Edward Anthony Polanco, PhD

Dia de Los Muertos en Oaxaca, Mexico

Edward Polanco

Disclaimer: the thoughts and opinions in this post and website our mine, not those of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program or Institute of International Education.

 

We visited Oaxaca from late October to early November for the Dia de Muertos edwardpolanco_oaxaca_mexico_zocalocelebration. This post will share some of the sights and sounds that we lived. We arrived on Friday October 30, 2015 and the first place we hit was the zocalo. When arrived we noticed that the Dia de Murtos spirit was in full effect.

 
edward_polanco_oaxaca_mexico_altar
We then proceeded over to the Iglesia de Santo Domingo which had an even livelier Muerto spirit. I was able to record a band playing for a zigzagging line of women dressed in black (you can see them in the picture below behind the band).

Edward_Polanco_Santo_Domingo_Band

The audio corresponds to the band playing in the picture.

      edward_polanco_recording_oaxaca_santo_domingo_band

 

 

The next day (October 31, 2015) we headed over to Monte Alban with a fellow Fulbrighter J and his wife A.

 

IMG_0040
On the way up to Monte Alban
The road to the top
Looking at the ruins
The clouds
Ruins + Clouds
Coming down the stairs
Bus ride down

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Later that night we went to two cemeteries with some friends. The first was the Panteon General (General Cemetery).

Edward_Polanco_Oaxaca_Panteon_General

The second cemetery was in Santa Cruz Xoxocotlan or “Xoxo” for short. Xoxo was much more of a tourist attraction, yet it retained a local flair as many families visited their deceased loved ones to spend the night with them. I recorded a very interesting sounding group playing for their loved ones.

The audio corresponds to the group in the picture.edward_polanco_xoxocotlan_oaxaca_dia_de_muertos

      edward_polanco_xoxocotlan_oaxaca

 

On November 1, 2015 we went to a variety of towns and sites near Oaxaca. We visited Mitla and Tule. We had some amazing Tlayudas in Tule, and enjoyed the ruins in Mitla.

Leaving Oaxaca, City
The vegetation is oddly similar to the Sonora desert
Colonial Church in Mitla
Ruins
Wall shot
IMG_0094
Inside the San Pablo Church (Mitla)
Clouds+Ruins = Amazing
Far shot of the ruins
Close up shot
The stairs
The view from above

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The people of Oaxaca were amazing, and the food was awesome. I leave you with some pictures of Oaxaca’s amazing cuisine.

cafe la brujula
comal sampler_edward polanco
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mole colorado oaxaca edward polanco
mole de guayaba con pollo relleno de platano oaxaca edward polanco
mole surtido oaxaca edward polanco
pan de muerto casero
pechuga de polloa rellena con espinacas edward polanco
tamales caseros edward polanco
tlayuda tule oaxaca edward polanco

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In my opinion, Oaxaca is a state and city that Mexico’s visitors must see. As a Fulbrighter in DF my trip to Oaxaca was fantastic because it allowed me to explore a different gastronomic and cultural region. I enjoyed new styles of food and unique traditions. My trip was especially enlightening because I visited Oaxaca during the día de muertos celebration. It was a moving experience like nothing I’ve seen before.

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