The joy and bane of my existence here in Oaxaca... the Guelaguetza

So, my first week in Oaxaca my little street was very quiet which was good since my apartment is closest to the street... But then in the second week, things changed... Not only was there an extended fiesta for Saint Carmen beginning, so was the Guelaguezta (gheh-lah-getz-ah).

One of the first parades celebrating Saint Carmen (I took alot of these pics from our roof, which, don't worry mom, there are stairs and it's a flat roof).

Notice the lit candles on her headpiece.

Now, remember, the church right across the street is Iglesia del Carmen Alto. So that meant lots of music, parades, dancing, single fireworks (used for the noise mostly it seems, since they are shot off during daylight - though I know they will be going off, they still scare the crap out of me  because we don't know *when*!) etc. in the church courtyard and in the street most everyday, and at the weirdest times. One morning in fact, not only were the church bells at 6 am (which I had gotten used to), but all the sudden a mariachi band started up (I kid you not!). I mean, seriously, who the heck is at church at 6 am on a Friday? Anyhoo...

Sorry about the annoying black "line"... it's the shadow of the power line.

Thankfully, it hasn't been too horrible, and most festivities have ended at a decent evening hour. In addition to all this commotion, both sides of Calle Garcia Vigil has been lined with temporary food, drink, and craft stalls (literally, they showed up all in one day) and at the end of the block, carnival rides for the kids... and it's still a working one-way street with cars carefully driving slowly down the street trying to avoid the pedestrians who now have to walk in the street because the sidewalks are housing the aforementioned stalls. Ah! Mexico!

All the girls are soooo pretty.

Mom & daughter.

*Love* the braids that all the girls wear. However, I have noticed that if a girl's hair isn't long enough (say, just below her shoulders), she will add black or brown yarn to her braids to add length, which is usually pretty well camouflaged by the ribbons.

So, though it has been abit annoying, it's still been pretty cool, especially all the costumes and dancing. Great photo opportunities. For what it's worth, I have not and will not attend the "official" Guelaguetza at the big stadium, since I see so much of it for free in the streets and on TV (and truthfully, alot of the dances seem very similar).