{Horchata agua fresca with tuna nieve at the weekly market in El Parque Llano. Horchata is a popular drink made from rice with vanilla, cinnamon, & almonds. Tuna is Spanish for prickly pear fruit, the lovely vibrant red fruit from a paddle cactus, and here it is served as a nieve – the Oaxacan version of a sorbet. ¡Refrescante!}
On Tuesday, we celebrated our 6 monthiversary here in Oaxaca. This is the first time since 2011 that we have spent 6 months in the same place (other than ABQ – where we spent 6 months last year). It’s a big deal for us, to settle down and plant a few roots. We own things again. Things that can’t be packed into our backpacks or carried onto a plane. Appliances, mattresses, all the other bare essentials you need to have a home. Home. We have one of those again too. We’re content here, which is delightful and surprising and, let’s be honest, still a bit shocking from time to time. We’re slowly building our own little community here, while also joining the big vibrant community that is Oaxaca, and learning new things about this place every day. As our understanding of Mexico deepens (in ways both wonderful and bittersweet) so does our love for this country and her amazing people. Every day, we feel incredibly lucky just to be here, let alone to get to call it home.
{Street Art honoring The 43 – 43 male students who were kidnapped, tortured and believed murdered in the state of Guerrero in September 2014. Their families, and all of Mexico, are still waiting for the truth – What happened to their sons? Who was responsible? Where are they now? Even now, almost two years later, messages about them are everywhere in Mexico – an open wound that can’t begin to heal until the truth comes out. This is a haunting tribute to them that is just down the street from our favorite market in Oaxaca.}
{New art installation in the centro. Birds made from totomoxtle (the husks of corn) soar above the road on wires and cast shadows in the morning light.}
{Traditional China Oaxaqueña dancers at the celebration for a first communion in the churchyard of Santo Tomas – the oldest church in Oaxaca}
Have a great week!
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