir="ltr">The torta stand in front of my hotel is considered one of the best. This hot sandwich of chorizo, pierna español, cheese, avocado, egg, and onion weighs more than half a pound, could feed three people, and costs 38 pesos. That's right, about $2.00.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMt053_mReZzvV9R-hCnIWbjd_pdNWXk1iXl_7yrlW2ar3gTZUPH8PxDAeMsloE0cCO0_7m0sKYmzPwlF-TLG4dkHIGKtDQ2_TQx3ID53BssJFaQSNJqsiH_nk5xVAsvLyu6zbULiAs7U/s1600/20161020_174452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMt053_mReZzvV9R-hCnIWbjd_pdNWXk1iXl_7yrlW2ar3gTZUPH8PxDAeMsloE0cCO0_7m0sKYmzPwlF-TLG4dkHIGKtDQ2_TQx3ID53BssJFaQSNJqsiH_nk5xVAsvLyu6zbULiAs7U/s640/20161020_174452.jpg"> </a> </div>DBGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164493379521092211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484157162653405563.post-74500607636409213322016-10-18T19:58:00.001-07:002016-10-18T19:58:11.901-07:00Museo Nacional de Antropología <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNqL6L8_pZZs0aKNFbOOB0mQhoFFX4m2w2qLbUDf20GGFJaWY_AvCkfjgrtRwvAbrCASL-Qw_QzKNPyBgARuUa_ppgkb55Jk903PcmOVBxf2UgR_QTvoZBtTsh30LN3lszT24oabw8Tik/s1600/20161018_135927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNqL6L8_pZZs0aKNFbOOB0mQhoFFX4m2w2qLbUDf20GGFJaWY_AvCkfjgrtRwvAbrCASL-Qw_QzKNPyBgARuUa_ppgkb55Jk903PcmOVBxf2UgR_QTvoZBtTsh30LN3lszT24oabw8Tik/s640/20161018_135927.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvqFoJBPO-D0pRHgsHechgJepq7fk5UkkQ4NWzzxmn_ulxWW_T7pNaNwjZWT_Gx4sIuxipCeaAHgViawyt9thfO0KfdhQ6IqqIKEKkhvCCPD2FqdiH4dgc5VV6P1eLoU-HBowtCFza9Uw/s1600/20161018_143526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvqFoJBPO-D0pRHgsHechgJepq7fk5UkkQ4NWzzxmn_ulxWW_T7pNaNwjZWT_Gx4sIuxipCeaAHgViawyt9thfO0KfdhQ6IqqIKEKkhvCCPD2FqdiH4dgc5VV6P1eLoU-HBowtCFza9Uw/s640/20161018_143526.jpg"> </a> </div>DBGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164493379521092211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484157162653405563.post-32237416253789871262016-10-18T10:21:00.001-07:002016-10-18T10:21:48.990-07:00¿Cena conmigo? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0trcGlTTOevu0picyaYKl6iAgzLPmZ4LZ_1jcEm_wcd6jIXk3O8KTDzteIqmwoXiUY7_PLpZjw_MX0j3A55hVy7GwVvzJVEsXAY52S32-9cT7h96WTeOURpGRbXE2vf483j-CiW8skI/s1600/IMG_20161018_082841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0trcGlTTOevu0picyaYKl6iAgzLPmZ4LZ_1jcEm_wcd6jIXk3O8KTDzteIqmwoXiUY7_PLpZjw_MX0j3A55hVy7GwVvzJVEsXAY52S32-9cT7h96WTeOURpGRbXE2vf483j-CiW8skI/s640/IMG_20161018_082841.jpg"> </a> </div>DBGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164493379521092211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484157162653405563.post-61069166945679870192016-10-17T18:08:00.001-07:002016-10-17T18:09:14.222-07:00Casa Gonzalez <p dir="ltr">The view from my doorway.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlfmy0Rv0vt4sl7eAjg_fOy5bOaoDRxbLyCizm6-84caUZ1i54khkTpPxqKUgxwwqKSPPjA1X08e-zLpeD32YbsTJW3kHZ4BvfzS3Pkw44UQb-Zg9KGlTlJZwUm50Zs-WwZqq5kZwVVyU/s1600/20161016_152139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlfmy0Rv0vt4sl7eAjg_fOy5bOaoDRxbLyCizm6-84caUZ1i54khkTpPxqKUgxwwqKSPPjA1X08e-zLpeD32YbsTJW3kHZ4BvfzS3Pkw44UQb-Zg9KGlTlJZwUm50Zs-WwZqq5kZwVVyU/s640/20161016_152139.jpg"> </a> </div>DBGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164493379521092211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484157162653405563.post-3053334281042056922016-10-16T05:22:00.001-07:002016-10-16T05:22:34.773-07:00The hard part<p dir="ltr">Up at 3:55am, stumbling on board.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5bBvL0a6kLg-eZQGWI4pAKs8eaf0nGN2_FwZf7ckUr3iavAkE26OVAC5t2P6O8toli0VIBHvT0l3mc0f5-_0rWJDEhCw7Flt0RBiMVg04JZM4eACgZNKBfyovQNX8kRE6gQT8UlSrV_g/s1600/20161016_062004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5bBvL0a6kLg-eZQGWI4pAKs8eaf0nGN2_FwZf7ckUr3iavAkE26OVAC5t2P6O8toli0VIBHvT0l3mc0f5-_0rWJDEhCw7Flt0RBiMVg04JZM4eACgZNKBfyovQNX8kRE6gQT8UlSrV_g/s640/20161016_062004.jpg"> </a> </div>DBGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164493379521092211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484157162653405563.post-74118970245296723592016-10-15T07:30:00.001-07:002016-10-15T07:30:30.336-07:00To tour group or not to tour group?I rarely participate in tours of any kind when I'm traveling, whether it's big-bus escorted excursions, cruise ships or small guided groups of local sites. Part of the fun of a trip is the research, planning and negotiating of local buses and subways to make my way around a new destination. I am definitely the Queen of Public Transport. But as I get older, and as the world's top spots make it onto everyone's bucket list thereby becoming more and more crowded, I'm rethinking my aversion to relying on someone else's expertise when I'm in a new place. Wisely chosen and done early, a guided tour can relieve some of travel's inevitable stress and lay the groundwork for the rest of a visit.<br />
<br />
The top thing I want to experience in Mexico City besides a visit to Teotihuacán and the Anthropology Museum is the famous street food. I plan to eat most of my meals from carts and markets rather than sit-down restaurants. To that end, I've booked a tour with <a href="http://eatmexico.com/tour/mexico-city/">Eat Mexico</a> on my first full day in the city to that I can scope out all the best and most reliable sources of good eats. The tour covers the Cuauhtémoc neighborhood of my hotel, <a href="http://www.hotelcasagonzalez.com/">Casa Gonzalez</a>, and promises the following:<br />
<br />
"On this tour you’ll gain an overview of one of the most vibrant street food scenes in the world, spread out across a neighborhood full of hungry office workers. Moving from stand to stand, <br />
we’ll sample fresh tamales, squash flower burritos, carnitas (pork simmering for several hours in lard) and more. You’ll understand why the tacos de canasta can sell out before 11 a.m., and <br />
bite into a cemita sandwich that packs an incredible punch."<br />
<br />
Yum. That should set me up for the rest of the week. And for a touristy splurge, I might grab breakfast-with-a-view at <a href="http://www.balcondelzocalo.mx/">El Balcón del Zócalo</a> before hitting the Cathedral and the Templo Mayor.<br />
<br />
El Balcón del Zócalo<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHGAHD79SgqbXJG7Q5_XIx1bSYMhl0IcGnVkHJTVDu0LUwRDwikUj5Nqx4mC3CD6IMqi0CwaCVu-dXnV9l1m8EwsecmoNvp02L77xuUK6bxjwAayzn5DTvW-S21xDUiQsLb_oDEHPEj70/s1600/14708332_1114886018592868_6344897464978291220_n.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHGAHD79SgqbXJG7Q5_XIx1bSYMhl0IcGnVkHJTVDu0LUwRDwikUj5Nqx4mC3CD6IMqi0CwaCVu-dXnV9l1m8EwsecmoNvp02L77xuUK6bxjwAayzn5DTvW-S21xDUiQsLb_oDEHPEj70/s400/14708332_1114886018592868_6344897464978291220_n.png" width="400" height="400" /></a></div>DBGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164493379521092211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484157162653405563.post-12074319932918285532016-10-12T16:43:00.001-07:002016-10-13T08:20:30.693-07:00Election time<p dir="ltr">Well, yah, it seems like it's been going on for years. Part of the timing of my trip was meant to tune out the last three weeks of campaigning, and based on the last few days, that was a good plan. We voted yesterday, partly to get it over with and to avoid the crowds on what promises to be an election day for the record books.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIz2X0S8-zd6R2Kho9L1D5C7Ahw9HHzU9S9pyEDTHP9UDgpGD03Av3nRVKAmJx72sveNDaIKsllkZ_5L4x1kdb63qGJakPRxB6vl3iAsLfzPZ-XBe8-TmMO1b5cK_351KgjoeVZmg3VYs/s1600/i_voted_today_sticker-r5853b35a1d1f4e3d8b2299e21bc33889_v9wth_8byvr_324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIz2X0S8-zd6R2Kho9L1D5C7Ahw9HHzU9S9pyEDTHP9UDgpGD03Av3nRVKAmJx72sveNDaIKsllkZ_5L4x1kdb63qGJakPRxB6vl3iAsLfzPZ-XBe8-TmMO1b5cK_351KgjoeVZmg3VYs/s640/i_voted_today_sticker-r5853b35a1d1f4e3d8b2299e21bc33889_v9wth_8byvr_324.jpg"> </a> </div>DBGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164493379521092211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484157162653405563.post-1511562015026075802016-10-06T09:13:00.001-07:002016-10-06T09:13:05.315-07:00Peso watch 2016<p dir="ltr">In the summer of 2011, a dollar bought you 11.5 pesos. Five years later, a dollar buys you 19 pesos, basically making one peso equal to a nickel. After the initial response of, "Yasssssss, I can buy lots more stuff!", I know this is not a good thing and will further damage Mexico's recovery. We'll see how it looks on the ground.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhv6sjQDsojI0UJXzazOQNy_5Ka4KVmgQS5s7ihNjBycQb64xefjgXo2e873BB1LrfsbBFKo-PnGA0pWToo5aQcbU0M1vZec08YhgvTTdm0Sg0CqA-lM0iospe681JFjmO7adxx3_7I0/s1600/PesoCoinsDetail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhv6sjQDsojI0UJXzazOQNy_5Ka4KVmgQS5s7ihNjBycQb64xefjgXo2e873BB1LrfsbBFKo-PnGA0pWToo5aQcbU0M1vZec08YhgvTTdm0Sg0CqA-lM0iospe681JFjmO7adxx3_7I0/s640/PesoCoinsDetail.jpg"> </a> </div>DBGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164493379521092211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484157162653405563.post-14873185287678917702016-10-05T19:37:00.002-07:002016-10-05T19:45:55.276-07:00Un poco tardeI fully intended to return to Oaxaca in 2013, but life -- in the form of a fall down a flight of stairs, Hurricanes Irene and Sandy, and my father's final illness -- intervened. By the time Fall 2014 rolled around, I began my last year of teaching and happily retired after a cross-country move to Santa Fe. Now the opportunity to return to Oaxaca has materialized, and I'm off for a week in D.F. on October 14, then 2 weeks with mi hermana in Oaxaca. We're renting a sweet little <a href="http://www.bestofoaxaca.com/la-casa-de-maria-apartments">apartment</a> a block from my favorite park -- Conzatti -- so I'm thrilled to revisit old stand-bys and explore new spots.<br />
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Conzatti Park photo via Flickr by Ron Mader<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ZSoB75tYneNSx34DOGPxFvWflU11PIDWcWswkqRfJx79VfGK4VwK_Pn7hlEhzL1qvXfiRSuzW7bHHDi9hNG-1t4i5bWYypKw-rO7IFM35DMqzF7e6MWLxnE-f7l_O8dcYoPoCYuZrig/s1600/4314396939_eabcdc125e_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ZSoB75tYneNSx34DOGPxFvWflU11PIDWcWswkqRfJx79VfGK4VwK_Pn7hlEhzL1qvXfiRSuzW7bHHDi9hNG-1t4i5bWYypKw-rO7IFM35DMqzF7e6MWLxnE-f7l_O8dcYoPoCYuZrig/s400/4314396939_eabcdc125e_n.jpg" width="400" height="300" /></a></div><br />
DBGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164493379521092211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484157162653405563.post-31567687238656379572012-07-21T14:15:00.001-07:002012-07-21T14:16:19.399-07:00NEH Unit on GMO corn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKLW_v8JCpjrNPUiRHan_acsFhyWsHudPgr3kp0tcj2hbKN9VlVZ4inQ4wRJbcU9awweikiXz5TEFjcqqTWson9PXD366G0uG9HUQ0DXoKd8lWdQN6n0f_XTP5xMZ42uT7wRc5cV5E81Y/s1600/391546_495660777127402_886572421_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKLW_v8JCpjrNPUiRHan_acsFhyWsHudPgr3kp0tcj2hbKN9VlVZ4inQ4wRJbcU9awweikiXz5TEFjcqqTWson9PXD366G0uG9HUQ0DXoKd8lWdQN6n0f_XTP5xMZ42uT7wRc5cV5E81Y/s400/391546_495660777127402_886572421_n.jpg" /></a></div><br />
As Ron and Stephanie predicted, I've continued to work on my curriculum unit, finessing certain points, incorporating different methods of delivery (Glogster, Prezi, Screencast-O-Matic and Voice Thread), and adding audio and visual components like Lila Downs's "Palomo del Comalito" and the above cartoon. After my experience sharing my unit with a teacher of Advanced Placement Biology -- who then proceeded to turn my material into a set of multiple-choice questions -- I'm feeling better about working on it and sharing it again, this time with someone who teaches ELL's. We'll see!DBGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164493379521092211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484157162653405563.post-92210943100381730092012-06-16T07:42:00.001-07:002012-06-17T12:03:32.190-07:00Oaxaca nostalgia<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJ3NDrqNnL51v1NKhFArkxmz9cE7zVNvDEKgLDeq1JTsXQZywtPu8sLz9VO48wX1lq9tYJBQUjZFeiAk1SAn0pnHPvw3Fm5NoT22_7sm9dvpP7DU4tlaBKdgO2mqhWYqzoUBDmGPbOfo/s1600/284012_10150249189569420_4503548_n.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJ3NDrqNnL51v1NKhFArkxmz9cE7zVNvDEKgLDeq1JTsXQZywtPu8sLz9VO48wX1lq9tYJBQUjZFeiAk1SAn0pnHPvw3Fm5NoT22_7sm9dvpP7DU4tlaBKdgO2mqhWYqzoUBDmGPbOfo/s400/284012_10150249189569420_4503548_n.JPG" /></a><br />
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Can't wait to go back. Maybe summer of 2013? My sister would love it, and there are still tons of things to see. <br />
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<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/16/arts/design/oaxaca-mexico-shows-history-unvarnished.html?hp">Is there a third Oaxacan adventure in my future?</a><br />
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In the meantime, I hope Oaxaca -- both the city and the surrounding regions -- doesn't suffer too much from the rainfall that Carlotta is bringing in her wake. Mexico, like New Orleans, spends much of the warm-weather months on pins and needles hoping that year's storms will pass them by.DBGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164493379521092211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484157162653405563.post-28213413752153203832011-11-26T09:06:00.000-08:002011-11-26T09:09:38.627-08:00Bye-bye Oaxaca!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3mnR0IbcYSj0Mnve-UoVgblz8pP0IN4DMg6YzA00i4OlfqjbO3wZP6unhLTYpTm5M6XM4sqvYdeH2Uk9r_mWKKemXA-1x57Cm7MLJ3c5UkcwyrwUiDUpYlAh8LzNRiIi2loPi9KZ2zs/s1600/leavingoaxaca+001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3mnR0IbcYSj0Mnve-UoVgblz8pP0IN4DMg6YzA00i4OlfqjbO3wZP6unhLTYpTm5M6XM4sqvYdeH2Uk9r_mWKKemXA-1x57Cm7MLJ3c5UkcwyrwUiDUpYlAh8LzNRiIi2loPi9KZ2zs/s400/leavingoaxaca+001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679352648590627682" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiZ7AJY5qDFBywwTZOWsoRbM6YPMiFCcBP84fJP_AqgmLZmQdp9FSXYmayV69_tXRz_rpv2TBlIpFIq6JSobmAEruY9X9Bwz5kO5BccY_sWj0Z3bYFnrQ_zuW1I9Thljlni6moseRdX-s/s1600/leavingoaxaca+002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiZ7AJY5qDFBywwTZOWsoRbM6YPMiFCcBP84fJP_AqgmLZmQdp9FSXYmayV69_tXRz_rpv2TBlIpFIq6JSobmAEruY9X9Bwz5kO5BccY_sWj0Z3bYFnrQ_zuW1I9Thljlni6moseRdX-s/s400/leavingoaxaca+002.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679352642598933922" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGMIfAalyVuGsE2chdCD1Ip5T-VigpgdMfrpvGhMdWKHxvA3I5Wd8GH_9AK4BHqYCz2WJa-Ah_xrhy3LveFT0buQC3WM5olg4cz2YMfgF1Zn6PgQ1oo66P_e05w-rO_SrzaCsMbm6xos/s1600/leavingoaxaca+003.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGMIfAalyVuGsE2chdCD1Ip5T-VigpgdMfrpvGhMdWKHxvA3I5Wd8GH_9AK4BHqYCz2WJa-Ah_xrhy3LveFT0buQC3WM5olg4cz2YMfgF1Zn6PgQ1oo66P_e05w-rO_SrzaCsMbm6xos/s400/leavingoaxaca+003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679352636025702562" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDNDaSjqLmYUiZ8FQZHe8ZdjrmuEBczlQ-HTTuQkXeUaWOPHQc99I-rxFNJXrqzQRciO6cLUObXMqU5dlMK4rG2386kzHQJRSOHJtnujwWmaxosxw8P8vq89Xzd4LyvECrgoOBLUt5cg/s1600/leavingoaxaca+006.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDNDaSjqLmYUiZ8FQZHe8ZdjrmuEBczlQ-HTTuQkXeUaWOPHQc99I-rxFNJXrqzQRciO6cLUObXMqU5dlMK4rG2386kzHQJRSOHJtnujwWmaxosxw8P8vq89Xzd4LyvECrgoOBLUt5cg/s400/leavingoaxaca+006.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679352626703716018" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4pz0aUdF0tWzKvHYLzoHqHSyogBpqkwdY48cpSUHH2eAp8UN7fQH2u015I1F-0HUmiLrOz0cY4We8OiHcnRPcEXnLZCXCK1ldXdg5GNfStdACIheHoMtfrX0KkeolDBMVkHyNvmPcBs/s1600/leavingoaxaca+017.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4pz0aUdF0tWzKvHYLzoHqHSyogBpqkwdY48cpSUHH2eAp8UN7fQH2u015I1F-0HUmiLrOz0cY4We8OiHcnRPcEXnLZCXCK1ldXdg5GNfStdACIheHoMtfrX0KkeolDBMVkHyNvmPcBs/s400/leavingoaxaca+017.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679352618464435714" /></a>DBGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164493379521092211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484157162653405563.post-9248376330738091292011-08-19T04:51:00.000-07:002011-08-19T05:00:11.821-07:00I promised, but . . . .<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPrrLxyJhff3ArQHgeEblnPPWiNRprqXz-mN8vdlU7E061N_PW_yweG_oAbvuFKaqCDesMr6fr92ohPksbQZMxTesWg69nYA8jt-VC77elF6ccLluKIQUIhLUbJu9OHu_rME77tVZpWFw/s1600/santo-domingo-cc-stevecadman.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPrrLxyJhff3ArQHgeEblnPPWiNRprqXz-mN8vdlU7E061N_PW_yweG_oAbvuFKaqCDesMr6fr92ohPksbQZMxTesWg69nYA8jt-VC77elF6ccLluKIQUIhLUbJu9OHu_rME77tVZpWFw/s400/santo-domingo-cc-stevecadman.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642535301131249346" /></a>
<br />I haven't forgotten to post. Well, not really. I returned home to a "surprise" gut kitchen renovation that has left us camping out in one room, had food poisoning for several days and then experienced a basement flood after last weekend's torrential rains.
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<br />Things should be settling down in another week (or two), and I will begin unpacking my papers and flash drives, organizing my photos, and posting after-the-fact stuff about my adventures in Oaxaca.DBGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164493379521092211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484157162653405563.post-17973322187734883542011-08-01T16:47:00.000-07:002011-08-01T16:50:23.451-07:00Cocina con Nora, # 4I'm back in the land of reliable WiFi!<br /><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4d6a59774d4463774d6a493d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="303" alt="Click to play this Smilebox slideshow" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4d6a59774d4463774d6a493d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=smilebox&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="46" alt="Create your own slideshow - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/anytime-slideshows.html" target="_blank">Free picture slideshow</a> created with Smilebox</td></tr></table>DBGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164493379521092211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484157162653405563.post-34077452510950684502011-07-14T05:40:00.000-07:002011-07-14T05:43:41.715-07:00NEH Oaxaca, 1st WeekPosting regularly has become a dream with the wonky WiFi here, so I give you -- highlights with minimal commentary! We are just about to wrap up our second week, I'm grappling with my curricular unit (not too successfully, I'm afraid), and a good friend arrives tonight, but I'll try to throw something up whenever I get a connection. <br /><br />Until I see you all again, hasta pronto!<br /><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4d6a55334e7a4d334d54553d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="303" alt="Click to play this Smilebox slideshow" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4d6a55334e7a4d334d54553d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=smilebox&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="46" alt="Create your own slideshow - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center">Make your own free slideshow</td></tr></table>DBGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164493379521092211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484157162653405563.post-57614404130221202342011-07-10T20:27:00.000-07:002011-07-10T20:28:55.902-07:00I Came to Eat<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4d6a55334d6a45354d7a673d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="303" alt="Click to play this Smilebox slideshow" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4d6a55334d6a45354d7a673d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=smilebox&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="46" alt="Create your own slideshow - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center">This free slideshow created with Smilebox</td></tr></table>DBGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164493379521092211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484157162653405563.post-8442080806577911492011-07-09T06:05:00.000-07:002011-07-09T06:47:59.438-07:00Miscellaneous blah blah<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP8zzn-q_WFFhiBcmjJq-zIufmJ8i9Du7SScPOJSamvgSz1E_P2N3M5B_zYENCn2ZiH-qFhvjMRI7dcKbW6A_AgaVchPAQwkssdgE_MiHJcexKAdQsNpdOAcC4HdaztjaaJ2o7Od3d15Y/s1600/neh+oaxaca+first+week+%2526+misc+132.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP8zzn-q_WFFhiBcmjJq-zIufmJ8i9Du7SScPOJSamvgSz1E_P2N3M5B_zYENCn2ZiH-qFhvjMRI7dcKbW6A_AgaVchPAQwkssdgE_MiHJcexKAdQsNpdOAcC4HdaztjaaJ2o7Od3d15Y/s400/neh+oaxaca+first+week+%2526+misc+132.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627348324940626738" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfUd4D2W3HIyoenQiMf8_-9JazBqqt-4Ujr6U9iFc4ZJCxxcSGHyh34bnl86C9_BEPH0_yYRCRETZnSW1LXjQhBAvBK6H4e65xjymR6Mtwy6m4jMckNvDwhE_PtQtg1Zs1ppupcRn52Y/s1600/neh+oaxaca+first+week+%2526+misc+012.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfUd4D2W3HIyoenQiMf8_-9JazBqqt-4Ujr6U9iFc4ZJCxxcSGHyh34bnl86C9_BEPH0_yYRCRETZnSW1LXjQhBAvBK6H4e65xjymR6Mtwy6m4jMckNvDwhE_PtQtg1Zs1ppupcRn52Y/s400/neh+oaxaca+first+week+%2526+misc+012.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627348309806925378" /></a><br />Okay, I know you're waiting for me to say something profound and intelligent about my first week here, but in the evenings I'm too tired to say more than, "Attach Part A to Part B." That's good, isn't it? I'm having a great time, meeting wonderful people, and learning a lot. But I'm thinking of you all and sending you good vibes from a spiritual/historical hot spot!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZjLK3ufiIDz-JiYluCNFhF_OpPTlO8DB178BSQQbR0LsnYehFhVLccB2sZIKH34uZuqBZgH2rdgyeKGUrvAuAmG7yueY0hMKKlXgu7NUCMws23iX0KxGSawAoXJuGDCYSchNKuZeOekE/s1600/oaxaca2010+035.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZjLK3ufiIDz-JiYluCNFhF_OpPTlO8DB178BSQQbR0LsnYehFhVLccB2sZIKH34uZuqBZgH2rdgyeKGUrvAuAmG7yueY0hMKKlXgu7NUCMws23iX0KxGSawAoXJuGDCYSchNKuZeOekE/s400/oaxaca2010+035.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627339524996352322" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7U2_vc70PTJIFahA0-tB9dFLT7OVnPwfMnapihWgoLxIna8dBRpxIP8nGy8T7kqyy60odFg5sufqiDIXNYEkq-elZX3ra2DeIUOg1ZyN-KNZ0fX7NArSPfCvNKKPMfxQgH4xPvO4pew0/s1600/oaxaca2010+033.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7U2_vc70PTJIFahA0-tB9dFLT7OVnPwfMnapihWgoLxIna8dBRpxIP8nGy8T7kqyy60odFg5sufqiDIXNYEkq-elZX3ra2DeIUOg1ZyN-KNZ0fX7NArSPfCvNKKPMfxQgH4xPvO4pew0/s400/oaxaca2010+033.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627339510753467202" /></a>DBGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164493379521092211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484157162653405563.post-34713148256171149522011-07-07T20:21:00.001-07:002011-07-07T21:07:56.061-07:00NEH Day 2 -- Monte Alban and Rancho Zapata<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY6l57krlpUcceeWYZkg683fAJJ-7H_Yk2s-uRarhxHbbXlD1Pthx4fmKsvzxM8E3gE4QxKPNffbUEQg1EQWnxiah_JnxUTbbcJaQ4vsYOwHh9SBmLLYuE5VMfGiWtYbT-I3PGOci5avo/s1600/neh+oaxaca+day+1%25262+053.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY6l57krlpUcceeWYZkg683fAJJ-7H_Yk2s-uRarhxHbbXlD1Pthx4fmKsvzxM8E3gE4QxKPNffbUEQg1EQWnxiah_JnxUTbbcJaQ4vsYOwHh9SBmLLYuE5VMfGiWtYbT-I3PGOci5avo/s400/neh+oaxaca+day+1%25262+053.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626827744234328002" /></a><br />We began Tuesday's excursion at Monte Alban. The ruins of the structures that survive were built by the Zapotec and give us a picture of ceremonial life in a city that reached its zenith between 350CE and 550CE, about 1,000 years before Mitla's rise. <br /><br />Unlike Mitla, Monte Alban was built on a strategic hilltop that is at the intersection of three arms of the Valley of Oaxaca. It was abandoned, possibly abruptly, around 850CE and was deserted until the Mixtec appropriated it as a sacred burial ground and continued to use it up to and after the arrival of the Spanish in 1519.<br /><br />Some of the first archaeologists to explore the site in the 19th Century were -- no surprise here -- Germans, but systematic exploration and documentation began later in the early 20th Century led by Alfonso Caso. It was his work that uncovered the Zapotec treasure -- both in terms of objects and knowledge gained -- from Tomb 7, much of which can be seen today in the Museo of the Centro Cultural Santo Domingo in Oaxaca. Reading the following article has shown me that while we covered a lot of ground in our two-hour visit, we didn't even scratch the surface of what there is to know about this site:<br /><br /><a href="http://arky.ucalgary.ca/mccafferty/gender-research/tomb-7-monte-alban">Tomb 7</a>.<br /><br />(I've posted some new photos but am still having problems with wonky WiFi, so uploading photos has been a struggle. I'll keep at it but may not get a lot up until I return to NYC next month.)<br /><br />On our way to Mitla, we stopped at a mezcal plant and learned the various stages of turning agave into a potent drink. We sampled several varieties before we ate a splendid meal:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLkw5H6qpPcrXcYbHdi7fmifZI_rvFcsn9V00bPuWcghjA26jiHHeu4eCdASZGsnQ3nAJpuXuxRo1TI9-Htk7WpeVbEWN2KS4QCCHBZTakIbZu7bMl9kKpB9Of90jOYslXnCHCfmmjM8c/s1600/neh+oaxaca+day+1%25262+049.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLkw5H6qpPcrXcYbHdi7fmifZI_rvFcsn9V00bPuWcghjA26jiHHeu4eCdASZGsnQ3nAJpuXuxRo1TI9-Htk7WpeVbEWN2KS4QCCHBZTakIbZu7bMl9kKpB9Of90jOYslXnCHCfmmjM8c/s400/neh+oaxaca+day+1%25262+049.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626824540058481074" /></a><br />Estofado Oaxaqueno<br /><br />The group dynamic continues to be positive and enriching. We're all negotiating social boundaries with 30 or more new acquaintances while grappling with a lot of visual and intellectual stimulation, so it's tiring, but in a good way. I feel very lucky to be here and am just as happy socializing for hours on end as I am going off on my own. So far, I've found a balance that's working for me.DBGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164493379521092211noreply@blogger.com0