These next few are of my little apartment.
It's in a building about 150 years old and definitely shows wear around the edges
Lara, the hostel owner's dog is a regualr fixture. She thinks she owns the place.
Ernesto, the hostel owner and his family.
A couple of acquaintances from Spain.
Luis Felipe - gave me a ride to the bullfights on his crotch rocket.
I wandered into the Zacatecas Museum the other day. It's quite small, but has a couple of interesting exhibits.
A diorama of the Nativity with the local figures in indigenous garb.
The local indigenous people are the Huicholes, never enslaved by the Spaniards, live in remote valleys,
And have a unique craft, sort of needle point, sort of crochet and produce complex, detailed designs.
The public market here is spotless and doesn't have that distinct aroma of old.
A great variety of fresh fruits and vegetables.
This is a big time of the year in Zac. The Patron Saint's Day, the National Fair and Mexico's Independence Day all in the same month.
These kids were waiting for a presentation of traditional folk music to start.
It was one of many free cultural events that go on 9/5-9/28. This performer was a master of both indigenous and Mexican folk music.
Even in Mexico, modernity has crept in.
Preparing to march to the shrine on the Bufa as part of the weeklong Saint's Day celebration.
Different trade associations take part each day
Demons tag along as part of the mixed Christian/Indian mythic.
On the night of Sept 8, the Virgen makes a round of the city. People dress up in a wide range of costumes to welcome her when she returns to the cathedral.
The finale is a long salute by a drum and bugle corps in 1800's uniforms
I was in the city hall yesterday
And found a series of posters, not so much discouraging illegal immigration as giving advice as to how to survive the trip.
Well, we have a weired screwed up situation. The elephant has its foot in the door and it's hard to see how it's going to be shut.
From this side of the border, seeing things firsthand, the picture looks different
Getting ready for Independence day, more on that after the 16th
