Bixaorellana

This is a lovely town about 30 miles from the city of Oaxaca. It's known for its bustling Friday market, its crafts, and its beautifully restored church and convent.
Every time I go, I'm delighted all over again. Here is my most recent visit: http://anyportinastorm.proboards.com...2&page=1#86031
Be sure to click on the link for the church, even if you think you have no interest in churches or architecture.

emd3

Lovely pictures and narrative. I love the sewing machine parts...I was at the Tianguis Martes market on the outskirts of San Miguel de Allende last week and there were so many stalls selling blender parts, it was crazy. How many people need to fix their blenders? I guess a lot of them.

Bixaorellana

I guess a salsa-intensive country is a blender-intensive country!

Thanks so much for the kind feed-back. I probably do too many market reports, because I love them all so much.

emd3

Bix, there is a cable TV station here called "Veria." It is a "healthy lifestyle" and sustainable living type station. Last night they did a travel show called "Under the Sun" on the villages outside of Oaxaca city. The fella who hosts the show went to Teotilan del Valle to see how rugs are made (from sheering the sheep to the loom), Making tamales (from grinding the corn on) and then on to Ocotlan to visit with master knife-maker Apolinar Águilar, who showed how he makes knives from using old car parts. Then on to making mezcal. All of this is done in a sustainable manner and that was highlighted. It was fantastic, the best show I have ever seen on Oaxaca.

http://www.foodreference.com/oaxaca/...ntary-two.html

http://www.foodreference.com/oaxaca/...ntary-one.html

Bixaorellana

Thanks for that, Emd3. I am going to see if I can watch them online. Ironically, I've seen the sword makers of Toledo (when I was a child), but have never visited the workshop of Sr. Águilar.

I got to watch the mezcal making process at the rustic palenque of a family I know. The low-tech methods of getting consistent quality are really fascinating. The mezcal festival is going on in Oaxaca right now: http://anyportinastorm.proboards.com...ad=4309&page=1

This is probably blowing my own horn too much, but please check out the various picture threads here: http://anyportinastorm.proboards.com...i?board=mexico