Many thousands of visitors

It certainly is Easter in Oaxaca. The long weekend started Wednesday and people have been pouring into the city, not just gringos but Mexicans and their families. Last night it was difficult to walk down the street that we usually walk down to get to the center because of the masses of people.


And this is not one of them. Just an old man, resting in the plaza in front of the church across from our apartment. What is interesting is his shoes. Click on it and take a look.
Two nights ago we were walking home from the center and came upon this university band playing what we think was traditional Mexican music. It was very good and we stopped for a bit to listen. Then all of a sudden they started to leave the stage, playing a song that some of you will know from Cursillos those many long years ago. It was De Colores and sort of sent shivers up and down my spine.

As the festive season comes closer, more street vendors are selling their wares. This one is sweet stuff and we know it is sweet by the abundace of wasps swarming around.

We have new neighbors in our apartment. One of the people you recognize so the other two are are neighbors. Real sweet kids from Culican in the northern part of Mexico.

This was last night and shows a bit the crowds on a street that is generally much less busy.

There are many of these flower sellers around and they are amazing in that they can move around with those baskets on their heads. Up and down steps and through big crowds with no problems what so ever. A bunch of flowers cost $1.00

The university band that we showed in a photo up a couple is here again. This time they are on the street, playing their music and mobbed by followers as they once again head to the zocolo. Nancy and I were just standing on the street and almost got carried away with the crowd. It was past our bedtime and we wanted to go the other way.

A sunny warm afternoon in the park and so much junk for sale.

Just pretty dancers as part of the multitude of parades that are happening in Oaxaca at this time.

And more of the same parade.

A street side restaurant near our apartment. Busy from early morning till late night.

And another, special for this easter season and only a few meters away from the first one.

We took a chance on a new kind of fruit called Mowmai. We didnt like it so much so shared it with our new neighbors who think it is wonderful. It was expensive. What Nancy is holding is the huge seed from inside.

Besides mariachi music and andean music and traditional Mexican music, there is big band music. This one was playing in a large gazebo that is a permant structure in the Zocola and we understand big bands and symphony orchastras play there 3 or 4 times a week.

And when the musci is right, people get up and dance. Just like in Veracruz.

And here is the Andean band that we mentioned a couple of photos past. They were very good and Nancy bought a CD of theirs.

We have less than a week before we return to Seattle and after a couple of days there we return to Warner. The next few days are going to be very busy trying to keep up to the Easter celebrations.