by Carole Reedy
A vast and varied selection of art museums awaits you in Mexico City, part of its larger cultural program for citizens and tourists alike. While it’s impossible to do justice to all in one article, here’s a jewel box of small treasures, favorites of people who live here and the places they take out-of-town visitors. Continue reading Less Is More: The Small Art Museums of Mexico City
By Brooke Gazer
Cristina Bayliss is an artist who arrived on the Costa Chica for a brief vacation 20 years ago and never left. Originally from the UK, she graduated from Bristol Art School in 1983. After teaching for three years she wisely decided that life was too short to spend disciplining children and moved on. Taking a position as a cook aboard a sailboat landed her in the Virgin Islands where she began selling her watercolors. Continue reading Artist Develops Her Own Style on the Costa Chica
By Neal EricksonSanta Maria Huatulco, an ancient town in the south-central part of the State of Oaxaca, was “conquered” by Hernan Cortes for Spain in 1539. Today it is a city of about 33,000 people, and is the seat of government of the Municipality of Santa Maria Huatulco. In Mexico the municipality is similar to the United States’ county in local government, so in the U.S. it would be called the “county seat”. Just west of the Huatulco International Airport, the road to Santa Maria is perpendicular to the coast highway and heads north (taking this road south will lead you to San Augustin Beach). Approximately seven miles (10-11km) later, it enters the outskirts of town. Continue reading A Sight to See: The Mural at Santa Maria Huatulco
By Carole Reedy
Combine Shakespeare’s 17th-century romance with the backdrop of Milan’s 18th-century Baroque La Scala Opera House. Then sit back and enjoy Thomas Adès’ 21st-century opera, a magical production both musically and visually.
This Met premiere and new production by Robert Lepage, most recently remembered for his staging of the ambitious Wagner Ring Cycle (which he created for the Met), promises to amaze, as does most of his work. Imagine this: In order to play tricks on his enemies, Prospero, an 18th-century impresario from Milan, surrounds himself with a scale-sized La Scala opera house on the island of his banishment. “A boxful of magic tricks” takes place, acrobats and dancers all around. Lepage explains that each of the three acts presents a different perspective—from the stage itself, from the auditorium, and from backstage and off-stage—to make up this “opera-within-an-opera house.” Continue reading Sneak Preview THE TEMPEST: November’s Opera, Live in HD from the Met
By Liz Healey
After holding another very successful fundraiser in Calgary, Alberta, in May, Heidi Wagner and her Snipsister partner, Shelagh O’Brien, will once again be holding spay/neuter clinics in the Huatulco area in December, with the work done by Peace Mexico from Puerto Vallarta. Continue reading The Snipsisters are Back on the Oaxacan Riviera
By Carole Reedy
The new Fall fiction discussed in last month’s issue brought us a menu of delicacies, and the new nonfiction seems equally sumptuous, with favorite authors and subjects represented. It almost seems that nearly every significant author of the 21st century has published a new book this year. Here are a few of the outstanding selections: Continue reading The New Fall Nonfiction
By Jane Bauer
The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time. Mark Twain
The moment we are born, we begin the process of moving towards our inevitable death. That is something most of us probably don’t like to dwell on too much, but there is no denying that when faced with thoughts of death we are reminded of the wonderful value of what it is to be alive. The way a culture deals with its dead says a great deal about those left to carry on. Continue reading Editor’s Letter
By Brooke Gazer
The severe topography and lack of infrastructure in Mexico causes the rural population of many regions to be rather isolated. This complicates the already challenging problem of providing consistent quality education in a country of limited resources. Many children are required to travel 5km over rough terrain, along steep, treacherous mountainous trails. After this grueling early morning hike, such children have very little energy left for learning. When it rains the passes are even more difficult to navigate, causing children to stay home. In Guanajuato, absenteeism posed sufficient problems that some schools were facing closure. Even if the means were available to buy a school bus and maintain it, it is unlikely that a vehicle would be able to negotiate the perilous mountain terrine. Continue reading Donkey Up to School
By Carole Reedy
Who are those frantic guys in the streets waving handkerchiefs, rags, and t-shirts in front of living, breathing bulls? This is a pamplonada, a “bullrun” that occurs in many parts of the world, often here in Mexico at las ferias. Occasionally you’ll see a proper matador’s cape, but generally this festival is for rogue players. Continue reading Adrenalin in the Streets: Crazy Fun at Mexico’s Pamplonadas
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