Summer Lessons / Lecciones de Verano...

I'm about to leave Oaxaca and end my three month summer vacation. I'm partly excited because I can't wait to be back home in NY ! but I'm also sad because I'll know I'll miss many things that are here, the "organic" part of life. But more than anything I'M VERY GREATFULL. I know this is a time period I'll remember as very nurturing, fun and adventurous and I know I'm lucky to have lived it.

I took the very initial steps of writing a book on a Mexican character here, which was undoubtley the right choice of a country to do it in ! lol  I personally grew in many ways during the process.

Here as some key moments of my trip and lessons I learned:

There is a lot of poverty in Mexico. It's sad to see little kids working hard selling candy or whatever they can so they can eat.... with so much poverty around, people still manage to enjoy life greatly. I hope to bring back this message to the "developed" NYC or anywhere I go and continue to Enjoy Life! no matter what !

I love great company but I also think its important to enjoy time alone. This summer I had lots of great moments of my own which I'll never forget. It's so good to feel good ! Even when alone ! ;)

Pitaya "Exotic" Fruit

And so I enjoyed an "exotic fruit" today here in Oaxaca, that I had never tried before called Pitaya. I was taken over by its beauty and color, it almost looked like a flower.  I was so taken by it that I took pictures and researched its origin on wikipedia. Apparently this fruit comes from Asia and was brought over to Mexico by the Europeans...

I hope you get to try a sweet Pitaya one day... and enjoy its beauty :)

Hoy disfrute de una "fruta exotica" aqui en Oaxaca, que nunca habia probado antes. Se llama Pitaya. Me llamo la atencion su belleza y color, casi parece una flor. Me gusto tanto que le tome fotos e investigue su origen en wikipedia. Aparentemente esta fruta viene de Asia y la trajeron los Europeos a Mexico...

Espero que lleguen a probar una dulce Pitaya algun dia... y que disfruten de su belleza :)

Beach Road Trip / Playa ! viaje relampago

I wasn't planning on going to the beach in Mexico this time because I plan to go a lot in New York but a last minute invitation came by my best friend's brother Irving to go for a 3 day trip to Puerto Escondido with his cousin. The plan was to visit many local beaches I didn't know, inlcuding the museum of the turtle... but in the end, we only stayed in Zipolite since it was one of those magical places one does not leave.

If you ever stay in the alquimist, which is where we stayed, I only recommend Cabins #1 and 7 since they have beachfront view. I stayed in # 5 and it wasn't that special, though my friends stayed in #1 and it was a great difference ! Also, the ocean is pretty rough and we couldn't swim in it. If you want to swim in the ocean, the best bet is going to Huatulco. http://www.el-alquimista.com/es/home.html

Llego una invitacion de ultimo minuto para ir a la playa con Irving el hermano de mi mejor amiga a Pto Escondido por 3 dias y lo tome, aunque no pensaba ir a la playa porque voy a ir mucho en cuanto regrese a NY. El plan era visitar muchas playas que no conocia, incluyendo el museo de la tortuga... pero al final, solo nos quedamos en Zipolite, uno de esos lugares magicos de los que es dificil salirse.

Si alguna vez se hospedan en El Alquimista, que es donde nos quedamos nosotros, solo les recomiendo las cabanias # 1 y 7 porque tienen la vista al mar. Yo me quede en la #5 y no fue tan especial pero mis amigos se quedaron en la #1 y se noto la diferencia ! Tambien, el mar es peligroso, las olas muy fuertes y no pudimos nadar en el. Si quieren nadar en la playa, es mejor ir a Huatulco.  http://www.el-alquimista.com/es/home.html

                         On the Oaxaca roads, heading to the beach / Camino a la Playa

                      Stop in Losicha a coffee town / Parada en Losicha, la region del cafe

                                             traditional breakfast of "memelitas"

                                                    Welcome the "The Alquimist"

                                                    friends I went with Irving and Rafa

                                                     fresh fresh coconuts ! yummm

                                                                        w Rafa

                                                         a fish out of water :(

Guelaguetza Time part 3 !

These are my final shots for Guelaguetza Oaxaca 2012. I'll need an entire month of vacation to recover from this celebration ! ;) 

Estas son las ultimas tomas que hize para la Guelaguetza Oaxaca 2012. Necesitare como un mes de vacaciones para recuperarme de tanta celebracion ! ;)

Oaxaca's distinguished "Tlayuda" - our huge tortilla meal / La distinguida "Tlayuda' de Oaxaca- nuestro platillo de tortilla inmensa

                     @ Tlayuda Festival in San Antonino where they make them...

                                                               Ingredients

trying on some outfits / probando los trajes regionales

         a friends house, i love her view ! / casa de la amiga, que linda vista !

                          Photo exhibit of the past / Exhibicion fotografica del pasado.....

                                                                          Frida?

Oaxaca's current Governor Mr Gabino

                                             "Istmo" dance where my shirt comes from

 "The pineaple dance" my favorite outfits / "Flor de Pinia" mis trajes favoritos

yet aaaaanother party... welcome to Oaxaca !~ ;)