On our first visit to the main plaza, we saw a large billboard announcing a classical opera presentation by a traveling company that we just missed. However, we were not too late for the second half of a two-week fair of music and dance from the state of Oaxaca. There were performances each night on a stage set up in front of the cathedral. Our favorite was the juvenile folklore ballet company.
The first Friday morning here I walked down to the central plaza, the zocalo, to take pictures. To my surprise I ran into a parade. It was the kick-off of the Third Annual San Cristobal Book Fair. The fair, lasting through the weekend at the cultural center five blocks from the plaza, was aimed at promoting reading in children and youth. School groups were dressing in their school uniforms or in costumes and marching to promote reading.
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| "Reading opens the door to culture" |
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| Is that a Hamilton plaid? |
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| Even the grandmas were marching for reading |
Signs around town said that the Book Fair was open to all, so later that day Sara and I went down to the cultural center to see what was going on. There were book vendors and workshops and school kids all over the place. There was a stage set up and various school group were performing. There were individual students giving dramatic recitations, which is very big in Mexico, and there were dance groups, modern as well as traditional.
Each night that we have walked down to the zocalo, there has been a marimba band playing in the bandstand in the center of the plaza. It is so pleasant and atmospheric to walk down there after dinner and just sit, listen to the music and watch all the people walk by.
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| The bandstand in the zocalo |
About a week ago, there magically appeared in front of the city hall, facing the zocalo, a series of large paintings representing various areas of the state of Chiapas. They were very well done by different artists. Now they are all gone. It pleased me that the vast bulk of the people looking at them and taking photos of them were local people.
One afternoon while we were sitting in the plaza we saw approaching a group of young men in what looked like medieval costumes, carrying instruments. I recognized them as either an estudiantina or a tuna, groups that perform old music from Spain. I asked who they were and if I could take their picture. They said, "Sure". They were the tuna from the university law school and were on their way to perform at a local restaurant. During the summer of 1968 in San Luis Potosi, some of our Mexican brothers were members of the university estudiantina that won the national championship that year. I still love this kind of music.
There is a theater on one of the pedestrian malls that has a running production entitled "Pacal Rojo", based on the ancient Mayan ruler, Pacal, whose tomb lies beneath the Temple of the Inscriptions at Palenque. This production has been playing continuously for several years. We bought tickets and went the other evening. It was only an hour long; but, it was wonderful. It was a dramatization of Pakal's royal court and family. It portrayed court life, hunting for a jaguar in the rain forest, the ritual ball game, and ultimately Pakal's royal burial. It was spoken in Mayan with Spanish and English texts projected at the sides. It featured outstanding music and costumes, not to mention state-of-the-art projections onto transparent screens. All in all it made for a first rate presentation. Below are cast members posing in costume in front of the theater.
Now, for those of you who might want to get a little more immersed in Mexican music, the following link is to a YouTube video of a concert by two of the greats of mariachi music, Juan Gabriel and Rocio Durcal, in a concert in the Teatro Degollado in Guadalajara. I have not watched it to the end; but, I think it is great. Que desfruten!
Just wanted to let you know that we continue to enjoy all your posts!
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