La Gringa Rica

Note to all: Had my purse stolen a few weeks ago which contained my cell, wallet, and (damitall) my camera, so no more pics 'til I buy a new camera or my mother figures out how to email the photos from her camera. (Let's not hold our breath on that one, shall we?)

But the rumors are true, Virginia Gaye survived a near two week trip in the wilds of Mexico. When I say "wilds" I mean, of course a cute B & B in Oaxaca with a trip to a pretty cool cooking school, followed by four nights in a luxury resort in Acapulco, followed by two nights in cosmopolitan Guadalajara, and one night in Euro-flavored Guanajuato. When I told this itinerary to my Mexican friends they got a dazed look and commented, "That's a lot of bus time." Then I waved an airy gesture and said, "Oh, my mother is paying for planes." Then we all nodded wisely; we know how it is to have relatives in the States.

Drunk Women in Embroidered Dresses

Another Friday night in the Istmo.
Tehuana skirt.

Birthday Girl

This is Andrea. She turned two on Saturday. She's not too sure about this crawling doll with the Exorcist head.

Guy With a 10-foot Surfboard in a Bar at 5:22 a.m.

Why? Ni idea.

Elena Poniatowska Comes to Juchitán

I know the picture's bad. This was close as I could get without some stout Juchitecta hip-checking me to the side. Went to hear Elena Poniatowska last night. She's a really big name in Mexican literature and I hope the non- lit people will forgive me for geeking out a bit. She seemed really cool. I want to be her. I'm going to put become Polish princess escaped from Nazis turned Mexican novelist/human rights activist married to an astrophysicist on my to-do list as we speak. Of course the conflict between the state and the teacher's union strike came up, but nobody got too rowdy. Yay, Culture!

Vela Season Kicks Off

Expect many more of these what is she wearing and has she finally lost her mind?!? photos in the months to come:
You can never have too much embroidered satin in 95 degree weather.

Old habits die hard: Instead of a whiskey in the cleavage at a UGA game we've got tequila in the petticoat at a vela. Can't decide if it's post-modern or retro.

Oh, and I Went to the Beach

This is the rocky corner of the beach in front of my place. (The two sets of train tracks I cross to get here and the trainyard security guard that I always scare with my white-girlness are not pictured.)

Life as a Trophy Date

I went to wedding on Friday night with a guy I know here. In my experience, you don't so much get invited to Mexican weddings as you run into someone who happens to have another invitation on them and you tag along. It was good times but I was amused as time passed and I realized that I was a trophy date of sorts. Dude took me around and carefully introduced me all the people he'd gone to high school with before going to live in the big city of Puebla for the past decade or so and now having just come back to work in his home town. He'd answer questions for me: "Yes, she's American . . she works at the university donchaknow . . . she has a master's . . . she is pretty, isn't she?" Then he'd look at me and say, "¿Verdad, Caro?" I'd shrug but smile cooperatively and knock back the tequila provided for each table. Good music, good food, and tequila; I'm willing to pimp out the dubious bragging rights of having brought La Guera de Salina Cruz. I went to a massive vela on Saturday, but no photos yet. Later, I promise.