200 For Him, 29 For Me

I broke down and bought the English-language newspaper when I was in Oaxaca City yesterday. Here's the forecast: "IF MARCH 21ST IS YOUR BIRTHDAY: Peacefulness and tranquillity are your lot for the coming 12 months. Because you are usually content and serene, you may not actively compete in the dog-eat-dog world of commerce."


I'm pretty sure that means I will be unemployed

Ah, well. Anyway, we had a four-day weekend as yesterday was The 200th birthday Benito Juarez (the Abraham Lincoln of Mexico.) I kicked off the weekend by going to some local springs, the next day I went with friends to the beach, Monday I was in Oaxaca City shopping, and in the evening I went to a cantina and listened to mariachis, drank to tequila and flirted with any boy who crossed my path. Tuesday, I went to the village of Benito as they had a bunch of dancing and music exhibitions. It was lovely. My friend from Kansas (another professor at another university) and I stopped at a resturant with a view for a beer only to have a group of 19-year-olds offer to buy a couple rounds. Not bad for woman who's 29-for-the-first-time, eh?

We stopped by a local artist's workshop before we went to the springs. He was fat and crazy but he does good work.

These are some of the dancers from the bicentennial celebration. You can't see it, but these are actually kids at the age where the girls are taller than the boys. It's fun to watch the part where they are supposed to be stealing a kiss and the little guys have to reach up on tip-toe.

My friends' kid at the beach. This is Andi of the piñata-addiction fame. She's got a thing for water, too.