The Turq Diaries: Uruapan Bam!

This past weekend, I drove the Turq (my 1995 Turquoise Honda Accord Coupe) through the highlands of Michoacan, across the Sierra Madres near Uruapan, and through the beaches of Ixtapa Zihuatanejo. During this sojourn I was joined by Josh, my old boarding school roommate, as we photographed the harvest and hearth that defines this part of Mexico.

Uruapan is a mid-sized town in the southern state of Michoacan. Uruapan received its name from Spanish colonists that discovered its fertile soil and blossoming flora. Uruapan literally means "the place where both fruit and flower bud." It is this richness in agriculture and the warmth of its people that give Uruapan a feel and vibe that is unparalled. Chocolate and avocado are important staple items to the Uruapan region. The Uruapan region is about 2 hours south of Morelia, the capital city of Michoacan. If ever in this part of the world, make sure to visit the outdoor marketplace off the main plaza and order some fine guacamole and local dish from a streetvendor. The meal will be prepared with extra care and most importantly, you will be treated to a culinary festival that will surely bring a smile to you and your taste buds. Some food network exec out there should strongly consider heading to Uruapan, Michoacan and just film the street chefs as they make magic with their utensils and local ingredients. Now that would be must see tv.

Like Gorillas in the Mist

Hola friends. "Delivery" is a term that defines the process when expectacions are not merely met, but actually exceeded. When an experience not only leaves you with a sense of internal bliss, but also with a need to share what just took place, then such moments in life are worthy of this term.

With this said, the Carlos Santana concert at the Zocalo "delivered." The crowd was excited despite some light rain. Santana rocked the masses with his infamous guitar playing. The concert was a night to remember. Listening to Black Magic Woman in the symbolic heart of the city and the country was quite the experience. Following the concert I took off to Patzcuaro, Michoacan. This pleasant fishing village off the Lago Patzcuaro is only about 4 hours away from Mexico City. This region of the state of Michoacan is surrounded by many lakes and amazing displays of local culture, via art, crafts and culinary delights. A visit to Janitzio, the island pueblo in the middle of the lake, is a must do journey. You can take a boat to the island for $30 pesos, roughly $3 dollars. While there, one is able to climb to the top of a juggernaut-like statue at the center of the island. The view from this monument is spectacular.

The importance of this trip is that while my friend Josh and I were experiencing this adventure, we concluded that in life one must always be eager to search for more life, to ascend to a higher ground and be vigilant of what life has to offer us, through physical and psychological nourishment. As mammals, human beings start life by suckling. This initial behavior exemplifies our instinctive will to survive, grow and live. Understanding the art and metaphor of "suckling" is in this way a return to the primitive, to the instinctive and to the source of our humanity. It is the process of untangling this behavior that we all exercised in infancy that should continue to drive us as adults. We should always be looking to find the nectar in life, the source of a subjective happiness, and the fertile ground from which we can grow strong and versatile. Like gorillas in the mist, we can learn to be comfortable around the unknown and reflect about the world around us. Despite a lack of Jane Goodall(s) and Sigourney Weaver(s), we must learn to communicate our goals, articulate our aspirations and effectively convey our convictions. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/goodall/

Santana "Smooth(s)" His Way Into Mexico

Hola amigos! Carlos Santana will be playing a free concert this Friday evening at 7:30pm in the Zocalo, the symbolic heart of the Mexican Republic! Santana performed last Sunday night at the Palacio de los Deportes. His visit to Mexico City has tapped into the enthusiasm that his fellow countrymen feel for his guitar playing and overall "supernatural" presence. I am excited about going to this concert, as free concerts in Mexico City are always a treat. The last time I visited the Zocalo for a concert was to see Intocable play, a Tex-Mex conjunto band. This past weekend I also visited my grandparents in Valparaiso, Zacatecas. I put together a small fiesta for them, playing danzon, mariachi and bolero music. Although the music was gearded towards a much older and wiser crowd, it was nonetheless pleasant to enjoy some tamales on a brisk Zacatecan evening under the stars. Saludos a todos!

The Double E&E ShinDig

Yes, for all those wondering if I am back in Mexico City, the answer is Si. I am finally back from my odyssey throughout the Mexican Pacific Riviera...covering Acapulco, Puerto Escondido, Huatulco, Oaxaca and Puebla. The road trip was great, the roads were safe and pictures of the beaches and indigenous temples I was able to visit will be forthcoming. I was particularly impressed with the Zapotec acropolis of Monte Alban in Oaxaca, where one can benefit from a majestic view of the Valley of Oaxaca. For all those that saw me at my birthday party in Polanco last Friday, you know that Semana Santa absolutely delivered. Mexico is a cornucopia of culture, with sun, music and food that can make even the most timid of people into chatterboxes and socialites. March proved to be a month of madness, but now that Spring is officially here, it is time to coordinate those last weekend trips like Morelia, Guadalajara and the colonial powerhouse of Zacatecas. Cheers from La Gran Tenochtitlan!

Return of the Jaguar

Guess who's back in the....Okay, so I have finally returned from my long drive through Mexico's virgin Pacific coastline. Spectacular to say the least. Pictures are forthcoming. In the meantime, I will list the places I was able to visit during this Honda-Accord adventure: i) Acapulco, Guerrero, ii) Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, iii) Huatulco, Oaxaca, iv) Las Monjas, Oaxaca, v) Oaxaca, Oaxaca, vi) Monte Alban, Oaxaca, and vii) Puebla, Puebla. Every corner in Mexico is full of colors, music and culinary treasures. My only hope is that I am able to do some of this justice through this blog. Patience is a virtue...a little more won't hurt you. Gracias.

Marzo Mango Harvest

If a month should ever be allowed to taste like something, then Mango would be March´s flavor for the year. I am finally back from my trip to Nueva York, Filadelfia and Washington, DC. I heard some quality jazz in Harlem, enjoyed some Dean & Deluca tuna sandwiches, and sat through a nice Fitler Square greek dinner in Philly. As a groomsmen in a South Asian-Cuban wedding, I fulfilled my duties by carrying a mock corinthian pillar from one ceremony to another, and most importantly by participating in the street dancing for the groom´s Barat. I took this picture while riding the airport taxi back to my apartment in the south side of the city earlier today. Mango is a Barcelona-based women´s apparel store. The fashion conscious store has had unprecedented growth in Latin America, and is now positioning itself to launch several stores in Asia, notably Hong Kong. Here, the ad´s display of a woman in leisure fits perfectly with the sunny urban background common to a city ready to embrace the coming of spring. The season of the Mango has arrived. If only more cities around the world resembled a cornucopia of exotic fruits in late winter.  

Crystal City Chairs

I just flew back into Mexico City, but I am still in a NY state of mind. I was only gone for a week, but everyday was full of a plethora of activity. I took this picture while lost and walking around the Crystal City indoor maze of shops in northern Virginia. The weather was quite cold in DC, and that is why this mural inspired a pleasant nostalgia for spring. The weather here in Mexico City is spectacular. We have clear skies and a nice sun keeping everyone in the shade. Crystal City residents will have to wait a couple months before their weather reflects the green pastures of this mural. For those unfamiliar with Crystal City, it is a residential and business center community adjacent to the Pentagon, and in more ways than one, reflects the dangers of overplanning a city to death. The city has very little character, and its style leaves more of a Pepto Bismol aftertaste than anything else. Fortunately, for everyone´s sanity, Old Alexandria, a charming colonial town, is only minutes down the road.  

Tiempo de Bodas

Esta es una pintura de una boda tradicional mexicana que encontre en una seccion del Museo Nacional de Antropologia en la Ciudad de Mexico. Este museo esta en el Paseo de la Reforma y es uno de los mas bonitos museos del DF. Como este dia salgo fuera del pais para celebrar la boda de un colega de escuela de derecho, decidi poner esta foto de como la sociedad tradicional mexicana celebra el matrimonio entre dos individuos.  

Las Damas del Parque Lincoln

I am traveling north to be part of a wedding ceremony on the East Coast. I will be in Washington, D.C. later this afternoon. I am looking forward to crossing the border, the political line that continues to create so much discussion, tension and confrontation between the two countries that share it. My trip will also include some days in Nueva York. For those of you interested in this sculpture, I apologize for not providing any further information than the fact that it is part of the Parque Lincoln collection in Polanco, in the north part of Mexico City. This picture captures the often subtle tension between conservative politics and expressive culture. Although both sides of this ongoing debate clearly coexist in all societies, not always is the encounter this cordial. In many cases, indifference is the best weapon, as may appear to be the situation here. The women in this frame represent the varying evolutions of beauty, on the scales of youth v. maturity, ideal v. real, and maybe even modern leisure v. traditional comfort. I particularly like the fact that the older woman is wearing a traditional apron-like vest that is extremely common among women of her age and class background. In the end, the Parque Lincoln is a place for both sculptures and real women to enjoy the Mexican sun on a pleasant Sunday afternoon.  

Pollito Little

It´s a glorious day in Mexico City. This particular Saturday, there are clouds over the city, as if the sky is scheming, trying to keep us on our toes...will it rain? Everyone is asking and looking up at the sky. I don´t think it will rain. I am calling the bluff. It´s just the sky trying to keep everyone´s eyes on it. Vanity, you ask. Well, maybe. But aren´t we all entitled to some vanity every now and then. In fact, we are each vain in our own individual ways. This just goes to show that even ¨el cielo¨ (the sky) has a right to want some extra attention now and then. So long as we maintain a balance, I am hopeful we can keep the sky from falling! For those of you interested in this sculpture, it is titled ¨Gimnasta II¨ and it is by Oshra Michan. The piece was donated to the Parque Lincoln in Colonia Polanco by P.C. Price S.A. de C.V. in October of 1997. This is the sort of balance I have in mind.