Finally a moment to post about my travels! So far there have been too many fascinating shenanigans to sit down and write so i will backpost . . .
I finally arrived in Teotitlan del Valle after a plane ride to cancun a one night stay in a little crappy hotel, a plane ride to oaxaca a cab ride into town and a bus ride into the pueblo. I found my way to the Chavez Santiago house where no one was home. So I sat and ate a PB sandwich until Janet arrived. I put my stuff down and we went off to her uncle's house to take part in the serious fiesta that was going on. "La Fiesta de la Preciosa Sangre de Jesucristo" basically translates to The Fiesta of the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ- sounds like pretty heavy stuff, but its really just a 2 week long party with dancing, music food, and a fair. By a fair, I mean like the NC state fair complete with junk food, games, stuffed animal prizes and rides. The rides are pretty scary- probably 30 years old, teetering on wooden blocks as they sling 20 or more people around in circles. Of course, I fearlessly enter "Musical" with a 9 year old mexican girl who screams and clutches at my arm. Maybe I should have been scared. . . .
There was also amazing Dancing! La Danza de la Pluma- Dance of the Feathers. Its a traditional dance which is a sort of reinactment of the Betrayal of Moctezuma. There are about 8 dancers (young men of the village) and two young girls. One dancer portrays Moctezuma, and the others are the soldiers fighting for him. The two girls represent La Malinche- the wife of Moctezuma, and Dona Marina- the lover of Cortez who betrayed Moctezuma. The dancers promise three years. They dance in the festival, and at other festivals (including Guelaguetza) for three years voluntarily. Its a huge honor, and for the past three years, Uriel, one of Janet's cousins is a Danzante. They are currently performing in New Mexico!!