ADVENTURES OF A RETIRED NOMAD: LECTURE, WRONG CULTURAL CENTER, TV, WOMEN'S PROTEST , LUNCH WITH THE LADIES...

Thursday, today, I attended the second half of the Two Part Lecture on the history of Oaxaca giving by Mary Randell, a loooonnnggg time resident of Oaxaca every winter anyway. She is also an educator and knows the history of Mexico as well as Oaxaca.

Helen called me and asked if I was going to the Spanish guitar concert at the Cultural Center...I replied I might. I thought she meant the one in our neighborhood so later decided to take a walk over and was surprised to see what a large place it was. I had visited before when I lived where Helen is now staying but don't remember it being so nice. I saw a man with a guitar and asked if he was playing tonight and he said yes in another 1/2 hour upstairs. I was early so took in a photo exhibit and wandered around.

THE CULTURAL CENTER IS A CONVERTED CONVENT ADJACENT TO THIS CHURCH

I discovered the guitarist was there for lessons along with a group as well as piano players, violinists, ballet dancers...etc...NO Concert...It was then I realized I got my cultural centers mixed up. So I headed for the other one in the center. The security told me the concert was tomorrow night! I went to a Tejate preparation exhibit. It is a very nourishing drink make from Coco Beans and more.

I had dinner that night at Vino y Tapas

Taking the bus home, two comedians doing a routine picked me out with my Mexico baseball Cap on and commented "Bandajo" or something like that while a bus full of people broke out in laughter as I scurried to my seat in the back.

Friday I was looking forward to our afternoon Dominoes Game but....

Well the Dominoes players never showed...Richard and I were there.

We left and went to the Market. Richard found some papers to roll a j and I shopped for furniture. I saw an ironing board with a cabinet built under it that was too long but looked perfect if you cut off the ironing board end.

I went to the Xerox store to see if they could put my photos of a mural on canvas and in a frame for me to hang in my new condo. We misunderstood each other for an hour before I finally paid her $15 for two different ones. She said they would be ready for pickup at 6 pm. I returned home, played with my new TV then took a power nap and woke at almost 6 pm. I took the laundry to the drop off point and grabbed a bus to the Xerox store but she was busy and explained closing was 8 pm. I ran over to the Market with my measurements for the cabinet and caught the family loading everything back into there truck to return home. I went to the truck, measured the "ironing board/cabinet" and explained that I would buy it if the end was cut off. Just make another without the ironing board top and I'll return next week and buy it. No...we do it now and we will deliver it to your casa. I was skeptical but Mexicans are sincere and truthful people so I paid and gave them my address and as I was leaving to take the bus home the husband was sawing away.

I arrived and waited outside the door for about 10 minutes when the truck and the family showed up, unloaded my perfect cabinet. There son threw it over his shoulder and on my request delivered it to my living room. I tipped him and ran back to get a photo of this wonderful family that gave me service I could never hope for in Arizona.

IT WAS AN IRONING BOARD WITH CABINET FOR STORAGE

I then returned to the Xerox place to pick up my canvas murals...turned out to be 2'x3' each! For $15 I rolled them up then headed for Luna y del Sol for pizza and wine.

YEP ...ANOTHER PIZZA..GOT TO STOP THIS HABIT

I called Richard and he was headed for Biznaga so after my dinner, I joined him and made reservations for 6 for 4 pm on Saturday.

Today I met Sandra, the SERVAS member who just arrived, and her friend Lynn at Brujula Coffee Shop near where the Women's Protest March was taking place. We had coffee then went over to the demonstration. There were 1000 people I guessed though others said 2000. It was a peaceful and nice demonstration...the first I've ever attended. I witnessed a few but I wanted to photograph this along with the other 1000 people.

SANDRA AND LYNN..MAN'S T-SHIRT "FUERA TRUMP"

CANADIAN..WHO'S THE BAD MAN AND WHAT HAS HE DONE? TRUMP FASCISTA?

CHRIS, OUR RESIDENT DOCUMENTARIAN

START POINT

Here are two more "takes" on the March in Oaxaca:
One person's view.
Another person's view.

Sandra and Lynn were very likable people and I really enjoyed our short time together over all the noise. They agreed to join my little get together at Biznaga at 4 pm so I ran over and upped the reservations to 8...then followed the march to the Zocalo to take more photos. I went over to the Opera and debated seeing Romeo and Juliet that was being Simulcast from Carnegie Hall in NYC. I was tired and knew I would fall asleep half way through so returned home.
On the way I saw a lady that I've know for 3 years that sells scarves and wrap around warmers made in the villages.

She is in her 70's, 4 foot 6" and works the Zocalo everyday. She tires and sits with her sunglasses as the sun bothers her eyes...then up and out again. Always a smile and pleasant but not she is doing it with a walker for assistance and her ankle is bandaged. I went over and said hello. She recognized me and asked how I have been as I placed some money in her hand and told her to buy a cup of coffee. She thanked me and I went on my way.

I was dehydrated and bought some water in a complex underneath the Gazebo in the center of the Zocalo. Many people don't realized there are shops underground and bathrooms where mostly Mexicans go to eat or use the restrooms.

I was on my way home when I had to stop with leg cramps and sit for a bit. I looked across the street and there was a man laying flat on the sidewalk wearing black sweater and slacks with heavy black shoes trying to stand. His legs were so thin and he was so weak...just as he almost was in a standing position his legs gave out and he collapsed and I noted his head fell back on the stone

sidewalk with a thump. It was Noon and the sun was beating down on him. He started to move again so I walked over and offered him what I had left of my water. He was sick. I walked home looking for a policeman to report this man was going to die if he didn't get help but I saw no one and didn't know what I could do so assumed someone would stop and help.

I picked up my laundry and arrived home and rested until it was time to meet everyone at Biznaga where we were having a late lunch. When I arrived , Halina and Helen with Halina's friend Barbara and another lady from Poland named Anastasia were waiting to inform me they invited two more friends. So now the reservation went to 10 the we moved in another table just as Carol and Margo showed up to join us. I had seen them there before but had never met this wonderful couple from Oregon area I think. Then Sandra and Lynn showed up while we all had a fantastic late lunch. The food was outstanding.

PORTOBELLO MUSHROOM

CHICKEN BROCHETTES

SOMETHING I WAS TOLD WAS EXCELLENT

AGAIN, I WAS TOLD THIS WAS EXCELLENT

I left to deliver some "Muffins" to my friend Hector who was to meet me at Importando in the Zocalo. A band was playing on the way and another was just leaving.

We had a glass of wine together and as I was paying the bill and leaving Darcy showed up with Pat and another friend I respect a lot, Jan. We joked a bit since it was Darcy that made the muffins and I headed home after saying goodbye to Hector after we visited a Mexican protest taking place.

I was passing by the place the man had fallen that afternoon so bought a bottle of water just in case he was still around the area. He wasn't but there was a younger version of him begging for money. I gave him the bottle and his eyes lit up as he thanked me profusely.

I'm home and hope to host Sandra tomorrow after she moves in with a Mexican family with an 80 year old grandma, as part of her immersion in Spanish affiliated with the school she is attending.

Sandra and Lynn showed up. I showed them my condo and some videos of Oaxaca then we all headed over to the Zocalo. We did a little shopping then settled down at the outdoor Cafe for a glass of wine. We were all hungry so decided to have dinner at Tres Bistro.

PROTEST RALLY AGAINST GAS PRICES...HERE PEOPLE DANCED

AGAIN I FORGOT TO TAKE THE PHOTO BEFORE!

THE END OF THE PROTEST..THIS SINGER HAD EVERYONE MEMORIZED..INCLUDING ME

It was a nice meal as usual.

We departed and they went back to their new place and I returned home.

Today I walked over to the hardware store hoping to find a replacement knob to my stove but no luck. I was already half way to the Super Market so thought I would go there and browse. Well I came home with a microwave and some cucumbers to make some sweet pickles. I got the Microwave up and running, made my pickles, had a bowl of my homemade chicken soup and headed for a lecture about Mexico city by my friend Bill Pumpfreys.