Mexico 2023 – this and that

My new ride

I was hoping to make do with the bike share system but, though they have totally replaced all of the bicycles and the new bicycles are a big improvement and a pleasure to ride, they have reduced the number of stations dramatically so that it’s often a long walk to find a station and it might be empty or have a malfunction. After one such experience, I resolved to get my own bike and bought this thing, pretty much a beater for too much money but I hope it lasts me til I go home.

The underground or grey economy is a big part of life in Mexico where jobs that pay a living wage are few and far between (as is the case in so many countries). People sell whatever they can get their hands on wherever there’s a vacant piece of concrete.

I visited the Rufino Tamayo museum a couple of days ago. He was a very important and influential modern Mexican artists, from Oaxaca. I can’t say as I’m crazy about his work but the museum itself is an interesting piece of architecture. There were other, very contemporary exhibits but I wasn’t engaged by any of them.

One Tamayo piece that I liked:

As I was was wandering through the park, looking for a place to sit and eat my orange, I saw that I was in time for the Voladoras . Here in the park right across the street from the Museum of Anthropology these guys recreate the Dance of the Flyers, an ancient Mesoamerican ritual. It’s a tourist thing and they do it for tips and sell trinkets but it still is a part of the culture. https://en.wikipedia.orgwiki/Danza_de_los_Voladores

Up the pole they go

Winding the rope around the pole to play out as they descend

Down they come

And around they go

Random shots

Another interesting couple of days. So many images to capture. More to come.

Mexico 2023 – Vlady

Vladimir Victorovich Kibalchich Rusakov (June 15, 1920 – July 21, 2005) was a Russian-Mexican painter, known simply as “Vlady” in Mexico. He came to Mexico as a refugee from Russia together with his father, writer Victor Serge. The full strory: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vlady_Kibalchich_Rusakov

I first became aware of him a few years ago by stumbling into an interesting old building downtown and, upon entering, was blown away to discover stunning murals that adorn the entire inside of this church-sized room.

So I was excited to see that there was an exhibit of his works at one of the old museums in the Centro, Antiguo Colegia de San Ildfonso, a former Jusuit school dating to mid sixteenth century. This was a vast exhibit and he was a prolific artist and I’ll try to not overload you but here is a sampling.

The show stated off with these wonderful portraits

And then moved on to other subjects, the canvases getting progressively larger.

Vlady’s mother

Self portrait

Vlady and wife, Isabel Díaz Fabela

Mexico 2023 – art, etc

No visit to CDMX is complete without at least one stop at the Museum of Modern Art. The following photos are of prominent Latin American artists, mostly mid-20th century or earlier.

Guatemalan artist Carlos Merida

I don’t know this artist.

Another beloved Mexican artist, Francisco Zúñiga.

This is an example of the social commentary from periodicals published in 1910 illustrated by José Guadalupe Posada who originator of the Catarina (skeleton) image as a political statement. If you’re interested in more: https://es-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Guadalupe_Posada?_x_tr_sl=es&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc

David Alfaro Siqueiros​ is one of the most famous Mexican artist/muralist who never shied away from making big, bold, disturbing images.

The next three are by José Luis Cuevas, another prominent and controversial twentieth century artist.

I don’t know who did the following three but they each struck me with the strength of the emotions/moods that were expressed

After that cheery stuff we’ll head back to Parque Mexico on a Sunday afternoon where, as usual, it was jumping.

This week there was a young yo yo guy who pretty much topped everyone else. He had the tricks and showman’s flair.

The dancers were there again too and, this week I learned that these are Bachata dance classes and the participants are being coached.

There was Dixiland

There were hoola hoopers and more dancers

And some folks dressed up in totally outlandish costumes, posing for people to take pictures. A bizarre event. I’m trying to picture it in Victoria.

That was a long blog. So much to record. The input never ends. More soon

To see the videos

I’ve just become aware that most of you are probably now seeing the videos I post if you’re viewing the post in your email. For most of you, just tap (Ipad and phone) or click (PC) on the title of the blog and it should come up in a browser window where you can get the full meal deal. Please let me know if you’re having trouble.

Mexico 2023 – Muévete en Bici, etc

At last! I get to ride on car-free Sunday, something I love and have been gleefully anticipating since I planned this trip. Something about thousands of people out just enjoying being out on a beautiful day on bikes, jogging, skating, scooting, in-line skates without having to contend with cars. And getting in some zumba too. Can’t help but lift your spirits.

People bring out their special bikes.

This glorieta (roundabout) was originally named Glorieta de Colón, but was recently renamed Glorieta de las Mujeres Que Luchan, women who struggle, in recognition of the high incidence of violence to women and women’s ongoing struggle to bring it to an end in Mexico.

Poinsettias in the planters of the median on what is usually a river of high speed traffic but, on Sundays, transforms.

And the iconic Angel de Independencia on her lofty column towering over the Paseo de la Reforma.

After having some lunch at home I made my way over to the Parque Mexico where there’s usually a lot of activity on Sundays and I was not disappointed this day.

There’s a dog off leash park there and I couldn’t help but notice a long line of people at one entrance carrying bags of dog and cat food with a dog or two in tow. Turns out these people are bringing donations for abandoned pets.

Yo yo wizards. They come out every Sunday.

Off to a photo shoot for her quinceañera no doubt. The rite of passage for 15yr old girls in Mexico.

Young skaters

Dancers without music

That’s enough for one day.

Mexico City 2023 – The beginning

Here we go again. Off on another adventure to Mexico City. This was my first time back since 2020 at the onset of Covid-19, when I had to scamper home as the pandemic surged. Upon arrival things looked pretty much the same as last time. It’s still a wild, crazy, exciting city.

It’s been almost a week now and I’ve been slowly settling in: getting supplied with staples and cookware in my kitchen; getting registered with the bike share system (they have all new and improved bikes but fewer stations); and, the biggest challenge has been technology. It seems that enough has changed in the world of technology in last three years that I’ve encountered some new hurdles, some surmountable, some not. For instance: two step verification. Since I have a different phone number here, that’s been a challenge to sort out. The worst glitch I’ve encountered is that, since my library started using a new system recently, I am not able to use my e-reader here. Most of you know that I love to read and use my library exclusively but now I can only download books onto my phone which is not optimal. And so it goes, first world problems.

Last Saturday I felt that I had done enough running around settling in and headed downtown to do some art viewing and have some of my favourite tacos al pastor and a beer on the rooftop cafe across the street. I forgot that it’s best to avoid downtown on weekends but was reminded by the throngs of people choking the sidewalks, restaurants and shops. I did have my tacos but the place had changed. Same great al pastor but there were no tables, just chairs around the room and a reduced menu. And the rooftop cafe was so crowded I left.

But I did go to the National Museum of Art and was, once again, rewarded by the beauty of that old building and some nice art exhibits.

I can’t resist taking a photo of this beautiful staircase every time

Some random objects that caught my eye

Rather unique skateboards with biblical themes

And some quite arresting dresses

These are trasteros decorativas, creations made from trasteros, junk, stuff you’d find discarded in a closet, made into something decorative.

La Mesa Mexicana The Mexican table

Sculpture by Manuel Felguérez, one of Mexico’s most revered abstract artists

Stay tuned for more………

Views & Butcharts Christmas

There have been some stunning sunrises lately.

An early November snowfall

The annual visit to the Christmas light show at Butchart Garrdens.

A peaceful day on the water to bring in the new year

HAPPY NEW YEAR!