December 2011
24
FREE Issue No. 11 December, 2011 Living and Loving the Oaxacan Riviera Huatulco Eye www.casadelossabores.com Internationally Acclaimed Chef Pilar Cabrera Rick Bayless: “ I would strongly urge anyone with an interest in Mexican food to take advantage of any oppurtunity to learn from and experience The Oaxacan cuisine of Pilar Cabrera. She is one of the greats!” [email protected] Phone: (951) 516 6668
description
Huatulco Eye is an English monthly magazine about life on the Oaxacan Riviera.
Transcript of December 2011
FREEIssue No. 11 December, 2011
Living and Loving the Oaxacan Riviera
Huatulco Eye
www.casadelossabores.com
Internationally Acclaimed Chef Pilar Cabrera
Rick Bayless: “ I would strongly urge anyone with an interest in Mexican food to take advantage of any oppurtunity to learn from and experience The Oaxacan cuisine of Pilar Cabrera. She is one of the greats!”
[email protected]: (951) 516 6668
Editor’s Letter
Eye Team
Editor: Jane Bauer
Writers: Jan Chaiken, Marcia Chaiken, Caryl
Delaney, Neal Erickson, Julie Etra, Brooke
Gazer, Liz Healey, Carminia Magaña, Ximena,
Osegueda, Carole Reedy, Alvin Starkman,
Photography: Mary Kubly, Ian Reid, Kathy
Taylor, Jane Bauer,
Layout: Jane Bauer
Advertising Manager: Alfredo Patiño
Opinions and words are those of the author and
do not reflect the opinion of Huatulco Eye.
Kathy Taylor, Doreen Woelfel,
Ximena, Osegueda
Eye 3
Cover Photo by Ian Reid 2007 ©Although this photo was taken in Chicago Illinois we chose it to show the far reaching impact of the Virgin of Guadalupe. To see more of Ian’s work checkout his website www.loveian.com
Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need.
-Khalil Gibran
hat do you want for Christmas?' When I was a kid I gave this question some serious Wthought. Birthdays and Christmas were the
gift receiving events of the year- not to say I didn't receive in-between indulgences; books, coloured pencils, new socks. These days many households boast several tv's, personal computers, ipods, ipads, digital cameras, cell phones, DSis, Nintendos, Wiis, Xboxes... and most people I know don't wait for Christmas to get the latest gadget- by Christmas there is a newer version hitting the stores. As the economy flounders, how much stuff do we really need? How much do our kids need? As a parent I sometimes feel things have gotten a little out of control. If you have any doubt our spending has grown, here is a list of the most popular Holiday gifts of the last 25 years according to Esquire magazine.
2010: Apple iPad $499 - $6992005: Xbox 360 250GB Starting at $200
2000: Razor Scooters Starting at $40,
1995: Beanie Babies (Ty Inc.)Starting at $7
1990: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Starting at $8
1985: Care Bears Starting at $10
This issue we celebrate giving and we hope you will do the same. We have provided a giving guide to charities and organizations around Oaxaca that would love your support. I hope you will be as moved and inspired as I was reading about these charitable works. Whether it is cleaning out your closet and kitchen for items you no longer use, volunteering or making a financial donation, it is about connection with other people.
The truth is most of us probably have enough and as the Tao Te Ching says “If you realize that you have enough, you are truly rich.”
Happy Holidays and see you 2012,
Jane
In this issue...
Juquila
Bacalao
Radish Night
4 Eye
n Nuevo Amanecer (A New Dawn) is an exceptional Uorganization, dedicated to
assisting disabled children. Flor Castillo, one of the most committed ladies I have had the privilege to meet, is the founder and administrator. Her story dates back to 1990 when she was given a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. Fortunately, she sought out other opinions and further analysis indicated that her condition, while serious, was treatable. She spent an a r d u o u s y e a r o f e x t e n s i v e investigation and treatment before she recovered. This experience had a profound effect; she reflected on how fortunate she was to have the resources for a second diagnosis and for the treatment which saved her life. She began to look for a way that she could make a significant difference in the lives of others. The seeds for Un Nuevo Amanacer (UNA) were sown in 1995 after a census of disabled children was taken.
he initial equipment was provided by a grant from the United Nations and the location was donated by the director's husband. It is located above his hardware store “ on Calle Jazmin. Over the past 14 years the number of children treated has grown;
. In addition to providing services for disabled children, the goal of the center is to diminish the incidence of disabilities through educational programs. Such as the prevention of RPM
With intervention before the age of 3, it can be completely reversed within about a year's time. Intervention after the age of 5 has a significantly poorer prognosis as cognitive function and
also becomes affected. There is no inherent disease; the disorder is caused by lack of stimulation. This is not necessarily willful neglect but a lack of awareness coupled with exhaustion. Young and inexperienced mothers who are working long hours arrive home dead tired with little interest in playing with or even fondling their babies.
Opened in 1997, t
Ferrealianza”
the average is about 110 per year
, a disorder where a
child's motor
functions are severely delayed.
language abilities
Families of children who enter the program must make a significant commitment, as 60% of the rehabilitation is done at home. A neglectful parent would never agree to the extreme dedication required. In addition to treating affected children, a prime goal of the center is to create an awareness of this disorder and eradicate it. At present UNA is treating seven children with this disorder.
Osvaldo was referred to by a physician. He had low birth weight and at 9 months was exhibiting psychomotor retardation. He came from a low income family whose mother worked and had been unable to provide all the attention that Osvaldo required. He began with an early stimulation program and by the age of 20 months was able
began occupational therapy to develop skills required to enter preschool. Osvaldo also received language therapy as he had presented simple language delay. Currently at three years of age, Osvaldo is a cheerful boy in level 1 of preschool and the prognosis is favorable for him to enter first grade with abilities on par for his age. This was a positive outcome but had his mother understood the importance of infant stimulation, this therapy could have been avoided.
U N A e m p l o y s a p a r t t i m e physiotherapist plus four dedicated teachers, but this is never enough to meet the demand. About one third of children seen at UNA have hearing or speech impairment. Anyone with skills in sign language would be welcome as volunteers. Spanish would be helpful, but pictures could be substituted for the youngest children. Neurological and cognitive disorders make up a large number of children and volunteers are needed to assist these children in occupational therapy. All that is required is an abundance of patience! Initially it may take a child up to ten minutes to pick up an object and put it into a cup on the table. Each baby step is a giant stride forward but it requires a lot of one on one time.
UNA
to walk. At this point he
Many of the children have physical i m p a i r m e n t , d e f o r m i t i e s o r degenerative disease requiring physical therapy, massage and a few benefit from hydrotherapy. If there were a retired physical therapist in the community it would be worth more than a sack of gold if they could help by training other volunteers, parents and staff and to help supervise some of the children's treatments.
Aquet joined the program at one year of age with Cerebral Palsy. In order to be able to walk he underwent surgery in 2003 followed by an arduous program of physical therapy which included hydrotherapy for strengthening his legs. Aquet has made excellent progress and at age 14 he continues to attend occupational therapy as he is determined to work toward self sufficiency. Had Hydrotherapy been u n a v a i l a b l e a s p a r t o f h i s physiotherapy, his prognosis would have been less positive.
Only about 30% of the funding comes from government, the remainder is from private foundations, donations, fundraising programs and fees paid byclients. Most of these children are from low income families and many of the parents simply can not afford to pay the small fee that the facility asks. It is possible to sponsor a child at the facility for 300 pesos per month or to make a one time donation to help with overall expenses.
If you would like to give something back to this community, either as a volunteer or in the form of a donation, I can not think of a more deserving organization.
Originally the facility at included an above ground pool but an over zealous janitor took the bottom out of the pool, ending the possibility of hydrotherapy. If some generous soul were to allow the use of their in-ground pool, this gift would be invaluable. There would never be more than five children in this program and three hours per week would suffice.
UNA
A New DawnBy Brooke Gazer
Brooke Gazer has a B&B in Huatulco. www.bbaguaazul.com
Organic products like Quinoa.
100 % Recycled paper.
Corn starch and sugar cane
Natural Cosmetics and more..
Eco-friendly store
Visit us in Plaza Conejo
Loc. 3, Next to Foto Conejo
(958) 587 0009
Sushi Delivery with credit card payment
Tel. (958) 105 1550Plaza Chahue, Blvd Benito Juárez
Santa Cruz Huatulco
Guarumbo 15La Crucecita, HuatulcoTel. (958) 583 4594Cel. (958) 106 6625
6 Eye
ecember holidays in Mexico remind us of the profound Dimpacts of three hundred
years of colonial rule. Perhaps one of the most persistent cultural elements of Spanish colonization is the Catholic religion. But far from displacing indigenous traditions, it has super-imposed upon local ceremonies, creating synergetic ritual practices that continue to evolve, transform and define the multiplicity of identities coexisting in the Mexican territory. Without doubt, two of the best examples of these trans-cultural practices are the festivities of the Virgen de Guadalupe and the Virgen de Juquila. The strategies of imposition of Catholicism in New Spain are the same as those used throughout the rest of colonized territories. After a territory was conquered by the military, clerics used local sanctuaries and ceremonies, replacing local “idols” with Catholic ones. Indigenous peoples prayed to catholic saints and virgins, while in fact they consciously continued to pay homage to their own deities. With time, Christian symbols, through coercion, repetition and mestizaje, found very fertile ground in an already significantly religious society.
Only ten years after the fall of the Aztec empire's capital, Tenochtitlán (1521), sightings of Virgin Mary were reported at Cerro de Tepeyac (northern Mexico City), a very famous pre-Hispanic sanctuary for earth goddess, Tonantzin. Legend has it that back in 1531 Virgin Mary appeared before the Indian Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin three times. Juan Diego told Bishop Fray Juan de Zumárraga about it, but the cleric did not believe him. On
thDecember 12 , 1531, Mary appeared for the fourth time, and asked him to deliver Zumárraga an enormous bouquet of roses as proof. Obediently, Juan Diego brought the rare flowers in his ayate to the bishop. When he let down the cloth with the roses, Zumárraga and Juan Diego were amazed to find a beautiful image of Virgin Mary, with dark mestizo skin. This local incarnation of the Mother of God asked for a Sanctuary to be built in her name, Guadalupe, thus becoming the single most important festivity in Mexico, attracting millions of devotees.
In Oaxaca we also have a very famous virgin. The Virgen de Juquila attracts about two million pilgrims every year. Santa Catarina Juquila, “The Land of Miracles” is located at the end of a
treacherous road that turns off mid-way between Puerto Escondido and
thOaxaca City. Every December 8 this small town gets completely saturated with devotees and merchants. Rosaries, images of the Virgin, candles, and other paraphernalia inundate the two main streets, evidencing the commercial dimension of religious fervour. Behind them, restaurants and hotels are ready to host pilgrims that come not only during the ceremony, but throughout the whole year. The streets are swarming with people carrying flowers and complex portable shrines with representations of the Virgen de Juquila, who slowly walk to church, stopping here and there to buy a champurrado, a delicious pre-Hispanic hot drink, made with water, corn, brown sugar and cocoa. At the top of the small hill, amongst corridors of vendors, rises proudly Juquila's neoclassical white church, the focal point of this town. Inside they fit as many devotees as possible and mass can be seen on four flat screens. Pilgrims stand or kneel in fervent prayer before the Virgen de Juquila, an eighty-five centimeter Virgin dressed in a white mantle which falls as a triangle and a golden halo
Virgenes By Ximena Osegueda
Tonantzin Juan Diego and his vision Pedimento Juquila Church in Juquila
Eye 7
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crowning her head. At a distance this small representation of Mary looks very much like the silhouette of a mountaintop, with the sun rising behind its summit. It is not surprising that in this mountainous area this image grew intense religious roots.
It was Spanish priest Fray Jordán de Santa Catalina who brought the Virgin's statue across the Atlantic in
ththe 16 century. In Amialtepec he eventually found a local villager who helped him promote devotion to this Virgin. This young man, according to oral tradition, traveled with him throughout the sierra for years, and probably acted as Fray Jordán's translator. Unlike Juan Diego, this Indian's name has been unfortunately forgotten from written memory, but not his crucial role in this ceremony. Fray Jordán left him the Virgen, in Amialtepec.
An hour's drive from Juquila through an incredibly narrow dirt road, takes you to “The First Mountain to be lit by the Sun”. Dizzying cliffs mark the edges of the pronounced curves, and make it easy to understand why the famous Virgin was moved to Juquila. Here in Amialtepec everyone speaks Chatino and broken Spanish. Along the way to the little church, tantalizing smoke rises from the clay comales where picaditas, quesadillas and other delicacies cook to perfection, ready for the very few devotees that decide to
thtake the long detour. Back in the 16 thand 17 century, the miracles of this
Virgin became widespread, as more and more people travelled to Amialtepec to ask her for her intercession. She stayed in that town until 1633, when a blazing fire brought the church down to ashes. Miraculously the Virgin alone remained unharmed. As a result of the fire, she showed her new, darkened face.
The powerful image of mestizaje as fire, alludes here death, destruction and re-birth; yes, the mythical Phoenix.
After this incident the Virgin was moved to Juquila, with great resistance from the Amialtepec dwellers, and, legend says, from the Virgin herself. According to oral tradition recorded by Deidre Cronell in her American Madonna (2010), after being moved to Juquila, there were various apparitions of the Virgin in different huts of Amialtepec. Security guards jealously guarded the small statue, but it would continue to appear in the neighbouring little town. Finally in 1719 it was decreed that the Virgin should remain in Juquila. By 1746, she was renamed the Virgen de Juquila and a spacious white church was inaugurated in her honor, announcing the arrival of the neoclassical impulses. She now rests in a glass container standing about four meters o f f the ground, surrounded by stacks of flower bouquets that flood the crowded yet fresh space with their sweet aroma.
An impossible long line of buses and vans slowly drive down the road to Juquila. About six kilometers before arriving to see this statue, the vehicles take a right turn, at the Pedimento. Another small chapel stands there, in which we find a much more accessible image of the Virgen de Juquila. Pilgrims stand in line for hours to deposit their flowers at the foot of this Virgin, where they ask for her favor. Behind the little chapel, crosses and little clay figurines cover every inch of the land. It is common custom that devotees model mud to materialize their wishes, normally involving material things. Crosses stand there as symbols of gratitude for the favors granted.
The animistic implications are evident. It is without doubt that the Pedimento ritual is another evidence of pre-Hispanic tradition at work here. Mother Earth, Tonantzin, reappears as an intercessor between the believer and God to provide material comfort and sustenance. Meanwhile, in Juquila, high above the ground, the ethereal, more Catholic manifestation of the Juquila Virgin seems to float above the heads of her devotees, offering spiritual ascent.
Duplicity becomes the central theme in the ceremonies of the Guadalupe and Juquila devotions. Catholic and Indigenous, material and spiritual: all these dichotomies merge in these fascinating ceremonies. Whether religious or not, one cannot disregard the curious power of these images, appealing to a growing number of fervent believers from diverse cultural backgrounds. Contesting notions of globalization as an aculturizing force, increased communications only help spread and evolve these synergetic ceremonies of the Virgen de Guadalupe and the Virgen de Juquila, symbols not only of religious belief, but of the profound impacts on Mexico's colonial experience.
BirdwatchingTours
with Pablo Narvaez
Streak-Backed Oriole
odontologiapreventiva/restauradora
wilfreddymarincarrasco
DENTAL SURGEONCedula 1535553
CERTIFICADO
CNCD DGP no. 055
(958) 587 0380flamboyan 206, la crucecita
Santa Cruz Huatulco, Oaxaca, [email protected]
CITAS:Bugambilia 703Tel. (958) 199 [email protected] the Zocalo, La CrucecitaHuatulco, Oaxaca
8 Eye
Sábado can provide two of those three requirements (education and culture) to help México in the future.”
If you choose you can spend the entire day in the two-story colonial site. On the first floor, a charming open-air restaurant brims with flowers and live music, a retreat to “old México.” Enjoy the famous quesadillas, una cerveza, or a coffee. A lengthy waiting list awaits artists who want to join the ranks of the 62 artists of the bazaar. Travelers from all over the world come to take home a recuerdo. Here you're buying not just a souvenir, but a creation, anything from a 100-peso ceramic candle holder or a 500-peso pair of colorful leather pumps, to a sculpture of glass and iron selling for several thousand pesos. The artists are justifiably proud of their works and the bazaar itself. Be assured they love to take time to chat about both.
Visit the bazaar this month to complete your Christmas shopping. And, yes, it will be open on Christmas Eve to accommodate late shoppers. You'll find ceramics, stoneware, many different styles of jewelry, brightly colored embroidered shoes for women and girls, original huipiles, metal figurines, toss pillows, and one-of-a-kind fancy dresses. Whatever you choose, know that it's unique in the world and made with care and the amor del artesano.
In 1965, Ignacio opened the doors to celebrate the inauguration of the new Bazaar Sabádo. Instead of the 200 or so expected guests, the city's entire intellectual and cultural community gathered outside in a show of solidarity and support for the artisans. A success story ever since Diego Carranza, grandson of Ignacio, now heads the bazaar and talks with passion about his grandfather, the artisans, the community of San Ángel, and the future of México.
“The success of the market over the years is simple” says Diego “It's all about good quality, good taste, and the personal relationship between artist and buyer. It is unique. Here, the artisans sell items over which they’ve labored to create the perfection of their ideas”
But what about the future of Bazaar Sabado given the world economic crisis as well as México's own problems with violence and insecurity? “We still have a lot of tourism, and our market is secure because of the fine reputation of the bazaar. People come here for the good quality of the products, the knowledge of the artisans, and fair prices for the unique works. We in México are used to crises. If it isn't one thing it is another.”
Diego smiles, accepting the challenges ahead with optimism. “The key for México and a happy society is education, health, and culture. Bazaar
ué hermoso…Magnifique…Wie schon...Hoe modi…Kako lijepo. QW o r d s e x p r e s s i n g “ h o w
beautiful” in just a few of the many languages you'll overhear while eavesdropping on the conversations of the shoppers at El Bazaar Sábado.
Enjoy the stroll down Avenida de la Paz, the short cobblestoned street that leads to Plaza San Jacinto in Colonia San Ángel, a prominent neighborhood in México City that sits adjacent to popular Coyoacan. Your senses will be heightened by the colors in the plaza, where artists sprinkle the park with their easel paintings. Smell something delicious? Vendors are preparing snack foods to sustain shoppers throughout the afternoon.
The bazaar began in the early 1960s when 20 artisans formed a society with the goal of providing a venue to sell their creations. Monday to Friday they worked, creating and perfecting their art, and then on Saturdays they sold to the public. Thus the beginnings of Bazaar Sábado illustrate why it is open only on Saturdays.
A few years later, one of the artisans, Ignacio Romero, looked for a permanent location for the group. He found a grand old dilapidated seventeenth-century house in San Ángel, which the group bought and then renovated with the help of architect Manuel Parra, famous for his colonial restorations.
From the Dalai Lama to
the King of Spain, Everyone Loves
El Bazaar Sabado
By Carole Reedy
Eye 9
Jose Antonio Rodríguez Pérez is another second-generation artisan. His stunning (and world-famous) sculptures of iron and glass have been created for Arab princesses as well as museums. The small metal figurines of Luis Felguérez. (Arte Felguérez) have become valuable collectible works of art. Some are even being reproduced into large public works. Look for Luis on the first floor, where he's happy to talk about his delightful figurines, a family tradition for nearly 50 years.
Julie Sanchez hasn't missed a Saturday in 20 years. She and husband Enrique create and sell their high-fired ceramics and are happy to design their works to fit the buyer's needs. From lamps and fountains to birthday candle holders and Christmas ornaments, their little corner of the bazaar is like walking into a candy shop...you want it all, but select one or two items with the anticipation of returning for more.
Karima Muyaes and her sister are proud to continue the tradition of their parents, who were among the original 20 founders. Their father was the creator of the arte de los Milagros. You have most likely seen these little charms in your travels to tourist shops in Michoacan and San Miguel de Allende. Here you will find silver milagros transformed into jewelry and other decorative pieces of art. Karima says the concept of Bazaar Sábado is unique in the world: artists creating and selling their own works under one roof. She describes the artists as “noble” because they're “not in it for the money, but for the art.”
Everyone loves Bazaar Sábado, from the local residents of DF to other artists and the tourists who flock here from all over the world. The kings of Spain and Nepal and former Mexico president Ernesto Zedillo have also walked these halls. When asked to name the most famous person who has passed through the bazaar's doors, Diego's face illuminates as he declares, “Well, for me, it's the Dalai Lama, but I think my grandfather would say Chavela Vargas or Vincente Fernandez.”
Bazaar Sábado is open every Saturday (and only on Saturdays) of the year from 10:00 am until 7:00 pm, Plaza San Jacinto No. 11, San Angel, DF.
Carole Reedy, author of this article, lives in DF, frequents the bazaar, and is happy to answer any questions you have about México City. carolina_reedy (at) yahoo.com
Meet the Artists...
Friends of Music Huatulco takes great pride in presenting on December 29, at 8 pm, at Camino Real Zaashila, with Paula Nogueira, Soprano and Daniela Sarmiento, Mezzo-soprano, accompanied by the piano of Montserrat Pujol-Dame. All three will be visiting us from Barcelona, Spain, where they have participated with Sabadell Opera, Millenium Festival, the Palau de la Musica Catalana and many others. They have performed in Mexico, Spain, Andorra, France (Paris), Germany and Poland and their choice of repertory for Opera Obsession is exquisite.
By Carminia Magaña
n o p e r a , t h e s o p r a n o a n d Imezzo-soprano
duets tend to be the main attraction of the show. They create a breathtaking moment in their pieces, to which composers h a v e i m p r i n t e d special beauty and br i l l iance. Opera Obsession seeks to awaken the interest in its audience through these moments, full of emotion and lyricism.
Opera Obsession is December 29th at 8pm at Camino Real Zaashila, Huatulco
Coffee,
Ice Creams,
Cakes and
much more!
A taste of Italy in the heart of Huatulco
Step inside and feast your senses
Calle Gardenia, Esq. Palo Verde, La Crucesita.
958 113 14 1516 Closed on Tuesday
Carrizal 908. La Crucecita, Huatulco, Oaxaca Tel:/Ph.. 01 (958) 58 7-07-83
www.grillomarinero.huatulco.tv
10 Eye
Giving GuideUn Nuevo Amanecer- HuatulcoCalle Jazmin, Store Ferrealianza, HuatulcoContact: Flor Castillo at [email protected] or drop by the center, she is generally there between 11AM and 2PM weekdays.Activities: See article for details- page 4Needs: Financial donations, Child car seats provide neck and back support enabling a child to stay in a sitting position while working to improve their motor skills. Infant water beds or twin size water beds. Child size wheel chairs, learning material such as wooden puzzles, building blocks or logo sets, paper, crayons, powdered baby formula, ensure or pediacare nutritional supplementVolunteer Opportunity: Yes, contact Flor Castillo
DIF Autism Clinic- HuatulcoPaseo Guelagetza, HuatulcoContact: Karla Fragoso Tel.958 587 2161Activities: See article for details- page 12 Needs: Financial donations as well as household items for the simulation activities.Volunteer Opportunity: Yes, contact Director Karla Fragoso
Piña Palmera- Zipolitewww.pinapalmera.orgContact: Flavia Anau [email protected]: to help people with disabilities to accept themselves, to assist disabled people to be as independent as possible to promote the development of the abilities of people with disabilities to the fullest to generate social acceptance in the region towards people with disabilities. Crafts made at Piña Palmera are available for sale at Café Juanita.Needs: Financial Donations, Toys , Wheel chairsVolunteeer Opportunity: Yes, with a minimum 6 month commitment
Huatulco DioceseContact: Hours are 9AM -2PM Tuesday –Saturday. On the wall inside this office is a map indicating the areas serviced through Huatulco.Activities: Large organization servicing a wide radius of several mountain villages communities up to 1 ½ hours drive from Huatulco by providing goods such as clothing and food.Needs: light weight used clothing, gently used shoes ladies sizes 8 and under, Men's shoes under size10 and all children's sizes. Donations can be dropped off at the parish office next to the church on Gardenia Street.
Bacaanda Foundation- Un Sueno ZapotecoContact: Activities: Needs:Digital cameras with their software for our dentists to use in documenting their work.School supplies, such as pens, pencils, notebooks, binders and art materials.Books in Spanish All reading levels, but particularly upper elementary and middle school levels.Toothbrushes and toothpasteBathing suits, new or gently used, all sizes Despite living less than 30 miles from the shore, many of the children we work with have never been in the ocean and must swim in their clothes when they visit.Durable flip-flops/sandals For the children who come to us with no shoes.Basketballs The one sports facility some towns have is a basketball court. Unfortunately, it's not much good without basketballs!Baseball gloves, balls and bats for the formation of a new baseball team; a uniform drive will come later.Soccer uniforms/supplies, new or gently usedFull teams worth of jerseys We've accomplished this in the past by collecting from town soccer programs. Run a drive among your friends and neighbors!Black soccer shorts, all sizes. Cleats Right now we're lowest on sizes 5-8 but all sizes are welcome. Shin guards,Laptop computers Contact us to determine compatibility.Volunteer Opportunity: Yes! Email: [email protected]
www.bacaandafoundation.orgSee article for details- page 14
Cruz Roja HuatulcoContact: Tel.958 587 1548 Emergency:958 587 1188 or *065Activities: The sole provider of emergency ambulance service in Huatulco! Providing affordable emergency and outpatient medical care. You might break your arm, but you won’t break the bank. . Services are available to all.Needs: Sonogram Printer, medical supplies, Financial DonationsVolunteer Opportunity: Yes, contact Harriet Tolson. The Race for the Red fundraiser will take place January 22nd. Contact Valerie Verhalen to volunteer or participate in this event. Tel 958 587 2527 [email protected]* The Mexican Red Cross is an independent institution and receives no financial support from the government. Donations and medical consults are the only income source that maintain this essential service available to residents and tourists alike.
Eye 11
Beyond the Coast, Seven Ways to Volunteeraxaca is notorious for being the second poorest
state in Mexico. It's easy to detect the poverty, and Othe need when venturing away from the sheltered
bays, even more so while visiting the state capital, Oaxaca de
Juárez. Over the past 20 years I've have had the privilege
and honor of getting to know and contribute to the success of
seven of the numerous non-profit charitable organizations
whose headquarters are in the city of Oaxaca. I encourage
readers to select one or more of the following Oaxacan
charities. As distinct from many American, Canadian and
international charities, while visiting Oaxaca you have the
ability to personally witness your donations at work.
Libros Para Pueblos ( ) is an
outreach program of the Oaxaca Lending Library. Over the
past 15 years, by providing monetary donations, books,
computer equipment and their time, its volunteers have
established 45 libraries in Oaxacan towns and villages; some
are in schools, others are in government offices, and still
others are housed privately. As an adjunct to the Libros
Para Pueblos program, the Oaxaca Lending Library holds
Saturday morning sessions for children and youths through
which Oaxacan and English-speaking participants are
encouraged to help one another improve their language
skills and develop a love of reading.
Fundación en Vía ( ) is a micro-finance
organization which provides interest-free loans to
indigenous women in Teotitlán del Valle, to encourage them
to realize their economic potential through starting up or
expanding existing small businesses. Visitors to Oaxaca
each make $50 USD donations to the project. They are then
welcomed to spend a day touring the town while meeting
some of the beneficiaries of their generosity. Travelers can
also volunteer their time and expertise – assisting women
with business plans, teaching English, or accompanying
donors on the day excursions to the town.
Casa de la Mujer ( ) is a scholarship
program which provides higher education for bright,
indigenous women who would otherwise not realize their
academic potential as a result limited family resources.
Young women with demonstrated aptitude and motivation
are provided with housing, meals, clothing, educational
resources and all other tools and support required for them
to succeed. Casa de la Mujer is a favorite charity of
internationally renowned singer Lila Downs. While it takes
1,800 pesos a month to fully support an individual student,
arrangements can be made to provide monthly payments to
the program in much smaller amounts.
www.librosparapueblos.com
www.envia.org
www.gesmujer.org
CORAL ( ) (Centro Oaxaqueño de
Rehabilitación de Audición y Lenguaje), the Oaxacan center
for the rehabilitation of hearing and speech, is a four-
pronged program designed to assist mainly young hearing
impaired children whose families are of extremely modest
means. It's comprised of an audiology clinic, a hearing and
speech therapy center, an early detection hearing loss
initiative and a social work component. While financial
donations are important, you can also assist by donating
medical, dental and related equipment (i.e. hearing aid
batteries). Those planning an extended stay in Oaxaca who
have technical or professional training may be eligible for the
volunteer program.
Estancia Fraternidad (
) offers lodging and meals to the families
of patients undergoing longer term hospital treatment in
Oaxaca's Aurelio Valivieso civic hospital and other medical
institutions in the city. People often must travel long
distances from outlying regions of the state's 570
municipalities for treatment in the capital since resources
are inadequate in their own districts. Donations support
operating costs of the facilities in which these families are
housed and fed, and contribute to a fund for the
construction of and equipment for additional buildings.
Casa Hogar Hi jos de la Luna de Oaxaca
( ) “Children of the Moon” assists
children between three weeks and 12 years of age, whose
mothers are poor, marginalized and of extremely limited
resources. Most are undocumented single mothers from
Central America who pursue work in the night-time sex
trade. Hence, according to government they do not exist;
and neither do their children. Hijos de la Luna provides a
safe haven (housing and food), basic education, clothes,
recreation, medical, dental and psychological treatment. In
addition to donations the organization welcomes volunteers
to assist in virtually every area of support.
O a x a c a S t r e e t c h i l d r e n G r a s s r o o t s
( ) Economic
necessity often forces rural children and their families to
move to Oaxaca. Without access to basic services and
education, often the children are no better off than they were
in their home villages. Survival dictates that the children
work on the streets selling trinkets or begging. Oaxaca
Streetchildren Grassroots seeks to break the cycle by giving
participating children the opportunity to attend school by
providing nutritious meals, medical care and psychological
support. Much like Casa Hogar, Grassroots welcomes both
monetary donations and volunteers.
www.coraloaxaca.org
www.estancia-fraternidad-
oaxaca.webnode.mx
www.hijosdelaluna.org
www.oaxacastreetchildrengrassroots.org
By Alvin Starkman, M.A. J.D.
Alvin Starkman operates Casa Machaya Oaxaca
Bed & Breakfast ( ). www.casamachaya.com
Carrizal 904, La Crucecita, Huatulco
The Natural Choice for Fruits and Vegetables
Tel. 958 587 0491 Fax. 958 587 [email protected]
2 PAX - MASSAGE 60 min. $99.00USD
(If you book 2 days in advance)
Tel. (958) 581 0025
Cel. (958) 585 8346
Massage
Tangolunda, Huatulco
12 Eye
he Clinica de Autismo in Huatulco is the first and only one of its kind in the State of Oaxaca. It began in 2008 Twith 5 children in therapy, working in two designated
rooms at the DIF (Desarrollo Integral de La Familia) building. DIF is the parent organization of the Clinic, and the Municipality of Huatulco provides funding.
thOn September 30 of this year the new clinic building opened, providing much-needed extra space for the 39 children now being treated. The new building has spaces dedicated to various needs in the training and therapy of autistic children. Autism has a broad spectrum of symptoms and conditions, and because of that, therapy is individually designed to best help each child.
In the new building there are two large, basic classrooms equipped with learning related toys and tools. There is a section that has a living room area, a kitchen area, a bedroom, bathroom and even a shower, because much of the guiding of autistic children into a more productive life deals with very basic daily duties and functions. This is important in the development of the autistic child's self-reliance.
Autism affects a child's ability to care about simple, socially related things; things we learn from imitating those around us and from listening to our parents' instructions. When an autistic child doesn't care, he doesn't pay attention and learn. This home-like area in the clinic enables the therapists to demonstrate to and train both the autistic child and the family of the child activities that can be repeated at home, eventually having effect.
In order to locate and begin to treat those children who can benefit, the Director of the clinic, psychologist Karla Fragoso and her staff have distributed questionnaires to various pre-schools around the region. They focus on pre-schools because therapy can begin as early as 18 months, and is most effective beginning as young as possible.
The questionnaire consists of 23 yes or no questions about the behavior of their child, designed to discover children who could be autistic. When a candidate for therapy is recognized, Director Fragoso says that the next step is to get full commitment of all the family members in the household where the child lives. Their understanding, education, and involvement are integral to successful treatment.
The 39 children now in therapy come from as far away as Oaxaca, Puerto Escondido, and Salina Cruz, and of course as close as the Huatulco area. The last questionnaire distribution was in February this year, and no others are planned because the Autism Clinic will need extra highly-trained staff if the number of children is increased.
They would need psychologists, teachers trained in helping children with learning disabilities, and speech therapists. The new Municipal budget has not yet been decided upon and that is a factor in how quickly new hiring and growth can be accomplished. Of course, volunteers to assist trained staff are very much appreciated and may apply anytime. At this writing there are three trained therapists working with Director Fragoso; two are psychologists and one is a speech therapist.
Financial donations and items are welcome to supplement their budget. They are still furnishing the home-simulation area to make it more authentic, so they need items and furniture . Director Fragoso said that they would be happy to give anyone a tour of the clinic if they stop by. Clinic hours are 9-5 Monday thru Friday, and 9-1 on Saturday.
As funding becomes available, a second-story addition is planned which will consist of four small apartments where families can stay when they travel to the clinic from long distances. Many of the enrolled children's families are not wealthy, so hotels or other rentals can be a heavy burden.
Huatulco Autism Clinic unique
in OaxacaBy Neal Erickson
Director Fragoso in front of the new clinic.
HAGIA SOFIABotanical Garden
Contact us to book your day tour:Office in Santa CruzTel 52 958 587 0871
www.hagiasofia.mx
6 Hour Botanical Garden Tour;
Includes: Transportation, Guide, Breakfast, Lunch
Call to reserve today!
60 varieties of exotic flowers and tropical fruits from Asia to Central America, Swim in the Magdalena River
www.el-alquimista.comRestaurant & Cabanas
Zipolite, OaxacaEye 13
Los Gallos
Fine World Cuisine at unbeatable prices
Tel (958) 587 2480
Carrizal & Palma RealLa Crucecita, Huatulco
Tel. (958) 587 0139
Exquisite Mexican Home Cooking
The Best Beaches of the Oaxacan Riviera: You Tell Us!
he motto of the Huatulco Eye is “Living and Loving the Oaxacan Riviera.” While we all agree we love living There, we have a variety of reasons why we do. Your
varying opinions about what's best might be helpful to others, especially first-time visitors. So, to help the new arrivals, and to satisfy our insatiable curiosity, we are launching a monthly survey to find out what you and most readers think is best. This month we focus on beaches. The results will be reported in the February edition.
Huatulco Eye Beach Survey
Best Beach to…..Snorkel __________________________Surf _____________________________Sunbathe________________________People- watch_____________________Walk_____________________________Eat a great fish meal______________Watch the sunrise________________Watch the sunset_________________The best beach for___________ is __________________________________
Thanks for your answers!
You can drop off your completed paper copies at Hemingway's in Crucecita or Café Juanita in Santa Cruz or Sueño del Mar in Chahue before December 31, 2011.
Y o u c a n a l s o e m a i l y o u r o p i n i o n s t o :
Closing date for this survey is December 31st, 2011. [email protected]
By Marcia Chaiken and Jan Chaiken
Drs. Marcia and Jan Chaiken have conducted surveys for many US Government agencies and private foundations. They are looking forward to reporting summaries of your opinions about the
vienarestaurante-bar
tangolunda
enjoy our variety of fresh salads, delicious seafood, european food,spicy asian currys, great steaks,
austrian dessert much moreon our beautiful terrace...
Nominated Best Restaurant in Huatulco 2011By
monday-saturday 5pm-11pmTel. 958 581 0035Cel. 958 106 5760bahia tangolunda- in front of Barcelo
Everything for the installation and maintenance of your pool.
Pumps, Hoses, Pool Filters, Skimmers, Lighting,, 90% Chlorine,Clarifiers, Anti-Algee
Jazmin 32 Sector HLa Crucecita, [email protected] 958 105 1542
Hux Pool
14 Eye
any locals know Britt-Marie Jarnryd and her husband Raymundo and their dedication the El MSueno Zapateco/The Bacaanda Foundation
(Bacaanda in Zapotecan is “dream”) Their efforts bring dental clinics, hygiene classes, nutrition education and other services into rural areas. They donate supplies to schools that sorely need the basics, including paper, pens, crayons and scissors, books in Spanish. The foundation has provided dental clinics in San Felipe Lachillo and Santiago Xanica, as well as other communities. El Sueno Zapateco also brings children from these rural areas for a day in Huatulco, at the beach. Most of these children have never seen the ocean, and have a fun-filled time when they visit. These communities are extremely isolated, and often cannot get out in the rainy season, as access to these areas are questionable even in the best of seasons. So imagine a day at the beach with them!
Many local children here have been attending wonderful art classes on Saturday at the El Sueno Zapateco store and workshop in the commercial plaza in Tangolunda, where they work alongside craftpersons creating art from local sustainable materials, including tree gourds and seeds.
One of their latest creations were gourd tourists, which were delightful! There’s nothing like depicting tourists from a local child's point of view.
Right now they are working furiously to get Christmas Nativity scenes completed, and are making elephants, camels, wise men, and Jesus, Mary and Joseph in the stable, mostly out of gourds (I'm urging a moose or two for the Canadian POV) that are truly amazing, and very popular with collectors. Britt has done a brilliant job of bringing this project together. You can drop by the shop Monday through Saturday. The workshop needs help in getting ready for Christmas. It's crafty, but fun. They are taking gourds and creating the most amazing forms out of them.
These gourds and other art are their main source of funding. Times have been hard on all of us, and charities took a big hit. Britt has mentioned that they may have to let go of the dental clinics for a while and focus on school needs, which leads me to a list, that would make it so simple for any one to help. See the Giving Guide on page 10 for details on how you can help.
Un Sueño Zapoteco
By Doreen Woelfel
Eye 15
Radish Nighton´t eat these radishes! Mexico Is known for its strange, unusual and culturally rich customs and traditions and Oaxaca is no exception. One of Dthe most interesting will take place this month in the Zocalo de Oaxaca
City.
Each December 23rd Oaxaqueños and foreigners alike flock to Oaxaca to see this special night called La Noche de Rabanos. The tradition started over a half a century when monks encouraged farmers in the market to decorate their stalls with carved radishes as part of the Christmas selling season and to create a festive atmosphere. The idea stuck and lasted. It became an official holiday in 1897 and
ththis year the city is celebrating its 113 Noche de Rabanos.
Now these are not your cute little radishes you get sliced up in a salad or as a side dish to tacos. These are huge radishes, specially grown for this event. They are left in the ground with tons of fertilizers and chemicals for a long growing season which makes them inedible, tough and – sometimes up to 3 feet ! Enormous!The stalls are full of radish carvings along with two other materials to make the displays, dried flowers and corn husks. You can see every kind of scene imaginable: nativity, sports, historical events, folklore, the Three Kings, the Day of the Dead … or whatever the farmer fancies, the creativity is limitless. It is free, but can take up to four hours to get in. Bring friends, take turns going shopping, have some hot chocolate, tamales, bring a book, dress warmly and be patient. It´s worth the wait! It is not everywhere you get to have a Night of the Radishes. Only in Oaxaca!
Present this flyer for a 10% discount off your stay. Some restrictions apply.
Competitive PricesQuality AccommodationsBreakfast always includedPersonalized Service and Advice
Craft villages, market towns, colonial architecture and renowned cuisine. Oaxaca City is a 35 minute flight or
a scenic 6 hour drive from Huatulco.
By Caryl Delaney
Lic. Perla Vazquez Moctezuma
Immigration LawyerPlaza Continental, La Crucecita
Huatulco, Oaxaca
Tel. (958) 583 4065
Cel. 958 107 3221
A D SI ANM AOCRaw, Chemical-Free, Vegan
Available at Restaurant BlueBugambilia 701
La Crucecita, Huatulco
or for Home DeliveryCel. 958 116 4585
Info: [email protected]
16 Eye
ost visitors to the Oaxaca area, who actually do get out Mof the “tourist” zone, are well
aware of the living conditions for most of the people of this area. Homes are one or two room shacks, made of twigs, mud, adobe bricks, dirt floors, no indoor plumping of any sort, a well for water (often a community well), that would give any of you pause, considering most of us from the United States or Canada live rather poshly in comparison. Habitat for Humanity has been in Mexico since 1988, and now has projects in approximately 17 states today, including Oaxaca. Several of these projects are in the area, one in Puerto Angel and one in Puerto Escondido that is being lead by my brother-in-law, Ron Woelfel.
In Mexico, an average home constructed by Habitat, runs about 6,000 USD. This includes about 49 sq meters of living space (60 sq meters in the cities), usually a kitchen, one or two bedrooms, made out of brick or cinder blocks, that include doors and windows. It is a miracle for families who have been living in mud, twig huts, with no floors, and no windows and doors. Materials used to make homes are dependent on local availability, with a leaning towards “green”. For our area, earthquakes and hurricanes are factors built into the construction of homes.
Affording a well-built home is not easy for many Mexicans in this region. Incredibly, as many of you know, many families live on less than $100 USD wages a month, and yet manage to support their families. It is thought that the housing needs in Mexico are easily 2+ million homes that could house up to 10 million people. Imagine! The houses built by Habitat homes are built in rural, semi-urban and urban areas. Homeowners must put in about 500 hours of sweat equity themselves into their own homes or help others on their homes. A special fund is set up to handle the mortgages of Habitat homes, and payments are generally $75 USD a month, and take about seven years to pay off. As of this year, Habitat for Humanity for Mexico has built roughly 20,000 homes.
Habitat for Humanity Global Village and other organizations, including Thrivent, the organization my brother-in-law is working under, bring in teams of volunteers from all over the world. Global Village usually advertises the opportunity to work in an area that perhaps would be a good place to hang for a few days too, as in the case of Puerto Angel. Many people combine their vacation time, with a Habitat project. Trips posted on their web site have openings in India, Bali, and Fiji, as well as Mexico.
Founded by Millard Fuller and wife Linda, in 1976, Habitat for Humanity picked up impetus when former US president Jimmy Carter himself became a volunteer, and pushed to publicize this organization. Habitat for Humanity works in disaster areas as we l l , he lp ing t o r ebu i ld communities, homes in areas devastated by natural disaster including New Orleans, Haiti, and Thailand. Fuller's book, The Theology of the Hammer, is a remarkable story of the founding of Habitat, explaining it's philosophy, history, and purpose. It is an inclusive organization, inviting secular, business, religious and family and friend groups, to participate in projects, with the purpose to bringing together people from diverse backgrounds, life experiences and beliefs, to change the lives of people in need. Their mission statement says it all: “seek to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action."
Anyone can participate. Cost of volunteering usually ranges around $2500-$3000 USD to participate in a foreign country, which includes airfare, hotel or living arrangements, meals, and transportation to site. The cost includes a donation of around $600 to help fund continuation of projects or help other projects get off the ground. Many volunteers do fund raisers to donate to the fund, as well as actually doing the work, which is not easy. Building these homes requires one to be healthy and a bit hardy, as you will be digging, building with heavy
materials, and working under less than ideal circumstances. My brother-in-law's tale of working in Egypt is phenomenal , under c o n d i t i o n s I w o u l d f i n d uncomfortable, including armed guards protecting them as they built. In Costa Rica, he and his team had an opportunity to work with the indigenous communities of the inter ior, and he found both experiences to be more than he had ever expected, deeply moving, life enriching experiences.
The house in Puerto Angel is for a young fisherman's family. They went through the process of applying and being interviewed by Habitat people from our regional office They have to demonstrate an ability to pay a minimal mortgage, and maintain their homes. They will continue on with the process, by working on another project down the road. There are volunteers from the area here as well, with students from UMAR, and locals who have volunteered to work along with foreign volunteers. Many of the local volunteers have had friends and family who have benefited from Habitat, and want to pass it on to others, or one day have an opportunity to apply for a house themselves.
You can volunteer almost anywhere in the world. Habitat for Humanity Global Village, has a list of Global Village Program opportunities, and useful information on the Habitat organization in general. From this site you can connect to a project that might interest you. Many other umbrella organizations, including Thrivent, (www.thriventbuilds.com) a Lutheran organization my brother-in-law will be leading a team under, all work with Habitat to organize or continue on with a building project. There seems to be more opportunities down the road to work on a Habitat project in Oaxaca. If interested, go to their website and check it out.
www.habitat.org
Habitat for HumanityBy Doreen Woelfel
Check out my blog: http://doreeneliza-
huatulcopassages.blogspot.com/
Eye 17
Corn Part II: Types and uses of corn
n the United States, Canada, and elsewhere we are of course familiar with sweet corn, popcorn, and feed corn I(also used for ethanol production). That is a very
simplified version of what most people recognize. However, most modern corn is further defined as dent, flint, flour, popcorn, and sweet corn.
Dent corn's name is derived from the dent in the crown of the seed, and is the most common commercial corn, grown more than any other type of corn for human and industrial use (ethanol), and for livestock feed. The starch reaches the summit of the seed, and the sides are also starchy. The dent corn grown in the mid-west 'Corn Belt' was derived from New England flints (see below) and gourseed which is originally from native American corn grown in southeastern North America in the 1700s. The United State is the largest producer of corn in the world (around 45%).
Flint corn kernels are hard and smooth with little soft starch and was probably the first corn Europeans encountered. It is not commonly grown in the United States. In temperate zones, flint corn matures earlier and has better germination as well as plant vigor than dent. Seeds or kernels store dent.
Popcorn is an extreme form of flint corn with a very small proportion of soft starch and is a relatively minor crop that is consumed only by humans. The reason it "pops" so well, is due to the tough endosperm that can resist the pressure of steam, which is generated in the hot kernel until it has enough force to explode or "pop." It is also used for pinole..
Flour corn has a high starch content and almost no dent and can be considered a type of flint corn. Though it is not used much anymore, it is grown in the drier sections of the US and in the Andean region of South America. It's an older type of corn, and is found in a lot of graves of the Aztecs and Incas. Since the kernel is so soft, the American Indians could make i t in to f l our .
Sweet corn has an almost clear, horny kernel when it is still young. The kernels become wrinkled when dry. The ears can be eaten fresh, and kernels canned or frozen. The difference between sweet and dent corn is a gene that prevents some sugar from being converted into starch.
However, there are hundreds of varieties of 'heirloom' corn still grown in Mexico, Central and South America with their associated characteristics. There are still places in the United States where these ancient stocks are still grown.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx .
On the Tuscarora Reservation, part of the Iroquois nation near Niagara Falls, New York, the tribe is still growing the same germplasm that they grew in the Carolinas before their exodus north after the end of the Tuscarora war in 1715. Their corn is not considered to be true 'heirloom' as it is not commercially available and has been grown in the closed Tuscarora community for generations. Native Seed (www.nativeseeds.org) out of Tucson, Arizona, is dedicated to collecting, storing, multiplying, and distributing diverse varieties of agricultural seeds, and their wild relatives from the American Southwest and northwest Mexico, including corn. .
Corn has been turned into endless food products and is a central component of Latin-American food. Think of tacos, enchiladas, burritos, chilaquiles, quesadillas, tortilla soup, sopes, gorditos, tlayudas, and cuchuco (from Colombia). The masa or dough for tamales, huaraches etc. is corn-based. Flour (harina) turns into tortillas and polenta. Corn chips, corn flakes, corn crackers, corn meal, corn oil. In Argentina you can find a sugared, puffed corn called tutuca, not to be confused with popcorn. Cornhusks are used for enclosing the filling and dough of tamales and other goodies. But wait, there's more, the beverages: atole, a hot drink made with corn; Tejuino, a refreshing corn and sugar drink common in western Mexico; pinole, a coarse flour made from ground toasted kernels, often in a mixture with a variety of herbs and ground seeds eaten by itself or be used as the base for a beverage (considered the national beverage of Nicaragua).There is Chicha, whose use goes back thousands of years, and is widely known as a fermented corn drink but means very different things among Spanish-speaking countries. According to the Spanish Royal academy the word comes from an Panamanian Indian word chichab, but on the other hand may come from the náhuatl word chichiatl as chicha, means water, and atl' means to sour or ferment. In Spain chicha also means body fat.
Let's not forget huitlacoche (Ustilago maydis), corn fungus, considered a delicacy since pre-Hispanic times. In the United States cornstarch is used as an organic tackifier or glue in the erosion control industry, keeping dust and soil in place.
Coming soon to a store near you: corn clothes.www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/07/17/tech/main1811421.shtml)
Next: Corn Part 3: Industrial corn and GMOs.
By Julie Etra
Huatulco Eye Giving Boxes
Donation Boxes: Gently used clothing, items for children, toys, toiletries, books (in Spanish and English), non- perishable food items, cleaning supplies.
We will deliver goods to Piña Palmera, Nuevo Amanecer, Red Cross Huatulco, DIF, individuals in need, Bacaanda Foundation y mas....
Boxes located at the following:Tangolunda: Celeste Office, Chahue: Senor Puck’s. Resort Real EstateSanta Cruz: Café JuanitaLa Crucecita: Hemingway’s
Cocotillo # 218 corner Bugambilia, La Crucecita, Huatulco
Cel.: 044 958 106 0912 Tel.( 958) 587 0605
KRestaurant- Bar
ristal Rose
www.kristalrose.com.mx
lans for the two free spay/neuter clinics, fund-raised for and organized by Heidi Wagner of PSalchi and Calgary, Alberta, Canada, to be held in
the Huatulco area, are progressing. The first clinic at the Municipio in Zimatan will take place December 7 -10, 9am-3pm. Jane Bauer and Brooke Gazer, along with Sherry and Sam at Mision de los Arcos, have graciously offered accommodations for the Peace veterinary team from Puerto Vallarta and a quartet of volunteers.
The second clinic will be held at the Cuatunalco Municipio, December, 14-17, also 9am-3pm. The team will be accommodated at Bahia de Salchi, with lunch and dinner being prepared by Reto Bissegger at the Manta Raya Hotel in Salchi. The ladies from Cuatunalco are preparing a daily mid-day snack for the team and the volunteers, most of whom are from the Salchi community.
At this time, we still need clinic volunteers and meal/snack donations for the Zimatan clinics. It's not too late to sign up to volunteer at the clinics; please contact Heidi Wagner at [email protected] to do so; or to help with meal/snack donations, please contact Jane Bauer at [email protected] .
Local residents in Zimatan and Cuatunalco and the surrounding communities are looking forward to and overwhelmingly support the spay/neuter clinics as they understand the long lasting effects that they will have. We thank in advance and look forward to seeing everyone who has graciously offered his/her assistance.
Spay/Neuter Clinics By Liz Healey
18 Eye
Huatulco Kids By Frances Lopez
Fun Facts about Dolphins
Compared to other animals, dolphins are believedto be very intelligent.
Dolphins are carnivores (meat eaters).
The Killer Whale (also known as Orca) is actually a type of dolphin.
Dolphins live in schools of up to 12 individuals.
They use a blowhole on top
of their heads to breathe.
Dolphins have excellent eyesight and hearing.
Dolphins communicate with each other by clicking, whistling and other sounds.
Eye 19
Bacalao Why is dry salt cod from Norway the main ingredient
of one of the most iconic Mexican Christmas dishes?
hen the world was discovered to be round and sailors overcame the fear that they would sail off Wthe edge (thank you Magellan!), the seeds of global
agri-business were planted. By the 1500's the nightshade family (tomatoes, peppers and potatoes) took passage to Europe, tobacco puffed its way over to England, spices from the Caribbean married distant Eastern cousins, and dried salted cod made its first journey from Spain to Latin America.
The stiff board-like fillets of dry salt cod had been the nutritional salvation of the Portuguese exploration fleet, and in turn, the Spaniards', who developed a “nouvelle cuisine” with the ingredients that they found in the New World. Tomatoes, chillies and potatoes were combined with the Conquistador's salt cod and Spanish olives and olive oil to make the dish that is named for its main ingredient, Bacalao.
You might wonder why, with all the delicious fresh fish around, that they would choose to eat a rehydrated salted fish instead of the obvious choice. The answer is simple - as Tevye sings in Fiddler on the Roof, TRADITION. Holiday culinary traditions are the inviolable trait of every culture. Those of us from north of the border depend on the ritual turkey dinner with trimmings to complete our holiday experience. So has Bacalao become a celebratory Christmas dish throughout Mexico, migrating from the conqueror's table to the heart of the nation. At a story meeting for Huatulco Eye last month, when I suggested that I write about tamales for the December issue, the reception was lukewarm. “Bacalao”, said Alfredo, “that is what you should write about.” And that is how we came to have an early Christmas lunch the other day, starring Bacalao, but more about that in a bit.
Early in November, throughout Mexico, in markets and grocery stores, stacks of bacalao start to appear. Huatulco's Super Che has a big display in front of the meat department, and offer a plastic wrapped 907 gram package of Bacalao for $159 MNP. What was once a relatively inexpensive fish has become expensive and rare due to recently declining cod stocks. Norway's icy waters traditionally supply the Spanish and Portuguese markets, with the Grand Banks of Newfoundland supplying the others. Because the Norwegian cod is so highly regarded due to its authenticity and tradition, the Bacalao display in the supermarket includes a letter from the Norwegian Embassy in Mexico City stating that Chedraui is indeed selling certified Norwegian bacalao.
I had prepared and eaten bacalao about 15 years ago in a cooking class given by my good friend Suzanna Zaballo from Mexico City. She is married to a Spaniard, and obviously, Bacalao is their family's traditional holiday meal. The wonderful thing about a Bacalao cooking lesson is that the tedious soaking and rinsing and picking and shredding occur in the days before the class. In class we were presented with lovely shredded cod and a mise en place which included olives, onions, garlic, tomatoes and potatoes, all of which we dutifully chopped and sautéed – this bacalao stuff is a breeze, or so I remembered, and delicious.
So when I came home from Super Che with my package of certified Bacalao and started the process, I was unprepared for the wet dog smell that enveloped the kitchen each time I handled the soaking and softening fish. This is the down side. Picking the bones and shredding the fish also took longer than I imagined. No wonder Bacalao makes such rare appearances – expense and tedious preparation. This is definitely a labor of love.
I followed a recipe by the wonderful Mexican food writer Karen Hursh Graber, Codfish with Tomatoes, Olives and Chiles: Bacalao a la Vizcaina.
For this recipe, a great amount of good olive oil is necessary, as is roasting the tomatoes and onion on a comal to deepen their flavour. The sauce is delicious, but bacalao is meant to be eaten a bit on the dry side, so the sauce is reduced and concentrated to almost a paste before the addition of the fish and the potatoes.
And so, our early Christmas lunch. We invited Jane, Alfredo and Frances for a Bacalao lunch. A good leafy green salad, a few sides – I made bruschetta topped with chopped tomatoes, olives, garlic, anchovies and basil, tiny chambray potatoes sautéed with rosemary and garlic, and steamed green beans dressed with sun dried tomatoes. The Bacalao was portioned and tasted. The reactions ranged from “fishy” to “good” to “seconds”. Alfredo ended up with 3 plates in front of him and dutifully ate them all, leaving just enough room for a coconut cupcake. My Bacalao was pretty good, but not as good as I remember Susanna's. But that wasn't the important part of our lunch. What was important was sitting at a table with friends, eating, talking, laughing, sharing a tradition…and Frances insisting on doing the dishes. What a wonderful girl. What a wonderful Christmas lunch. Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year!
By Kathy Taylor
Karen's recipe: www.mexconnect.com/articles/3560-codfish-with-tomatoes-olives-and-chiles-bacalao-a-la-vizcaina.
Kathy Taylor is a freelance writer who arrived in Huatulco in 2007 by sailboat. Her passions are food, sailing and Mexico. She writes about life in Huatulco: www.lavidahuatulco.blogspot.com
20 Eye
Upholstery, seat covers,carpets, shades,
curtains, boat interiors.
Decoratec
Colorin 307, La Crucecita,Tel/Fax 958 587 1505
Dr. Edith GonzalezOrthodontist,laser x-ray
teeth cleaningchildren and adults
La Crucecita, HuatulcoTel. 958 589 3155Cel. 958 589 4645
Maintenance & FumigationTel. 958 587 1827Cel. 958 585 0466
Computer Maintenance/Repair.Ink Cartridges, Modems, Cables
Tel 958 583 4958Cel 958 100 4000
Flamboyan #207, La Crucecita
Todo Contra IncendiosYour Safety is our Goal
Smoke Alarms, Extinguishers, Sale and Maintenance
Tel. 958 583 4720
Cel. 958 111 1970
Flat Tire? CallBig Dog Tire ShopCalle Artesanos Mz. 3
Sector V, Huatulco
Tel 958 583 4035 Cel. 958 100 3393
Plaza MaderoLa Crucecita
Huatulco
Acrylic Nails/Toenails- 150 pesosWhole Body Wax- 250 pesosRelaxing Massage- 200 pesos
Tel. 958 587 0293
Live NailsManicure, Pedicure
Plaza Madero, La Crucecita
958 100 9998
Manicure, PedicureAcrylic Nails- Feet &Hands
Plaza Oaxaca # 19, La Crucecita
958 585 0047
Tel. 958 587 0880 Cel. 958 101 1615Ced. Prof. 399716 S.S.A 930 U.A.T.-UNAM
Gardenia 1504La Crucecita, Huatulco
Automotive
Light fixtures & fans, lighting design & estimates
Authorized Distribudor
Gardenia & ChachahLa Crucecita, Huatulco
Tel. 958 587 1150Cel. 958 587 5176
Jose AntonioAppliances A/C Repair
Electric Plumbing
Cel.958 589 3362
Jet ski tours
Visit the bays and beaches of Huatulco driving your own jet ski.
Guided tours and rentals. Cel.044 958 1002806
Tel. 587 2818 www.huatulcowatersports.com
Madcim LumberSell and Rent Lumber
For ConstructionLocated across
from Construrama, Huatulco
Tel. 958 105 1606Cel. 958 107 1460
Optica SelectaAdolfo Suarez Navarro
Eye Exams, Glasses,Sunglasses, Repairs
Sabali 45, La CrucecitaTel. 958 583 4014
Thank you to our Advertisers who
make publishing the Huatulco Eye possible.
If you read about them here, mention it
when you use their services.
Cristales & Aluminio
Huatulco
Aluminum doors, windows, Screens, repairs, glass
Palma Real/ Jazmin St958 587 0825
Automatic DoorsCar/Home Alarms
Tel. 958 587 2010Cel. 958 106 7706
www.aycealarmas.com
Services DirectoryDental Vet Tours
Optometrist
Esthetics
Yoga
Computers
Home Maintenance
AUTOMOTRIZ DAYSA
Brakes, Clutch, Suspension, Tuning,
Transmission, Roadside Assistance
A/C, Wash/ Wax, Computer Diagnostic
All work Guaranteed
Calle Bahia San Agustin, Santa Cruz
Tel. 958 105 1771
Cel. 958 587 7457
Katy's CupcakesFOR YOUR HOLIDAY ENTERTAINING
Cell. 958 100 4484
Home style Christmas baking and savory treats
Mincemeat Shortbread Quiches Perogies
Call for selection and prices
Private Classes
Individual or Groups
Cel. 958 587 8244
Tel. 958 587 1127
Huatulco, Oaxaca
Your Business Here!
Su Negocio Aqui!
For Rent-The River House- Monthly or Weekly
www.theriverhouse-huatulco.com
Beachfront Home For Sale-Punta Santa Cruz.3 bdrms, 4 bths., a/c, stainless steel kitchen, access to beach, fully furnished .Info: 958 587 2506, [email protected]
For Sale: Brand new 2 bdr. apt. in Marina Park Plaza!Great location! Must see! For more info.958 109 [email protected]
Huatulco Eye Real Estate Listings
Sponsored By Remax Huatulco
Rooms For Rent- Ocean View, B&B in Conejos Huatulco. Weekly rentals.
(011 52) 958 581 0265www.bbaguaazul.com
For Sale: Ocean view 3br. house in Playa Panteon, Puerto Angel. Contact: 958 109 [email protected]
http://web.me.com/swanfun/Site/casa_volare.html
Ocean View Rentals in Sta. CruzLong term- 2bdrms. 2 bths, appliances- $12,000 pesos/ mth.Short term- fully furnished, priced individually Tel. (958) 587 0333 [email protected]
For Sale: Ocean View LotCuatunalco: 1 Hectare,Sistern,1 bathroom, septic1 km to beach, Great for building cabanas! 80,000USD
Tel. 958 100 [email protected]
Lot for Sale by Owner
Sector E, Santa CruzHuatulco, Oaxaca
504 square meters Quaint , Residentitial
Neighbourhood, Great Investment
Playa AragonBeside San Agustinillo
LOT FOR SALE 35 x 35 metersOcean view
El Faro, Puerto Angel
LOT FOR SALE200x 80 meterS
All information regarding the Real Estate advert isedherein has been provided by the individual party, the seller, or their agent. Huatulco Eye does NOT assume anyresponsibility for the validity of the information provided.Huatulco Eye is not liable for misinformation, typographical errors,errors of omission, misprints, or other errors in these advertisements.We reserve the right to revise or reject any advertisement.Huatulco Eye is not a Real Estate Broker and receives no commissionupon the sale of the property Prospective buyers should contact a Real Estate agent for real estate advice and/or their lawyer for legal advice concerning the purchase of any properties advertised here.
Email us to list your property:
FOR SALE: 2 bdrm. 2 bath, ground floor, completely furnished, kitchen fully equipped. Sueno del Mar $375000 USD.Rental also. info: [email protected]
FOR SALE
2 bdrm. 2 bath, 2nd floor facing water, totally furnished, fully equipped kitchen. Real Marina Blue $347000. Rental also. Contact Beatriz Blackstone cell (958) 100 [email protected]
HUGE Oceanfront LotBtw. Playas La Boquilla & La Mina
400x 400 [email protected]
www.RemaxHuatulco.comwww.HuatulcoRemax.com
Tel. 958 587 0136
22 Eye
Along the Riviera...
Beyond the Riviera...
Dale and Jesus arriving at the Santa Cruz marina with 1st and 4th place aboard the White Shark at the Mahi Mahi Tournament in Huatulco.
Photos By Mary Kubly
Two happy children are participants in the day
program at CORAL
Donors meet with a shopkeeper who owes her business fortunes
to Fundación en Vía
Dancers from the Oaxaca State Contemporary Dance CompanyThey performed in Santa Cruz in Nov. 17th,
Mexican RevolutionCelebrations
Pilgrims at Juquila
December
Museum Admission is FREE in Mexico City
Museum Admission is FREE in Mexico City
Museum Admission is FREE in Mexico City
Museum Admission is FREE in Mexico City
To announce your event for FREE on our calendar
email details to:[email protected]
Ladies BreakfastBenefit at theNaval- HuatulcoInfo: 958 587 2456
English AAHuatulco 8pm
English AAHuatulco 8pm
English AAHuatulco 8pm
English AAHuatulco 8pm
English AAHuatulco 8pm
Live Transissionof Met OperaHandel- Rodelina
Live Transissionof Met OperaGounod- Faust
Dog & CatSpay/Neuter ClinicZimatan until the 10th
Dog & CatSpay/Neuter ClinicCuatunalco untilthe 17th
ChristmasEve
Christmas Day
New Year’s Eve
Hanukkah Begins at sunset
Hanukkah Ends at sunsetKwanzaa Begins
Bodhi Day
Opera ObsessionConcertCamino Real8pm
Music: Chorus of ClarinetsPlaza de la Danzanext to the Soledad ChurchFREE Oaxaca City
Music: Jazz - Miguel Sampiero Casa Colonial
Miguel Negrete 105, Oax, Oax
4 - 6 pm $50 pesos at the purple door
Talk: Photographic Exploration of Oaxaca Women's LovesOaxaca Lending LibraryPino Suárez 51911am FREE
Music: Virtuosos of HungaryTeatro Macedonio AlcaláIndependencia & 5 de Mayo8:30 pm - $200-300 pesos
Rummage Sale and Craft FairOaxaca Lending LibraryPino Suarez 509, Oax.Oax9am-1pm.
Danza de las PlumasTeotitlan del ValleStarts at noon FREEFull day of parades and dances.
Radish NightOax. Oax.
Art Show opens 5pm Plaza Madero, Huatulcoruns until Dec. 10th
30-Day Yoga Challlenge!
Get Ready!
January 2nd-31st
Yoga Everyday!
Variety of Instructors
8am- 9amMore details to follow... www.yogahuatulcomexico.com
Real Estate Auction Huatulcowww.redfieldgroup.com
Advertise in The [email protected]
Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe
Day of the Virgin of Juquila
