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Gregor · Joined: 06 Jan 2005 Posts: 842 Location: Jakarta, Indonesia

A friend today was asking me about Mexico, and caught myself waxing nostalgic about Oaxaca. Man, now THERE is one cool place.
We all know about the surreal absurdity that permeates dailty life in Mexico. I mentioned that to him, and he asked me if Mexicans would "get" Monty Python, and that was exactly the perfect question to ask me. I don't know if they'd get it, but it wouldn't be particularly funny to them, simply because it so closely resembles normal Mexican life. That is exactly why I loved living there so much.
Oaxaca ups that to a huge degree. Back to that in a minute.
Oaxaca is an artist community. This alone raises the quality of life much higher than anyplace I have ever been in the world. But it's also dead center of a cultural and historic treasure chest. A day trip out of Oaxaca, in any direction, will take you to Mayan ruins or Spanish missions or whatever, and VERY cool small towns to hang out in. After a few hours of that, come back to the city and have some tacos at Tacos Alvaros, and then head out to a nightclub and take in any kind of music that stikes your fancy. I cannot WAIT to get back there.

Actually, I have two questions for anyone in Oaxaca. One, what is the name of that art theatre where you can go see movies for free (if you get there in time to get a seat)? Something like La Pachote, or something? I can't remember.

But the important question I have about the place - in any church in the Oaxaca day-trip area, you will find a statue of a padre - you know, funny circle of hair, long brown robe - but this guy has a hatchet in his head and blood dripping down his face and Bible. So here's the question:
WTF??? Who...? Why...? What...? HUH??
Can anyone explain the hatchet guy to me? Seriously.

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946

Is this your man?

San Pedro M�rtir

MO39 · Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2005 4:38 pm Post subject:

Gregor,

While I appreciate your enthusiasm for the city of Oaxaca and her many charms, I need to correct one point you made. The plethora of pre-Hispanic archaeological sites in the Oaxaca area are not Mayan but either Zapotec (for example, Monte Alb�n) or Mixtec (as in, Mitla).

La Isla

MELEE · Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2005 6:00 pm Post subject:

Yes, that'd be one hell of a day trip to see Mayan ruins!!
Shocked

http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/mgresults.cfm?destination=oaxaca@187&cur_section=nig&property_id=351800

'fraid I can't help you with the saint, I get enough Catholicism as it is, that I try not to soak up any extra. Rolling Eyes

Ms. Atondo · Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2005 6:54 pm Post subject:

So what's the story with the Saint?

Cdaniels · Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2005 3:38 am Post subject: Saint Peter of Verona

Saint Peter of Verona(Italy): "When returning from Como to Milan, he met a certain Carino who with some other Manich�ans had plotted to murder him. The assassin struck him with an axe on the head with such violence, that the holy man fell half dead. Rising to his knees he recited the first article of the Symbol of the Apostles, and offering his blood as a sacrifice to God he dipped his fingers in it and wrote on the ground the words: "Credo in Deem". The murderer then pierced his heart. The body was carried to Milan and laid in the church of St. Eustorgio, where a magnificent mausoleum, the work of Balduccio Pisano, was erected to his memory. He wrought many miracles when living, but they were even more numerous after his martyrdom, so that Innocent IV canonized him on 25 March, 1253.
- from the Catholic Encyclopedia newadvent.org

Cdaniels · Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2005 3:39 am Post subject: Saint Peter of Verona

Saint Peter of Verona(Italy): "When returning from Como to Milan, he met a certain Carino who with some other Manich�ans had plotted to murder him. The assassin struck him with an axe on the head with such violence, that the holy man fell half dead. Rising to his knees he recited the first article of the Symbol of the Apostles, and offering his blood as a sacrifice to God he dipped his fingers in it and wrote on the ground the words: "Credo in Deem". The murderer then pierced his heart. The body was carried to Milan and laid in the church of St. Eustorgio, where a magnificent mausoleum, the work of Balduccio Pisano, was erected to his memory. He wrought many miracles when living, but they were even more numerous after his martyrdom, so that Innocent IV canonized him on 25 March, 1253.
- from the Catholic Encyclopedia newadvent.org

Gregor · Joined: 06 Jan 2005 Posts: 842 Location: Jakarta, Indonesia

You know what?
I should have known this before I asked, but now I'm sorry I know. It's such a pedestrian explanation. It was far better when it was POSSIBLE that Oaxace�os just liked having a surreal statue with a hatchet in his head in all their churches.
But thanks, everyone. That DOES answer the question.

Now what about that movie house?

MELEE · Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2005 2:40 pm Post subject:

Gregor · Joined: 06 Jan 2005 Posts: 842 Location: Jakarta, Indonesia

Oh. Ahem. Heheheh.
Sorry, MELEE. You try to help some people, and that's what you get. :-(
Thank you for that. I was pretty close, and I'm pretty sure that the locals just call it "La Pochote." Wow. Blast from the past. I need to get down there.

And now, this thread has come to the end of its usefulness. Unless someone else has any nostalgic musings on Oaxaca and its surrounding areas?

Oh, yeah, and yeah, I know they aren't Mayan. I couldn't remember what they were though, so I just plugged that it. I haven't been there or even much thought about the place (until recently, because my Chinese wife just got her US immigrant visa) in about five years or so.

�Aunque he estado practicando mi espa�ol! A�n puedo hablar la lengua. JA!