A Day in Cinque Terre: Land of Cliffside Villages and Scenic Ocean Views
All it took was one photo of Cinque Terre for me to want to go there. A stunning
Rome Bound: Embarking on a Three-Month Journey Across Italy
The phrase “When in Rome, Do as the Romans Do” goes back as far as the late 1500s, referencing the importance of adapting yourself to the customs of people and places you visit when they are entirely different from what you experience back home. Quite easy to do when it comes to eating enticing dishes of pasta, drinking Roman wine, and adjusting to the siesta hours. Frankly, two weeks in the city of Rome does not allow one to learn and adapt to all their customs but is worth trying. Rome is the first stop of my embarking on a three-month journey across Italy. Here is what I was able to do during my stay in Rome with the hope of returning again….
Mexico City … A Truly Global Majestic City
Much like the country, Mexico City is so misunderstood, yet it offers a vibrancy and magnetism similar to many European countries. The city is both captivating and complex with a history that dates back to the ancient city of the Aztecs. Today, Mexico City is America’s oldest city founded by indigenous people. I spent six weeks in Mexico City exploring its beauty and culture while also understanding what makes this awesome city tick. Too much to do and too little time to fully take in all that it offers. Here is what I experienced ….
ZONAMACO….Mexico’s Premier Latin American Art Fair
II arranged my travels to be in Mexico City during its Art Week scheduled February 7-11th, 2024. Here is why…. ZONAMACO is the largest art fair platform in Latin America, which stands for “México Arte Contemporáneo Organizacion.” Unlike other art fairs I’ve attended, Mexico’s premier Latin American Art Fair is a combination of four sections: art, design, photography and antiques, all under one roof. Now entering its 20th anniversary, the fair has achieved an international reputation with a focus but not exclusively on Latin American art and it does not disappoint ….
Puebla…The Baroque Capital of Mexico
Driving four hours from Oaxaca to Puebla, you can fully appreciate the beauty and enormity of the Sierra Madre Mountain range that surrounds both the city and state of Puebla, (6000 ft. above sea level). There are probably very few cities that can boast about the abundance and the grandeur presence of its 16-18th century Baroque architecture. Puebla is known for its Mole Poblano, a sweet spicy chocolate sauce with a kick and for it spicy-spicy Chiles en Nagodo (neither one, my stomach handled well). But more importantly, this city is also known for the Battle of Puebla, celebrated today as Cinco de Mayo when tequila and mezcal takes over the city (and the US). During my 25 day stay, I got to experience much of the cultural diversity of both the city and state of Puebla….
Rufino Tamayo: Mexico’s Avant-Garde Modern Artist
I’ve always loved Rufino Tamayo as an artist and a muralist. Little did I know he was also an avid art collector of Mesoamerican Art. During my stay in Oaxaca, I visited the Tamayo Museum of Pre-Columbian Art of Mexico and was blown away by the throve of ancient archeological artifacts collected by Tamayo and gifted to the city he was born in. This avant-garde modern artist has two museums named after him for good reason, leaving behind a legacy unequal to most artists of his era…
Talavera…An Iconic Artistic Tradition in Puebla, Mx
During my stay in Puebla, I came across a craft that I have seen many times in my travels in Spain and Mexico, but knew very little of its origin and production. The “Talavera”, as it is called, is an artisanal technique of pottery and tile making that uses a type of clay mainly found in Puebla. I visited two certified “Talleres” on how it is manufactured with very little modernization. Its origin (referring to its ornamentation) was first perfected by the Chinese during the 15th century. Yet today it is the Chinese who present a threat to this iconic traditions. Here how.
The Ancestral Splendor of Oaxaca, Mexico
There are certain times during the year that you may want to visit the city of Oaxaca (although most anytime would be good). December is clearly one of those seasons. A time of festivities–full of music, colorful traditional dresses, ancestral dancing, and unique cuisine. An urban city designated as a heritage site surrounded by the Sierra mountains at 5,000 feet above sea level. This city, which includes the state of Oaxaca, is known for its indigenous art and handicrafts. Maker of at least 8 different types of mole’ and the home of Mezcal with way too many varieties of this mystical libation to take home. It is the homeland of the Mixtecos and Zapotecos, who decedents today represent over 16 ethnic groups. An entirely distinct part of Mexico, perfect for celebrating the holidays and ringing in the new year. Here’s why ….
The Power of Art in Transforming Communities
Art is an universal language that engages us to reflect, learn and be inspired by its presence in whatever form. Therefore, it is not surprising that art universally has been a catalyst for the revitalization of downtown districts, neighborhoods, and commercial corridors. There are tons of examples of how art a in any form has contributed to transforming abandoned buildings, parcels, and street corridors into vibrant sites that attract many of us to be present or become part of its transformation. But art can also be a gentrifier and displace both longtime residents and businesses from remaining in these communities. The question here: How can art be part of a revitalization strategy without entirely changing the fabric of a community that leads to its displacement? I’d like to share a model of how it’s being done in a historically Black city in Miami Dade, Florida that I have the pleasure of working with for the last 14 years…
Spending 25 Days in the Historic City of Campeche, MX
It was time to move on from Merida to the next city, heading two hours southwest to the historic city of Campeche. A city that reminds me so much of Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, where my parents were born. The similarity is mostly in its architecture, narrow sidewalks, cobblestone streets and the fortress that surrounds the city. Most of it well-preserved, a defensive walled city going back to the 1600s, created for the sole purpose of protecting itself from pirates. Yes, pirates, much like those we see in movies….