Oaxaca City–Beautiful In 2010

We had the opportunity of being in Oaxaca City for just 3 days early this year thanks to the hospitality of expat Geri Anderson.  During our brief stay, I managed to snap a few photos of the beauty of the city.  Enjoy . . .

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San Felipe Gets Its Library!

A few weeks ago, we were able to travel to San Felipe Lachillo, about 3 hours straight up northeast of Huatulco and deliver building materials for a new library for children for the village.  Because of video, you can visit our trip on YouTube by clicking on the following video.

Much work on the library has already been accomplished since the day of our delivery of books shelving material.  In addition, a dental clinic is under construction and teachers are living in the community and teaching sewing and voluntary library skills.  You can check out the photo album on my Facebook page at the following link.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3816824&l=e24b5750f2&id=669922354

We hope to return next winter to the state of Oaxaca and visit the ¨little library in the mountains¨at San Felipe.  It is the 40th library established in the state of Oaxaca by expats from USA and Canada living in Oaxaca City.

Stephen Sardeson, ¨The¨Genuine Tourist, living in Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, MX

It’s A Small World After All

Previously, I wrote an article for this Blog about our visit to a trout farm in Ixtlan de Juarez. The name of the family owned business is ”Cauchirindo,” and its handsome owner is “Romualdo Pacheco.” Here is a photo of him with Geri Anderson, our traveler author friend from Oaxaca, Oaxaca. 

Geri Anderson and One Handsome Guy

Now, I had forgotten  about writing the article because I had gone onto other articles about other places UNTIL a comment was posted on this Blog by Don Romualdo’s granddaughter, Nathaly Pacheco.  She said, “That handsome senior is my grandfather his name is Romualdo  Pacheco. If you would like to go there again I recomend going this December.”

 
I can only say that her contact with me via this blog “out of nowhere” reminded me of the song, “It’s a Small World After All,” that I heard in Disney World in Florida.  It is simply amazing that two people who have never met (Nathaly and I) can find one another through two people who never met (Geri and Romualdo) until one rainy day on a mountainside over looking a historic center of Mexico. 

Perhaps you would like to join me in singing about this small world, BUT, I warn you, if you do, you will have a hard time getting the music and words out of your head the rest of the day!  Ok, here we go. The following video is in several languages starting with French and sometimes the language being sung doesn’t match the scenes, but its still a great video for the season.

And, if you must know the lyrics for sure, here they are –

It’s a world of laughter, a world of tears
It’s a world of hopes, and a world of fears
There’s so much that we share that it’s time we’re aware
It’s a small world after all!

It’s a small world after all!
It’s a small world after all!
It’s a small world after all!
It’s a small, small world!

There is just one moon and one golden sun
And a smile means friendship to everyone
Though the mountains divide and the oceans are wide
It’s a small world after all!

It’s a small world after all!
It’s a small world after all!
It’s a small world after all!
It’s a small, small world!

Yes, as the song says, “And a smile means friendship to everyone,” and one can see it in the above photo of the two “handsome seniors,”  Geri and Don Romualdo.  And, we conclude with a “blessing” from Romuldo’s granddaughter, Nathaly, who proclaims to all –

WOW, YES, THE WORLD IS VERY SMALL, THANK YOU; WE ARE GOING THERE THIS CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS — Nathaly Pacheco, December 13, 2008 at 9:00 PM.

Stephen — http://www.Genuine-Tourist.com — reporting from Baraboo, WI, USA

P.S.  Previous article can be viewed at — http://tinyurl.com/4vsnfg

Music of the Zocálo

When we arrived in Oaxaca in March of 2008, we found the Zocálo a “bird-hive” of activity.  It was really nice to see the fountains working, something the birds really seemed to enjoy.

Zocálo for the Birds

Of course the Zocálo was “colored” by a multitude of “balloon” vendors.  We have always been amazed at the very long balloons which do not seem to be marketed in the USA.  It is also fascinating to see people “shoot” the long balloons into the air, when one knows the proper technique to do so. 

Balloons Also Own Zocalo

But what was particularly pleasant in the Zocálo was the “sound of music” as provided by an orchestra piece featuring a player of a saxophone.  You can see him in the next photo.

Excellent Sax Player

 Now, if you would like to hear him play, go to the following YouTube video.

 

More photos of the Zocála are just a click away —

Update–Super PaperMan

You might want to check out my “one photo/video” post at –

http://genuinetourist.wordpress.com/category/one-photovideo/

Stephen — http://www.genuine-tourist.com — reporting from Baraboo, WI, USA

Update — SamiGo blogs Oaxaca

It is snowing in southern, WI, USA, for the first time as I write this post.  I am sitting in my den and watching the large flakes come down through our  “A frame” type windows.  In the meantime, I have been surfing the “tags” of Word Press and came across a nice blog with an article written about Mexico City and Oaxaca.  You can enjoy the article too at –

http://samigo.wordpress.com/2008/11/05/say-cheese/

She has some nice comments about Mt. Alban and the Day of the Dead and she eats bugs! . . . . . . because she wants photos so bad.  Oh . . . she has a nice slide show at the top of her blog which you might want to view before you read her article entitled, “Say-Cheese.”

OK, now we are leaving to eat in a new Mexican restaurant in Baraboo, WI, USA, where we live.  My wife and friends have decided to “extend” her birthday celebration a few more days by going out for lunch today.  Tomorrow, we are eating in another Baraboo Restaurant (Little Village Cafe)  with two men from Madison who own property in Mexico and  follow some of my Yahoo groups about Mexico. 

I hope we can keep all this “Mexican stuff” going until WE land in Mexico city (DF) on January 22nd for our 3 month “tour of duty.”

Silversard and MsSardo – Genuine-Tourist(s).com

 

El Biche Probe Restaurante = The Poor Soul  (in Oaxaca City)

Silversard (Stephen) and MsSardo (Patricia) are two very excited people because WE are just about six months out from living in southern Mexico.  Here is “the Plan.”  We “leave on a jet plane” for Veracruz, Mexico, on 01-29-08, where we will spend a few days snorkelling before traveling by bus to the mountain city of Xalapa.  Upon arrival in Xalapa, we hope to take up residence in the city for one or two months.  We have never been to Veracruz or Xalapa and thought it would be nice to start our retirement in two new places in Mexico. 

After some time in Xalapa, we will travel to Oaxaca City, a city that we have visited several times.   We are interested in Oaxaca City for a possible residence but will be in a “traveler” mode on our first trip, attempting to see more of the “Central Valley” at a more leisurely pace than in times past.   

At some point in our explorations, we may “branch out” from Oaxaca City and travel to Puebla.  We have heard that the city has many nice parks, and we know from experience some very nice people.  Upon arrival in Puebla, we will be at about 6000 feet which should provide some relief from the ”warming” temperatures.  

We may then turn our attention to a small city named Tlaxcala just a short distance to the east of Mexico City.  We would like to meet Bob Cox, an expatriate, who lives nearby and is a professional “genuine tourist” guide.  In recent weeks he has set up his first Yahoo Grupo about Tlaxcal which you can check out at – 

 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TlaxcalaTourism/

Of course, it may be even “hotter” by then, so we thought escaping to Tlaxcala at 7,200 feet may be offer some relief.  If not, I suppose we could just go higher Regardless, we will return to Oaxaca City by late May because we will need to fly back to Chicago, USA, in order to re-unite with our family and spend some of the summer traveling in the western USA. 

Our travels would not be complete, however, without spending some time on the southern Pacific coast in Huatulco, near Santa Cruz.  We have been visiting Huatulco since 1998 enjoy its small town, laid back atmosphere.  We hope to spend some time visiting with Roberto and Pauline of Hurricane Divers.  Roberto also recently launched at new Yahoo Grupo website at –

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hurricanedivers/

You might want to check out all of his newly posted underwater videos. 

You can follow us in our travels by checking us out at –

http://www.genuine-tourist.com  

because it will direct you to websites that we are posting on during our travels.  Yes, sometimes it will take you to Xalapa (Jalapa) or Veracruz or Oaxaca City or Tlaxcala or Puebla or Huatulco . . . just try it and see, after January 29th.  Look for messages and photos posted by “Silversard” or “MsSardo.”

Opportunity in Oaxaca, Mexico

(click on to see and hear 4.35 minute video)

Good Morning Blog Readers,

We have visited Oaxaca City several times and hope to live in the area in the near future.  This Blog is an attempt to feature some of the wonderful features of the Oaxaca City area and the state of Oaxaca in general.  While the area has been in turmoil (and likely with much justification), it is in dire need of the support of “genuine tourists” if such tourists can find ways for their pesos to reach the ordinary citizens of the state. 

The attached U-Tube video has nice music but is not narrated.  Nevertheless, you can “hear” the words from the faces of the people that they need and appreciate genuine opportunities to support themselves. 

Stephen – Genuine Tourist.com

Hello world!

Woman In Red by Alan Goodin

This site will operate as a “Photo” Blog, mainly, because Yahoo, in its “infinite wisdom” has decided to eliminate the ”Photo” section of Yahoo Grupos.   If you would like to add a photo, please e-mail the photo (as an attachment) WITH A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION to me at – Silversard@Yahoo.com   

You can view sample photos by clicking on ”PAGES — OAXACA PHOTOS +” on the right hand side of this page.  More pages and photos will be added in the weeks and months ahead.

The Yahoo Grupo website has over 300 members and is active.  Please visit it at –  http://www.OaxacaCity.net

Stephen — Genuine-Tourist.com