Graffiti Contest, Weaving Lecture, Tlacolula Market

Graffiti
While Kaya and Scott went to a workshop (in the gorgeous textile museum to the right) on the natural dying process, Kelsey, Abby and Max went to a graffiti contest. It started at around 10 am with giant wooden (particle board) allotted to each entrant. The prize was $300 and was sponsored by city. We spent about two hours under the only tree in the plaza watching about 15 entrants sketch and begin their masterpieces. Overheated and hungry, we headed for the empanada row and had our usual orders. By the time we headed back through the plaza, their creations were evolving and more detailed. Most of them had a political resistance theme to them. To quote Kelsey, "it was pretty cool".

Cochinillas
We met S and K back at the apartment. They said they had a detailed breakdown of how the cochinillas are used in the dyes.
As mentioned in another blog, these parasitic bugs on the prickly-pear cacti are used from everything from reds, to purples, to orange(depending on what else is added- lime juices, baking soda...). The three pictures on the right show the taking over of these bugs on the prickly pear cactus and the collecting and crushing of them for the dyes.


Lunch and Dancing
This morning we decided to head off to the Tlacolula Monday market (one of the valley towns to the east). We had lunch at a little comedor that was grilling chicken. Bubbly couple- the husband had tiny rubber chickens hanging from his baseball hat. He was grilling about 20 chickens at a time on his triple spit as his wife served us each up a plate of beautiful breast meat, rice, coleslaw and cold frijoles. Ate it all up with tortillas. Of course there was another Guelaguetza fiesta with a procession in front of the main cathedral (see video below). I think we're starting to feel like we did in Alaska with "another bald eagle in the tree". While it's deeply traditional and awsome, after the 20th one, we aren't exactly snapping pictures anymore. Although this one did involved the ledgendary pineapple dancers , which we had only read about. S and I are learning to really appreciate the ubiquitous bands. They seem to be out performing everywhere.

Market
The Tlacolula market was huge but differed from a lot of the others we've been to because of its wide aisles. Made the wandering a bit less stressful. Bought some dinner supplies and lots of little baskets. Scott loaded up with a couple kilos of dried chilies for salsa.
Wormy Rice
Stopped by corner grocery man for some rice on the way home, only to find little worms in the bag. Scott and the children went back down for another bag but were dismayed to find them in each one (no, his wife didn't offer to return our 85 cents). They ventured out 5 more blocks for some wormless rice. Kelsey was disappointed I didn't finish cooking the worm-infested batch. For the worm-loving Oaxacans, might not have been so bad either. Felt guilty throwing it out.
Wall E
Watched a cute little bootleg movie tonight- Wall E. Kelsey actually stayed up for a few minutes after dinner but couldn't make the movie. Max, as usual made it just past halfway and fell asleep. I don't think he's ever seen a movie all the way through. Kaya is doing her usual thing and reading in their room with the light on well into the night. Vacation is all about going to bed late and waking up late (in our case, 7:30- yipee!) Actually should clarify that because S wakes up earlier than the two of us on a regular basis, he is very generous with letting me sleep in even later... I am almost catching up to Kelsey in terms of wake-up time. It's lovely.
It was Max's choice of videos this time and he appropriately picked one about a little trash-collecting robot. Max is constantly picking things off the street and pocketing them- straws, popcicle sticks, rusty wire pieces.... It can sometimes get gross but we have faith that he will be a recycler-extraodinaire like his grandfather. One day he will be creating and repairing beautiful machines with these treasures.