Oaxaca, Mexico: Mark's camera repaired; an in-country report from on-the-ground by embedded Gringo

Mark's camera has been returned in almost perfect working order. It still requires a bit of fine tuning because I can't get rid of the Date/Time Stamp appearing on every photo. Irritating but not insurmountable, viewing wise.

Oaxaca, Mexico: A report from the ground

This is the southern-most barricade on Avenida Universidad. This was our neighborhood garbage truck. It was set afire by APPO when the PFP tried to clear the avenue on Thursday, as reported here, here, here, here, here and here. The PFP moved the truck off to the side of the avenue. APPO has since moved the truck about 200 yards south of its original location to just 50 yards from the Burger King. They tried to block the road that runs behind Burger King to the circus grounds. They don't have a big enough truck.

APPO has been able to replace the removed barricades (all hijacked trucks) using heavy equipment they have stolen from construction sites inside the university. They've probably got more heavy equipment than the PFP. The PFP managed to remove the LP tanker permanently, thank goodness.

Take the Pepsi Challenge -- and lose.
These two trucks are blocking the southern end of the avenue.

This is the Mormon Temple, caught right in the middle of this.
It is locked up tight. I had to stick the camera through the gates
to get this photo of what is normally the full parking lot.

This used to be two ATM's. APPO removed them, along
with the wall behind them, to help finance their operations.

This is part of APPO's new encampment downtown. I got this photo whilst standing in front of the main entrance to the Botanical Gardens on the back side of Santo Domingo. Taking photos in this area is, er, uncomfortable. Dangerous too.

This is 1 block south of the APPO encampment at Santo Domingo. The plaza on the left is usually full of artists and their work. The short street you see should be full of indigenous artists from all over the state selling their hand made products. There were only 3 little displays set up yesterday. At the end of the street you can see the walls of the Hotel Camino Real.

I've walked the length of Macedonio Alcalá from Santo Domingo to the Zócalo. This photo is from behind the PFP's outermost defensive line. They'll be facing APPO's "mega-march" today. Above the green dumpster you can see all the way to APPO's tents and tarpaulins at Santo Domingo.

A photo of the PFP officers manning their outermost defense on Macedonio Alcalá. I don't know who those two kids are. Two street urchins who latched onto me early in the day. I just couldn't shake them.

The PFP officers were friendly and firm. Speaking to them and thanking them for their presence elicited smiles and a "Gracias". I was surprised at how clean and neat they all were. In spite of tough living conditions and the battles they've been through, uniforms were spotless, boots were shined, body armor was polished and disclipline was military-like. I always asked permission for photos and it was always granted with a smile.

A PFP security patrol. The PFP patrols are the only law enforcement presence in the entire city right now. Their area of protection is quite limited, however. I have seen no municipal or state police since the PFP entered the city last week. I don't really know what we would do if we needed police help in our neighborhood. Without, I would suppose.

The street urchins assuring that the PFP maintains good order. I'm standing with my back to the cathedral looking at the plaza in front. I think this plaza is their command and control center.

The perimeter defensive line at Garcia Vigil, just south of the Telmex office. The street urchins are reviewing and inspecting the PFP officers. No complaints were registered.

I'm looking south towards the PFP's northern defensive line on Macedonio Alcalá, 2.5 blacks south of APPO and 2.5 blocks north of the Zócalo. This is the only street painting I saw in the downtown area. It's in front of a museum. These street paintings are done with sand. They are a traditional Zapotec religious expression. They are typical of Día de los Muertos celebrations and should be ubiquitous. This is a particularly big one. The next three photos give you an idea of the color and detail. This is a couple of days work for at least half a dozen Zapotec artists.





The west side of the Zócalo. The sidewalk restaurants had few customers because the temperature was dropping and there was a 30 mph gale howling. I ran into Giovanni, the manager of the 3 Italian restaurants "La Rustica". He told me his downtown location had remained open because it is located just a half a block outside of the 6 month occupation of the Zócalo. If he had been just a few meters south, he said, his main restaurant would have been closed. He said that people were beginning to come back and "We're all going to get through this OK." He's got great Italian food. They make their own pasta fresh daily.

I'm going to post this now. I've got a lot more pictures of the damage done to the Zócalo and surrounding colonial buildings. I'll post those later.

I must check the news reports to see what is happening with APPO's planned "mega-march". They have been crowing about confronting the PFP in the Zócalo today.

Note: Not spell-checked.

Please visit the Pale Horse Galleries online store
for art, gifts and collectibles -- all hand made
by Mexican indigenous artists.
Thanks!
TAGS: Oaxaca, Mexico, Oaxaca techers strike, PFP, Oaxaca Zócalo