Radiant radishes: La Noche de Rabanos in Oaxaca Tara Lowry

For one night of the year in Oaxaca, Mexico, the Raphanus sativus, or radish as it is more commonly known, escapes its destiny as root vegetable side dish and becomes art. Thousands upon thousands of r... read more

July in Oaxaca: The Mexican pageantry of the Guelaguetza Alvin Starkman

Tehuana women in their elaborate traditional dress. © Oscar Encines, 2008

With pageantry unrivalled in all of Mexico, the Guelaguetza is the most colorful and exhilarating of the multitude of festivals in Oaxaca. And in a state with sixteen different indigenous cultures, each with its own unique traditions including language, food, music, dress and dance, it should come as no surprise that the annual two-week July extravaganza draws both Mexican nationals and tourists from all corners of the globe. read more

fiestas-traditions Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Christmas magic in Oaxaca: A multi-faceted experience of culture & tradition Alvin Starkman

Oaxaca is magical — its history, culture, art, architecture and folklore. The traditional Guelaguetza, celebrated in July, is a quintessential expression of Oaxaca tradition. Now, Noches Magicas de G... read more

christmas Oaxaca, Oaxaca

My journey with La Calaca: a Day of the Dead experience Bill Begalke

An opalescent sky muted the harshness of the emerald earth as the old car struggled up the rock-filled Mexican road, leaving the breeze blown coast behind. I had begun a journey deep into the verdant m... read more

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

Medical and dental treatment and coverage in Oaxaca Alvin Starkman

Aside from the small, private hospitals, often referred to as clínicas, there are four publicly funded and insurance-based hospitals in the city, as well as a hospital just outside of the city offering specialized treatment for a number of serious ailments. There is the Red Cross facility available to all, often used for emergency treatment only. The civic hospital provides free services or treatment at a modest cost based on a sliding scale respecting means. ISSSTE is a federally funded facility restricted to government employees who are members of a union. Finally, there is IMSS... read more

health perspectives Oaxaca, Oaxaca

The Oaxaca Lending Library and Community Center Alvin Starkman

The Oaxaca Lending Library (OLL) has been in existence for over 40 years, and is one of the largest English language libraries in all of Mexico. Over the past decade it has grown into a vibrant community center, in large part due to the dedication of its many volunteers. read more

Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Children's cooking classes at Mexico's Casa de los Sabores in Oaxaca Alvin Starkman

What better way to begin a series of children's cooking classes than with pizza and mango smoothies? Chef Pilar Cabrera's Casa de los Sabores began their inaugural class with the basics of kitchen safe... read more

food-drink Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Tattoo artists in Oaxaca: a lawyer and a fine arts graduate make strange bedfellows with tatuadores Alvin Starkman

Lawyer Kaireddyn ("Kai") Orta began fabricating his own, rudimentary tools for making tattoos in 1996, while still in high school here in Oaxaca, Mexico. One day, a neighbor saw him carrying a shoe box, and asked him what was in it. Kai showed him the adapted motor, needles, ink and other paraphernalia. The neighbor was the recipient of Kai's first tattoo. Kai then began doing tattoos for his schoolmates. read more

Oaxaca, Oaxaca

CORAL: Non-profit center in Oaxaca assists hearing impaired Mexican children Alvin Starkman

When the Cole-Gardner family recently vacationed in Oaxaca, Mexico, they brought along several basketballs, soccer balls and baseball gloves, to donate to indigenous children without ready access to su... read more

social-issues Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Guelaguetza Maria Diaz

Monday, July 26, 2010, the colorful pageantry of Mexico's Guelaguetza is reenacted once again during the Lunes del Cerro (Mondays on the Hill. 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

Four Days in the Oaxaca State Prison John McClelland

At 9:15 a.m. on February 3, 2010, I steeled myself to enter the Central Penitentiary in Oaxaca, Mexico. Having heard stories of overcrowding, rampant drug use, filthy conditions, torture, inadequate fo... read more

social-issues Oaxaca, Oaxaca

A wedding and christening in rural Oaxaca: The mandate of tradition Alvin Starkman

We usually think of weddings and baptisms as rites of passage we attend on separate occasions. But November 27, 2008, marked the celebration of both in San Lorenzo Albarradas: the nuptials of a couple in their early twenties, and the baptism of their three-year-old daughter. What resulted was a melding of highly organized custom... read more

culture-customs fiestas-traditions perspectives Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Eight surprises from a senior year abroad in Oaxaca, Mexico Eliza Migdal

As we studied, found pursuits and made great Mexican and expatriate friends, many of our assumptions were challenged. Our year abroad altered our perspective on both Mexican and American lifestyle and priorities.

Tourism Mexico links part 2 Ron Mader

Who does the best job promoting Mexican tourism on the web? Not surprisingly, it's a cadre of talented individuals as well as city and state agencies. Last month's review of larger institutional websit... read more

exploring-tourism Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Review of Oaxaca, in the heart of Mexico - a multimedia CD Reviewed by Al Stevens

Unlike a lot of guides, which seem to be written in a somewhat distant, slightly formulaic manner, this multimedia CD reflects the positive feelings that its authors have for their state. read more

book-reviews Oaxaca, Oaxaca

The indigenous people of Oaxaca John P. Schmal

The Mexican state of Oaxaca, located along the Pacific Ocean in the southeastern section of the country, consists of 95,364 square kilometers and occupies 4.85% of the total surface area of the Mexican... read more

indigenous-groups social-issues Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Authentic Mexican cuisine at Oaxaca's La Casa de los Sabores cooking school Alvin Starkman

"Remember in the market I told you there were two types of gusano worm? Here they are, so who wants to try?" Oaxaca's unique gastronomy is rich in unique herb- and spice-accented flavor combinations that are its hallmark. Chef extraordinaire Pilar Cabrera inspires and sates travelers with a sensual day-long immersion into sights, sounds, smells and, yes, tastes and time-tested recipes of southern Mexico. read more

cuisines exploring-tourism how-to Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Where Toucan Fly Elizabeth (Beth) Kelly

The marimba band filled the breezy space with a rippling rhythm, a tropical river of notes and glissandos, bird-light tunes. Sancho responded to the music from home with a roll of the hips and shy smil... read more

original-fiction Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Family tradition: five generations of mezcaleros in Matatlan, Oaxaca 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

Dress - A Matter Of Respect? 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

Temazcal In Oaxaca 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 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.

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