Exploring Centro Historico

This was my second venture to historical city center. This time, to see Diego Rivera's murals. I took lots of pictures, but with limited space I'm only showing a few. You'll have to come see them for yourself.

We went first to the palace to see his most famous works. What better way to learn Mexican history than visually.











Then we went to see the murals at Bellas Artes. There were a mix of artists, but I'll stick with Rivera's for this showing:



note: this is one mural on "time"

Flamenco and Fandango

Paula and I left work early yesterday to head to check out the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe before watching Emiliana's last Flamenco performance in Mexico (at least for a while). After an amazing demonstration of Flamenco genius, she came to meet us and her crowd of admirers outside and we headed en masse to the goodbye afterparty, to wish Emiliana well in Spain. I finally got to meet the boyfriend, Enrique, I'd heard so much about.

With no idea where we were heading, Paula and I happily followed down the metro, on the train and out to Coyoacan. In the end we were less than 10 who made it back to Sylvia's home (a beautiful one floor apartment), where we spent the next few hours talking and brainstorming Ventures over tea and pasta.

When the time came to head to the mysterious after party, we found ourselves driving a few minutes away to a small lot among dilapidated houses where we entered a traditional Jarocho fandango in the middle of Mexico City (a block from a mall, 4 blocks from our old office). A group of 15-30 people encircled a small wooden platform, playing small guitars and other instruments, while people took turns dancing a traditional zapateo from Veracruz. I didn't have the right shoes for the occasion (character shoes with taps), but I'm not sure my feet could move that fast, anyway. I don't have the eloquence to describe the freestyle strumming and singing (seemlessly moving from one person to the next across the circle), but I wish you could have been there. We almost didn't feel the cold of being in the open under the smoggy, but starry sky. Here's a glimpse:

note: guys dance, too, with slightly different shoes. it was just too crowded to take pictures later on

On the town

Here's me with Tiani, the birthday girl at dinner last night in La Condesa:







Quote of the night: "You'd make a great evil person if you ever wanted to be." - Deepak Madala

Album

It just occurred to me that I have yet to post pictures of my coworkers here in Mexico. Here´s a glimpse from Kimberly´s baby shower (she is now the proud mother of Cecilia)

Tiani, Yadira, me and Kimberly
and the lovely Cecilia (born Jan 3)

My 'hood: Part I*

This was the first weekend in a long time that I was around, so I spent it getting to know the area better (I'm on the lookout for my favorite secret spot in Mexico City and for new running routes). Paula and I spent the afternoon exploring the nearby Bosque de Chapultepec (the central park equivalent of the Distrito Federal).

We bypassed the Museo de Anthropolgia for another less crowded day (Sundays are free for Mexicans so everyone and their moms and dads and extended family visit)

First stop was to see the Voladores de Papantla in a spectacular sacred ritual passed down from indigenous Mexican groups, now exploited for modern entertainment. Four men (symbolizing the cardinal directions) hang from a tall tree (pole in this case) and spin 13 times (52 times in all) to the ground.

Voladores from afar and
one up close


We walked a bit past the paddle boating, food stalls, street performers, lovers, families, and Winnie the Poohs (photos for a fee), and hopped on a train to another part of the park. The train took us past some ancient trees and monuments and left us at the base of Chapultepec Hill. Paula and I climbed a bit to the Chapultepec Palace, but left the inside for another day. We climbed back down and wandered back home for a late lunch and movie.


*I named this post Part I, because I anticipate many more such explorations. Stay tuned for future local adventures.

The Palace from the base of the hill

Scheduling

For those of you coming to visit, plan ahead. Here's a tentative look at what's coming up in my world:

January 25-27 Fundraising extravaganza in el D.F.
January 28-31, Monterrey
February 1-3, Oaxaca
February 11-19, Out of office (not sure where yet)
March 22-April 9, Philippines and Thailand
May ?, All Mexico Fellows meeting
May 25-30, DC
June ?, Ashoka New Staff Training (not sure where yet)
July 12-15, SELIDER leadership seminar in Monterrey

I'm back

It was a wild ride, but I'm back to the routine of work in Mexico. Here's where I'm at (see me waving?) -- a view from Google Earth:

Avanzando

My last hurrah in DC was a happy hour at Cafe Citrón to promote Avancemos (and celebrate me, of course). It was a great night of catching up with old friends and meeting new ones, and all in all we raised $375. Not a bad note to leave on.

Festivities

Farewell 2005, Welcome 2006
The New Year started off well with an extended weekend in New York with Deepak, Deepthy, Gudrun, Dan, Randi, Ally, Gaby, Stephen, Gaia, et al. Friday was the real night out and Saturday (NYE) was spent wandering from place to place, trying to avoid Times Sq. which was a few blocks from Deepthy's apartment. Overall, a good time was had by all. See:

Melissa's Birthday
The next stop on the party train was a night out with the YV crew to celebrate Melissa (what better occasion). We opted for the time-tested combination of dinner and dancing. Only a few of us made it to dancing....