LATEST NEWS ABOUT OAXACA

Hello Friends, I just read a sweet newsletter from Oaxaca Streetchildren Grassroots (geez that's a bit of a clumsy name for an organization that's anything BUT clumsy :)) Hope you enjoy!

What’s Happening in Oaxaca de Juárez The streets of Oaxaca were packed at the beginning of June, not with tourists but with chicatanas—the large flying ants which emerge with the onset of the rainy season, only to get scooped up by local kids and families and turned into one of the several common chicatana recipes. Chicatana salsa is among the most popular. [Janie note - don't knock it till you try it!]

Calendas [street parades] are back and can be seen almost daily near Santa Domingo and many surrounding barrios and pueblos as they begin their annual fiestas. The ubiquitous cohetes (fireworks) can be heard from Xochimilco near the city center and all the way to Praxedis de Guerrero, near Ocotlán de Morelos, whose week-long fiesta includes calenda, rodeo and of course baile.

The upcoming Guelaguetza promises to be sensational this year as dancers have two years’ worth of dance stored up and ready to show. Participants representing all eight regions can be heard and seen practicing daily in plazas and school yards across the city.

I leave for Oaxaca October 1st and will host a tour for Day of the Dead (it's full, but by all means add yourself to the waitlist if your heart so dictates). Here are a few pics from Guelaguetza's past