We're seriously gonna wrap this up one day soon.
The completion of Fuego del Sol awaits....
Stay Tuned.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Monday, June 23, 2008
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Saturday, June 21, 2008
At Kate and Sonny's (and Hector's) very welcoming and very beautiful home.
This is the stylin' room we stayed in for a week
Coming into Chicago
Our apologies for the long wait in updating the blog. We've been drifting around Toronto the last few weeks. We'll let you know more about that later. The blog finds us coming into the great and glorious (and yes, windy) city of Chicago...
Thursday, May 22, 2008
We spent a few days in Lawton, Oklahoma - a pretty unremarkable middle-american town but near to the beautiful Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
We thought we might barfa if we had to drive to Marfa.
So the original roadtrip plan has drastically changed in the last 2 days. Instead of heading to Marfa, TX and then on to Santa Fe, NM and then to Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, etc..we decided to screw it! Cause you know what..we're tired of driving 6 hours a day, eating out all the time, unpacking and repacking the car every day and spending money on hotels. While it would have been fun to explore those areas, we just ain't in the mood no more.
After Brownsville, we headed to Kerrville, in Hill Country (mighty pretty there), then north to Abilene (mighty ugly there). And today we have FINALLY gotten out of Texas and crossed into the Great Plains of Oklahoma. Lawton to be exact. We're here for 2 nights. Thought we might go hiking in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge tomorrow where the deer and the antelope play (and the prairie dogs!!!). It's the oldest mountain range in North America don't cha know. We're very excited about spending the day out of the Fuego. After Lawton we'll make our way through Oklahoma and Missouri and then to Illinois, destination Chicago, to hang out with our friends Kate and Sonny. Really looking forward to that!
Still giddy about being able to brush our teeth with the tap water, flush toilet paper down the toilet, drive on highways that are properly signed and perhaps the best thing of all..no more topes!!! Taking a break from the rice, beans and tortillas is pretty nice too.
Till next time,
Amee and Jean
After Brownsville, we headed to Kerrville, in Hill Country (mighty pretty there), then north to Abilene (mighty ugly there). And today we have FINALLY gotten out of Texas and crossed into the Great Plains of Oklahoma. Lawton to be exact. We're here for 2 nights. Thought we might go hiking in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge tomorrow where the deer and the antelope play (and the prairie dogs!!!). It's the oldest mountain range in North America don't cha know. We're very excited about spending the day out of the Fuego. After Lawton we'll make our way through Oklahoma and Missouri and then to Illinois, destination Chicago, to hang out with our friends Kate and Sonny. Really looking forward to that!
Still giddy about being able to brush our teeth with the tap water, flush toilet paper down the toilet, drive on highways that are properly signed and perhaps the best thing of all..no more topes!!! Taking a break from the rice, beans and tortillas is pretty nice too.
Till next time,
Amee and Jean
Home sweet home.
The rooms are great but no matter where you are, they all look the same. We can't wait to stop living out of our luggage. The constant unpacking and repacking of the car is enough to make anyone positively loopy.
Pool shaped like the State of Texas. Holiday Inn's slogan: "Swim across Texas." Oh the cleverness of it all.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Rewinding a couple weeks to our last meal at Casa Oaxaca and saying goodbye to our fabulous waiter and friend, Alejandro.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Howdy from Texas!
We have made it safe and sound across the border into Brownsville, TX. Strange to be communicating in English again but we welcome it. Still can't believe we're out of Mexico and starting the journey home. Where did 1 year go?!
We'd put up some pictures but there ain't nothing purty or worthwhile to photograph here. Nothing but SUVs, Denny restaurants and 5 lane roads. Yes, it's gross but we're happy as can be in our Holiday Inn room with high speed Internet, AC, English newspapers and even a pool! We're about to indulge in some much needed SUSHI!!! and maybe even take in a movie..in English. Ah the luxury of it all.
xo,
Amee and Jean...formerly known as Amicita y Juan...sigh.
We'd put up some pictures but there ain't nothing purty or worthwhile to photograph here. Nothing but SUVs, Denny restaurants and 5 lane roads. Yes, it's gross but we're happy as can be in our Holiday Inn room with high speed Internet, AC, English newspapers and even a pool! We're about to indulge in some much needed SUSHI!!! and maybe even take in a movie..in English. Ah the luxury of it all.
xo,
Amee and Jean...formerly known as Amicita y Juan...sigh.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Update
Hola everyone,
Just to let you know we're still in Oaxaca City. We've been relaxing, decompressing and taking care of some last minute business. Tonight we're going out for dinner with some friends at our favourite restaurant which we're really looking forward to. We roll outta here early tomorrow morning. Below are some photos from the great escape. It all seems quite surreal to us now and we keep counting our blessings that we got out of there when we did. Turns out the conflict might continue for a few more weeks.
Found out a bit more about the situation from the newspaper, a few online reports and from our friend Cheryl who lives in San Agustin. We read that 21 officials from Oaxaca who arrived to set up the election were...ah hem...taken hostage by the citizens of Guelache (who we thought were so tranquilo). They are being held in the municipal building. No wonder it was so tense over there! The newspaper reports said they were getting food, water and had a place to sleep. But ah..no word on when they will be released. We're in shock! How can such a thing happen in such a quiet and peaceful pueblo? So it goes in Oaxaca.
Our next post will be from the road. The glorious, free and open road.
xo,
A & J
We've pasted part of Cheryl's email as it explains the situation pretty clearly. (Thanks Cheryl!)
______________________________________________________________
Apparently Guelache is the county seat and the other villages are agencies. Guelache receives money from the government and is supposed to divide it up amongst the villages. Well as you might guess they didn't and haven't been for some time. The other villages are pretty pissed off about that. Plus Guelache would not let the agencies vote...hence the blockades to keep others out. Now I guess the Feds are going to come in with the military to put up the voting booths so the voting can take place. Oh so interesting. It should be real interesting in the next few weeks until the elections actually take place. I asked why the State gov't wasn't helping and found out that Carmelina Cruz, a state senator or such, is from Guelache and has been helping Guelache. So now the Feds have to take over. So you were able to experience the wonderful Oaxacan politics...and are now on the road to new experiences....
____________________________________________________________
Just to let you know we're still in Oaxaca City. We've been relaxing, decompressing and taking care of some last minute business. Tonight we're going out for dinner with some friends at our favourite restaurant which we're really looking forward to. We roll outta here early tomorrow morning. Below are some photos from the great escape. It all seems quite surreal to us now and we keep counting our blessings that we got out of there when we did. Turns out the conflict might continue for a few more weeks.
Found out a bit more about the situation from the newspaper, a few online reports and from our friend Cheryl who lives in San Agustin. We read that 21 officials from Oaxaca who arrived to set up the election were...ah hem...taken hostage by the citizens of Guelache (who we thought were so tranquilo). They are being held in the municipal building. No wonder it was so tense over there! The newspaper reports said they were getting food, water and had a place to sleep. But ah..no word on when they will be released. We're in shock! How can such a thing happen in such a quiet and peaceful pueblo? So it goes in Oaxaca.
Our next post will be from the road. The glorious, free and open road.
xo,
A & J
We've pasted part of Cheryl's email as it explains the situation pretty clearly. (Thanks Cheryl!)
______________________________________________________________
Apparently Guelache is the county seat and the other villages are agencies. Guelache receives money from the government and is supposed to divide it up amongst the villages. Well as you might guess they didn't and haven't been for some time. The other villages are pretty pissed off about that. Plus Guelache would not let the agencies vote...hence the blockades to keep others out. Now I guess the Feds are going to come in with the military to put up the voting booths so the voting can take place. Oh so interesting. It should be real interesting in the next few weeks until the elections actually take place. I asked why the State gov't wasn't helping and found out that Carmelina Cruz, a state senator or such, is from Guelache and has been helping Guelache. So now the Feds have to take over. So you were able to experience the wonderful Oaxacan politics...and are now on the road to new experiences....
____________________________________________________________
¡The Great Escape!
The charred remains of Barrier #1.
We thought we had made it out...but ah...
Uh oh! Not so fast..Barrier #2.
As we're trying to figure out what to do, a pick up truck full of hombres arrived and unlocked the chain. After we showed them our permission slip of course.
And then kindly moved Barrier #3.
And then quickly dismantled Barrier #4.
Still not quite sure if we're free or not. Still nervous...still soiling our trousers.
But glory be...there's the open road! Freedom never tasted so sweet.
Our wacky cartoonish ticket outta there for "dos norteamericanos" that we got from the "municipal official." As you can imagine, we had our doubts.
Do you see a happy face and a duckie?
Monday, May 5, 2008
WE'RE OUT!!!!
Just got into Oaxaca city and have installed ourselves at the Parador Hotel and are lifting a celebratory cerveza. Getting past the barricades was a little scary. We'll tell more and put some photos up later tonight, but first off to dinner. Thanks so much to everyone for your kind thoughts, e-mails, calls and everything. ¡Happy Cinco de Mayo!
Day 4: Almost out we hope.
We just spoke to the sketchy officials at the municipal office and they've told us we can leave in a couple of hours. They're going to open up one of the roads. So we're packing up the car and cleaning the house and will be ready to flee as soon as possible. Join us in finger crossing!
Will update when we make it to Oaxaca city.
Peace out,
A & J
Will update when we make it to Oaxaca city.
Peace out,
A & J
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Under Seige: Day 3
Here's the update:
Last night, speeches at the Municipio finally stopped around midnight as did the church bells. Around 4am, fireworks went off in the distance. At 6:30am the usual frantic church bell ringing began, followed by the loudspeaker church service. From what we could understand of the sermon, comparisons were made between what is happening in our pueblo to what happened to Noah while he was building the ark. Many doubted Noah, but in the end, him and his family were saved and the wicked ones were completely wiped out. Not quite sure of the connection but we didn't like hearing that 40 days and 40 nights business. Another puzzling part of the sermon was the comparison of the people in San Miguel who aren't allowed to pass the barricades and cross into our village, much like Pharoah's army being unable to cross the Red Sea, as they became engulfed by water. So does that mean Guelache is the chosen one, like Moses, who leads the Israelites out of Egypt through the parting of the Red Sea? C'mon! Is this really on the same scale? Needless to say, a truly fascinating, albeit strange strange strange service. But enough about those wacky Mexican Catholics.
The barricades are still up, though no one is walking around with machetes any more. A good sign. Things are tranquilo and everyone is going about their business. Here's the funny part (in a funny enraging kinda way): the election, which was the basis for this seige in the first place, has been CANCELLED due to the conflicts between municipalities. So was all this crap for not? See, now we're just pissed off. What was the point of all this? Not clear if the election will happen later, or if it has been moved to another location, or if it is just plain cancelled. As per usual, everyone has a different story. We think/hope/pray the barricades will be down by tomorrow afternoon and we can get the f*@# outta here.
But the real problem...the real issue here...we've run out of milk for our lattes!!! We're improvising with Kahlua, but we're thinking of heading out and finding ourselves a cow to milk. Or a goat.
Peace,
Amicita y Juan
Last night, speeches at the Municipio finally stopped around midnight as did the church bells. Around 4am, fireworks went off in the distance. At 6:30am the usual frantic church bell ringing began, followed by the loudspeaker church service. From what we could understand of the sermon, comparisons were made between what is happening in our pueblo to what happened to Noah while he was building the ark. Many doubted Noah, but in the end, him and his family were saved and the wicked ones were completely wiped out. Not quite sure of the connection but we didn't like hearing that 40 days and 40 nights business. Another puzzling part of the sermon was the comparison of the people in San Miguel who aren't allowed to pass the barricades and cross into our village, much like Pharoah's army being unable to cross the Red Sea, as they became engulfed by water. So does that mean Guelache is the chosen one, like Moses, who leads the Israelites out of Egypt through the parting of the Red Sea? C'mon! Is this really on the same scale? Needless to say, a truly fascinating, albeit strange strange strange service. But enough about those wacky Mexican Catholics.
The barricades are still up, though no one is walking around with machetes any more. A good sign. Things are tranquilo and everyone is going about their business. Here's the funny part (in a funny enraging kinda way): the election, which was the basis for this seige in the first place, has been CANCELLED due to the conflicts between municipalities. So was all this crap for not? See, now we're just pissed off. What was the point of all this? Not clear if the election will happen later, or if it has been moved to another location, or if it is just plain cancelled. As per usual, everyone has a different story. We think/hope/pray the barricades will be down by tomorrow afternoon and we can get the f*@# outta here.
But the real problem...the real issue here...we've run out of milk for our lattes!!! We're improvising with Kahlua, but we're thinking of heading out and finding ourselves a cow to milk. Or a goat.
Peace,
Amicita y Juan
Saturday, May 3, 2008
We interrupt the endless Apoala postings to bring you breaking news from Guelache: El Conflicto!
So..ok, yesterday we were trying to leave to go into Oaxaca city and have lunch with our friend Carmen, drop off the keys to our landlords and run a few errands.. only to discover...no puedo pasar: we can't pass! The 2 roads out of our pueblo are barricaded by buses, cars and last night..by large fires. Not to mention the groups of men and teenage boys standing guard with machetes, rocks and big sticks. None too comforting.
The conflict is between our village and the neighbouring village of San Miguel. Our village wants to protect their Usos y Costumbres (their uses and customs). They have a hatered (much to our surprise) of San Miguel and want them to stay away from our fiestas and pueblo activities. However, upon talking with our neighbours, we discovered that the real problem is with the municipal election that is being held tomorrow. By barricading the roads this prevents the people of San Miguel from coming here and voting. Our town is the municipal seat and governs the other neighbouring towns. They think that by instilling fear and unrest in the population, the presidente can retain power and make sure the "right" person gets elected. Apparently this has happened around election day for the past 3 years.
We don't want to scare our family and friends but we thought it was important that you all know what is happening. We have informed the Canadian Consulate and let them know the situation. Their advice was to sit tight and don't try leave or get involved. These things tend to blow over relatively quickly. At first we thought about contacting the Policia...then we just laughed cause we know they don't ever do anything.
The conflict started Friday morning and was supposed to end in a few hours, then by nightfall, then by the morning. Now we find out it will continue until Monday (our departure day..yikes) at the earliest. Needless to say we aren't leaving Monday. Perhaps Tuesday or Wednesday. We talked to the municipal officials this morning and asked if it was possible to leave to go into Oaxaca city. They said for a price. That is so Mexico! They will give us a piece of paper with some scribbled approval on it, but it does not guarantee us re-entry into Guelache. Nor can we take our car out due to the fire barricade. We would have to walk past..through it. Not the best option. So for now we're staying put. We have plenty of food and vino to calm our nerves. For the most part things are calm and quiet..with the exception of the excessive fireworks and church bell ringing.
Here are few photos we took yesterday mostly from the safety of our roof. A few were taken this morning while walking around.
We are somewhat worried but we feel safe in our compound. We truly appreciate our very tall brick walls topped with broken glass. Our neighbours are great and are looking out for us. Most people in Guelache know us and are very friendly. But a few prayers, positive vibes, peaceful energy our way would be muchly appreciated.
We'll keep you posted.
Much love,
Amicita y Juan...under seige!
This is the smoldering remains of one of the barricades...from a distance.
The conflict is between our village and the neighbouring village of San Miguel. Our village wants to protect their Usos y Costumbres (their uses and customs). They have a hatered (much to our surprise) of San Miguel and want them to stay away from our fiestas and pueblo activities. However, upon talking with our neighbours, we discovered that the real problem is with the municipal election that is being held tomorrow. By barricading the roads this prevents the people of San Miguel from coming here and voting. Our town is the municipal seat and governs the other neighbouring towns. They think that by instilling fear and unrest in the population, the presidente can retain power and make sure the "right" person gets elected. Apparently this has happened around election day for the past 3 years.
We don't want to scare our family and friends but we thought it was important that you all know what is happening. We have informed the Canadian Consulate and let them know the situation. Their advice was to sit tight and don't try leave or get involved. These things tend to blow over relatively quickly. At first we thought about contacting the Policia...then we just laughed cause we know they don't ever do anything.
The conflict started Friday morning and was supposed to end in a few hours, then by nightfall, then by the morning. Now we find out it will continue until Monday (our departure day..yikes) at the earliest. Needless to say we aren't leaving Monday. Perhaps Tuesday or Wednesday. We talked to the municipal officials this morning and asked if it was possible to leave to go into Oaxaca city. They said for a price. That is so Mexico! They will give us a piece of paper with some scribbled approval on it, but it does not guarantee us re-entry into Guelache. Nor can we take our car out due to the fire barricade. We would have to walk past..through it. Not the best option. So for now we're staying put. We have plenty of food and vino to calm our nerves. For the most part things are calm and quiet..with the exception of the excessive fireworks and church bell ringing.
Here are few photos we took yesterday mostly from the safety of our roof. A few were taken this morning while walking around.
We are somewhat worried but we feel safe in our compound. We truly appreciate our very tall brick walls topped with broken glass. Our neighbours are great and are looking out for us. Most people in Guelache know us and are very friendly. But a few prayers, positive vibes, peaceful energy our way would be muchly appreciated.
We'll keep you posted.
Much love,
Amicita y Juan...under seige!
This is the smoldering remains of one of the barricades...from a distance.
Friday, May 2, 2008
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