Friday, December 30, 2011

OSCAR THE GOAT

      There was this goat named Oscar who was born on the Gonzales strawberry farm in Irapuato, Mexico.  When Oscar was just a young kid, too young to remember, his mother and father died.  So instead of being raised by a goat, like a normal goat should, Oscar was raised by a very loving and motherly dog named Gloria.  
     Gloria was a good parent and treated Oscar as if he were one of her own pups.  She taught him all she knew about life, the basics: barking, growling, begging, and above all, her favorite past-time of chasing cars, motorcycles and bikes.
     Gloria was well respected in the dog community and was very strict with all the other dogs, making sure that Oscar never felt out of place.  So Oscar, the goat, grew up believing he was a dog.
     Now as you can imagine a goat running with a pack of dogs, chasing cars, barking and growling is a pretty unusual sight and all the Mexican town folk in Irapuato got a big kick out of it.  They would hoot, holler, point and laugh at Oscar.  They would throw sticks and Oscar would fetch them back.  It was great fun!
     But all fun must come to an end, because the truth of the matter is a goat has a very different ending then a dog, especially in Mexico on Sunday afternoons.  So on an early Sunday morning in Irapuato, Oscar the goat was sacrificed to the birria gods (birria is a delicious, spicy, goat stew).
     
     Señora Gonzalez, who happened to be known as incredibly gifted in the kitchen, put up a sign on her front yard advertising her delicious birria made from fresh goat meat (Oscar) and soon enough people came to eat the steamy, spicy, oily, red stew for 35 pesos a serving along with hot, homemade, corn tortillas with a small but delicious dessert of strawberries covered in cream.  That's when a black Toyota pickup truck with California plates pulled up in front of the Gonzalez house with loud mariachi music blaring.
     A Gringo popped out of the pickup truck.  He was as Gringo as they get---blond hair, blue eyes and tall.  But there was something funny about this Gringo---he dressed just like a Mexican farm worker.  He had on huaraches (homemade Mexican sandals) and donned an old beat up straw hat.  He spoke fluent Spanish with lots of slang mixed in----"no mameys" he said, "chido," he said.  Everyone was impressed with his Spanish and a little confused.  He slurped down his order of the birria, stuffed his face with the strawberries, stood up, then politely said, "provecho" (bon appetite) to the others still eating and asked how much he owed for the meal. 
     "50 pesos" replied señora Gonzalez keeping a straight face.
     The Gringo gave a big smile and handed over the fifty pesos and then drove off. 
     Everyone hooted and hollered with laughter at the irony.  The gringo that thought he was a Mexican who ate the goat that thought he was a dog.


----Por Pablo Estali----    






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Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Parque Colosio

 


Cerro de San Felipe, about 10,500', my favorite mountain in Mexico

Parque Colosio

      Mexico is a country full of parks, plazas and zocolos. In the typical Oaxacan park- lovers lay, bodies entangled, on the grass, a bench, or simply stretched out on the hard green cantera, eyes locked in passion.  Vendors stroll about, their wares hang from their chests, musicians circulate, a far off accordion can be heard, and the smell of boiling corn and chili warm your appetite.  I love Mexican parks.  They are different from my small-town American conception of what a park is.  A park, to me, is where there are jungle gyms and swings, the focus being entirely on the kids, not a social gathering point for all ages.  In Mexico everyone uses the parks.
    
     As you get to know Oaxaca, you start to know her various, wonderful parks; the zocolo, el llano, parque conzatti, cerro del fortin and many more.  When I moved to el barrio de San Felipe del Agua, I discovered my new favorite park, parque Colosio.  


     Parque Colosio is closer to my American conception of a park.  This is a place to let the kids go wild!  Relatively unknown to the backpackers and tourists, actually relatively unknown to many in Oaxaca, it is an absolutely beautiful, well kept,  unique, peaceful place to go.  Especially conducive to those with kids or those who want to exercise.  Parque Colosio is a pretty park in a very pretty neighborhood.
    
     What surprises me about Colosio is that it always feels empty.  It is most crowded in the early morning when the locals take advantage of the pleasant gravel walking paths that covers the circumference of the park. But even during peak hours it feels open and private in comparison to the bustling city below.
    
      For the athlete, there are permanently installed exercise equipment- pull up bars, sit-up benches, and a gravel path with a nice incline to get your heart pumping.  It is nice change to run on dirt rather then cement or cobblestone. There is a big baseball field over looking the city, a small but nice soccer field, and two mini basketball courts.  For kids there are slides, jungle gyms and swinging rings.  There is even a library full of wonderful children's books and many cool toys available!  For lovers, lots of hidden corners so that public displays of affection are a little more private.
    
     The views from the park are spectacular; to the north the cerro de San Felipe, to the south the busy valley below.

   To get to Parque Colosio you have to take the bus up to San Felipe del Agua, (the bus says san felipe del agua) which runs frequently from Pinos Suarez.  The bus will wind its way up the cobblestone streets to San Felipe.  Get off at the iglesia, the church, (well close to it, you can't see it from the bus, you have to ask) and then it is a short walk (four or five blocks from there).  Don't be afraid to ask the friendly San Felipians which direction the Parque Colosio is.  A taxi from the center should cost around 50 pesos if you prefer a speedy cab.  The parks hours are 8am-8pm and there is always a security guard present.

Check out an Article I wrote on an Oaxacan alternative to the temezcal: http://hubpages.com/hub/Mexican-Steam-Room-El-Vapor

Or on how to really learn a foreign language: http://hubpages.com/hub/Language-and-Love-Advice-On-How-To-Really-Learn-A-Foreign-Language

Sit-up bench in afternoon light


 

Baseball field
 

No need to pay for the gym.



Si se puede!
 


Slight incline on the walking/running path



Sit-ups in sepia


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