Driving from Guadalajara to Oaxaca by Allan Cogan

My guide book tells me that it's exactly 1,000 kilometers from Guadalajara to Oaxaca. That's about 660 miles. I know of people who say they've driven the distance in one day and I have to concede that ... read more

Oaxaca Journal by Oliver Sacks Reviewed by Allan Cogan

Oliver Sacks is obviously too seasoned a traveller and too astute an observer to confine himself to ferns. One encounters a host of pleasures as he ruminates on a variety of topics. He muses about the New World's contributions to civilization -cocoa, tobacco, potatoes, tomatoes, chilies, gourds, pepper, maize, chewing gum, cochineal and exotic hallucinogens. In Monte Alban he considers the production of rubber which the Zapotec people used to make balls. read more

book-reviews crafts flora food travelogue Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Oaxaca... magic city by Allan Cogan

Believe me, it’s not quite like any other town you’ve ever been to. Even in Mexico. read more

day-of-the-dead exploring-tourism fiestas-traditions food historical-sites museums Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Mexican Folk Art from Oaxacan Artist Families by Arden Aibel Rothstein and Anya Leah Rothstein Reviewed by Allan Cogan

There are hundreds of photos of all kinds of artistic output, from pottery to wood carvings, from basket weaving to candle making, and lots more but we're given a much closer look at the actual creators of all this work. We're treated to wonderful works featuring mermaids, clowns, devils, angels, fishes, skeletons, Biblical scenes, animals and birds of all kinds, and even ladies of the night. These are all used to decorate masks, bedspreads, candles, baskets, jewelry, furniture, statues, toys, pottery and clothing and much, much more plus some 87 brief biographies of each of the artists. read more

art artists book-reviews crafts day-of-the-dead family Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Casa Santiago: Zapotec rug weavers of Teotitlan del Valle, Oaxaca by Alvin Starkman

artists crafts Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Where Divergent Religious Customs Merge: Death Of An Infant In Oaxaca by Alvin Starkman

Between the birth and the death came a crazy-quilt of only-in-Mexico experiences that resonated with my memories Daniel Pérez González was a beautiful baby. His parents Flor and Jo... read more

culture-customs family lifestyles perspectives religion Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Dress - A Matter Of Respect? by Alvin Starkman

If expats want to be accepted into the broader society, then they must act the part and treat custom and societal standards with the respect they deserve. It's not enough to throw money at causes and d... read more

culture-customs family lifestyles Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Moving Here Permanently? by Alvin Starkman

Transporting your worldly possessions into Mexico is both an art and a science, even more so if you intend to do so on your own… truck and all. Then the task also becomes a challenge and an adventure... read more

doing-business moving perspectives retiring Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Temazcal In Oaxaca by Alvin Starkman

Temazcal is akin to the Iroquois sweat lodge. Who would have thought that we could ever have such a first-hand experience during modern times? Curandera Doña Mariana chants while con... read more

culture-customs perspectives Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Touring Oaxaca's Art Galleries by Alvin Starkman

Many travelers to Oaxaca simply don't have the time, patience or inclination to seriously tour the city's multitude of small storefront art galleries replete with wonderfully unique and provocative offerings. It's understandable, given the number of culturally rich and diverse sites to be taken in over the course of a brief vacation.

Stormy Weather: Rainy Season In Oaxaca by Alvin Starkman

Stormy Weather: Rainy Season In Oaxaca By Alvin Starkman © Alvin Starkman 2006 - It's the impact that the storms have on electricity that is stunning, both whi... read more

geography Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Family tradition: five generations of mezcaleros in Matatlan, Oaxaca by Alvin Starkman

Don Isaac recounts awaking at 4 a.m. then walking from his village of Matatlán, with his mule, to Oaxac. He arrived some 14 or 15 hours later… just to buy a large cántaro, the traditiona... read more

family lifestyles Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Hey Compadre by Alvin Starkman

One day they may be calling you, so be ready and learn what it means read more

culture-customs family learning-language lifestyles Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Dry season in Oaaxaca: are we flushing today? by Janet Stanley

I have been living in southern Mexico, in the city of Oaxaca, for two years noticing daily customs and ways of doing things that are not the same as where I lived in the mountains of Colorado. One big ... read more

lifestyles social-issues Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Our beloved Oaxaca, now on US and Canadian Do Not Visit list by Maggie Van Ostrand

Is no one thinking of the ordinary people of Oaxaca and how this event is causing distress and loss of income? read more

perspectives social-issues Oaxaca, Oaxaca

History Of Oaxaca - Modern Era by Maria Diaz

History of Oaxaca Part 3 - Modern Era By Maria Diaz Her Bio Her email: maria@oaxacalive.com Part 1 Pre-Hispanic Era - Part 2 Colonial Era ... read more

history Oaxaca, Oaxaca

History Of Oaxaca - Colonial Era by Maria Diaz

History of Oaxaca Part 2 - Colonial Era By Maria Diaz Her Bio Her email: maria@oaxacalive.com Part 1 Pre-hispanic Era Welcome to the c... read more

history Oaxaca, Oaxaca

History Of Oaxaca - Pre-hispanic Era by Maria Diaz

History of Oaxaca Part 1 - Pre-hispanic Era By Maria Diaz Her Bio Her email: maria@oaxacalive.com In three installments we will present a histor... read more

history Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Guelaguetza by Maria Diaz

A Zapotec word signifying offering or offertory, Guelaguetza was the term used to describe the Oaxaca ceremony and celebration held each year to propitiate the gods in return for sufficient rain and a bountiful harvest. Today it is one of the most colorful fiestas in Mexico. read more

culture-customs fiestas-traditions Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Day of the Dead or El Dia de los Muertos in Oaxaca by Maria Diaz

Drawn by the intrigue of all-night vigils in cemeteries and life-size skeletons propped jauntily in shop windows, tourists flock to Oaxaca and other points in Mexico for Day of the Dead. During the la... read more

culture-customs day-of-the-dead Oaxaca, Oaxaca

On Becoming A Statistic by Jules Siegel

(Originally published in somewhat different form in The Mexico City News, November, 1982) Eli was sick a lot in Oaxaca. The air of the city of Oaxaca in those days was fecalized. Many people there ... read more

health perspectives Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Cancun To Oaxaca - The Bus Ride Of 27 Pedicures by Geri Anderson

My friends asked, “You’re going by bus? Why?” I rationalized about all the experiences I’d have to write about. After vacationing for a week in the Yucatan, I was heading back to Oaxaca, where ... read more

exploring-tourism Cancún, Quintana Roo Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Mexicans: Changing The Eastern Oregon Perspective by Amanda Villagómez

Large families, devout Catholics, modest clothing, very poor - these are some of the common preconceived notions about Mexicans from a rural eastern Oregon perspective. However, such a view is limiting... read more

culture-customs family lifestyles perspectives Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Surface Tension by Mary Ellen Sanger

Only the official registration form on file in the archives and my now-aging memory can attest to Celestino’s entry in the 1952 contest, the year of his biggest loss. The neighbors only saw him carry... read more

exploring-tourism fiestas-traditions Oaxaca, Oaxaca

When taking the bus in Mexico, timing is everything by Stan Gotlieb

I write for fun, and I love my adopted Oaxaca. Don't take me literally. I try not to take myself too seriously; neither should you. Still, there is truth in here somewhere, and it's as much about me an... read more

perspectives transportation Oaxaca, Oaxaca