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Oaxacan LIfe: Part 16--- Moho! Horrible! Moving.... !

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 Dear readers,  It has been a VERY long time, I know, since my last post. Even though many interesting events and sights have been worth blogging about, I have been lacking both time and motivation to do so...until now.  Reason being, I have been in a frantic quest to find a new domicile, my lovely old apartment in El Centro being--most horrifically--overrun with mold of every variety!  I thought the landlady, Lulu, was somewhat of a friend. Big mistake, thinking a land lord or lady in this town can also be a friend. (I have since spoken to many other expats who have had similar experiences... why I can speak in general terms about this.) She--and they--are business people. They are happy to capitalize on the great influx of gringos, pouring into Mexico; specifically, Oaxaca and other popular tourist destinations. Despite the ongoing pandemia, Mexico remains free, as it always has been... No tests or documentation of any sort required to enter its borders.  Consequently, foreigners--fe
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Oaxacan LIfe: Part 15-- Moto Loco!

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Technically, it should be "moto LOCA", and not "locO", since the full name for a motorcycle "en espanol" is "motocicleta" and thus the adjective agreement should be feminine. Thing is, it wouldn't be nearly as poetic, now would it?! So... I thus granted myself a little poetic license there in my title of this blog.  After the past 33 days vacationing in the U.S., it was a bit of an adjustment returning home to Oaxaca, which I did this past Tuesday. (What, no Trader Joe's?!) But, after a a few days here, I now feel settled and happy to be back. Unlike August in California, it is rainy, cool and clean here. The skies are blue and consistently beautiful, with ever-changing formations of clouds, not to mention the occasional, magnificent rainbow.  This morning's Sunday ride with expat bike buddies was not only scenic and lovely, but included the unexpected surprise of the craziest, hell's angel type--to the nth degree!-- Mexican motor
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Oaxacan LIfe: Part 14--- El Día Del Perro Sentado (The Dog Sitting Day!)

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 One activity I have sorely missed from my last couple of years living in Sacramento was my side business of dog sitting. Since that opportunity has not been here for me in Oaxaca, I have had to get my "dog fix" as frequently as I can whenever I am out walking. Dogs-- pets and street canines alike--are plentiful in this town, so I can often find opportunities for exchanging pats for licks!   However, nothing can compare with an actual day of dog sitting, and most happily, this opportunity finally landed in my lap! I have a new friend here in town--a Colorado transplant--and she came as a package with her pet "perro":  the cutest little beagle I have ever seen. Although already 6 months old, this precious little Clover has not lost her petite-ness or her puppy-ish little face. In short, she is completely adorable.  When Jamie left her in my care, we spent the entire morning playing fetch, tug-of-war, and going on a two-hour walk in El Centro. I was amazed at the rapi
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Oaxacan LIfe: Part 13-- Rainy Season

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 The rain has begun in Oaxaca in earnest. I had been told this would be coming in June, but what I didn't expect was that the temperature would drop considerably as well, so it is like we are having a second winter here. Brrrr!  Still, it is all worth it: everything is turning so beautiful and green, in and above the town, in the hills. After so many months of dryness and brown vegetation everywhere, it is a most welcome and refreshing change. Plus, I never fail to delight in the almost daily, afternoon thunder and lightening storms that move in from the mountains, providing a wonderful show out of my large, bedroom windows.  Agog on my terrace--before the rain drives me back inside-- it is even better, owing to my 360 degree view.  And then, just yesterday, a new element was added in: a huge, beautiful rainbow to the east, just as the sun was setting in the west. As I watched in awe, a second rainbow joined in the display...fainter than its twin, but still visible. What an incredi
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Oaxacan Life: Part 12-- MITLA (Zapotecan Ruins)

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  Monte Alban and Mitla are the two most famous "sitios arqueologico" outside of Oaxaca.  When Monte Alban collapsed/was abandoned (and it is evidently a subject of dispute as to why this happened), Mitla became THE Zapotecan city of prominence. Evidently, there were settlers there as early as 200 A.D., but the town flourished between the years of 950 and 1521. Although much smaller than Monte Alban, it is cherished for the amazing Zapotecan symmetrical designs on many of the walls, remarkably preserved. It recently opened to visitors, only allowing 200 per day. I arrived before it even opened and was the first one inside! The story unfolds below.... (Note: owing to my usual technical difficulties on Blogger, I was not able to do proper captions/alignment on many of the photos. Forgive this annoying, formatting "blooper"! I am simply not savvy enough to know how to fix this frequently occurring issue.) Besides the amazing designs on the walls, equally remarkable is
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