Mark Middleton’s Blog

We have spent the last three nights celebrating the dead.  Late night vigils in the cemeteries, meals with families, playing on the roof of a cathedral with 15 children (whose job is to take care of the church and free online holdem poker,free poker online,free holdem online poker texas tightpokeronline poker review7 card stud rules,7 card stud,how to play 7 card studcelebrity pokeronline poker softwarefree texas holdem poker playstrip poker gamepoker moneycaribbean poker7 card stud handsfree online multiplayer poker7 card stud poker rulespoker casino gamefree video poker gametexas holdem tournament,online texas holdem tournament,texas holdem tournament rulefree poker,free poker game,play free pokermultiplayer poker onlineplay texas holdem online free,free texas holdem poker play,play texas holdem freetexas holdem poker game online,texas holdem poker game,texas holdem tv poker gameonline texas holdem,online texas holdem tournament,holdem limit online play texasno limit texas holdem,tournament poker no limit texas holdem,free no limit texas holdemfree online texas holdem pokermultiplayer video pokerfree online poker,play free poker game online,play free poker onlinefree online video pokermac online pokerhow to win at pokertexas holdem poker strategyno limit texas hold em,texas hold em,texas hold em handsfree texas hold em gamecredit card debt debt consolidationbad card credit credit offeraspire credit card,aspire card credit make payment,aspire credit card servicesciti credit card online,card citi credit,citi credit card log inaqua card credit ukalaska airline credit cardbank card credit providianassociate national bank credit card,associate bank card creditcredit card bad debt ukuk lowest interest credit cardcard credit payment processing solution,credit card payment processingcard consolidation credit ukwashington mutual credit card servicesstudent credit card debtcitibank credit card application status,citibank credit card applicationapplication card citibank creditcard consolidation counseling credit debtapplication card credit gasno credit card application,no credit credit card applicationbank card credit first premier,bank card credit first premier secured ring the bells all day long during the festivals), fireworks sounding like bombs at all hours of the day and night, and more seemingly ad-hoc parades than you can count.  Every neighborhood has a few parades during the festival, some just going all around the neighborhood until 7 in the morning…. full brass band, kids in costumes, shouting, dancing… all of it.

We spent much of the day yesterday with a young man named Samuel.  He spoke fantastic english, and took us into his home.  His mother (who can´t be an inch more than 4 1/2 feet) made the most amazing mole I have ever had.  The process takes three days including roasting the ingredients her self before she takes the items to the mill to be ground.  She bakes it all in a huge couldron that was boiling for another ten minutes after it was taken off the fire.

Samuel introduced us to the local cathedral and took us to the roof, where the boys were ringing the bells.  These little monkeys were so cute as they continued rough-housing and rolling all over the curved roofs, its amazing that any of them reach their 8th birthday.

Xoxo (pronounced ´Ho Ho´) was the popular cemetery where we spent much of the day of the November 1st.  Although it was a large cemetery, many many hundreds and perhaps a few thousand people come and visit - including many tourists.  The children wear their costumes, run and dance around the place and beg for coins from anybody.  We met many families, learned the stories of their loved ones - they are all so happy to share about their families.

We are packing everything up tonight to begin the journey back to the states.  We have recorded more than 15 hours of video, hundreds of pictures and many stories to tell.

(Nick has the camera with the pictures in the market right now, so I cannot upload anything… sorry)

its remarkable the local connection with the Market.  if you want to experience Oaxaca, you have to dive in.  Connection, food, friends, family, chatting, candy, bread, fish, arts and crafts… its all there at the market.  There are 20 or so markets in the city of Oaxaca.  Although we have only visited a few, we have a deep appreciation for the connections that are made in the market.

Ron Mader of Planeta.com allowed us to capitalize his time for much of the day today and yesterday.  He threw us to the market wolves, as it were, to allow us to experience the people, artisans, amazing chocolates, mole, and fruit drinks directly from the source.  Thank you Ron!

We´re hitching a ride to some of the local cemeteries tonight, so check out the pictures on flickr and leave a comment!

-Mark

It`s now Tuesday morning, another day of local connection. we met a couple who have lived in Oaxaca for 16 years; Stan and Diana.  An interesting couple who have been through a lot here in the political unrest of Oaxaca and Mexico politics.  They showed us a great little local lunch place, and we shared the afternoon together.

We took a quick trip back to the apartment and met a fellow resident, Liz.  Liz lived here for four months a couple of years ago, and is back to stay for 6 months and is looking for a job as an english teacher.

Liz took us to the top of a hill where we climbed a million steps and then hiked up a road to the best view of Oaxaca city.  We walked through town, and she gave us a great ad-hoc tour of what she knew and was familiar with. We made a lot of little video snippets of parks, streets and public areas around the city.

Here are some pictures from yesterday!  The one with the three ghosts was taken at our newly discovered vantage point.  A fifteen second exposure - with the three of us stepping out of the frame after 10 seconds.

photos