Photo Ranch

Anillo Periferico, Cuidad de Guatemala

2011-11-11T18:42:00.000-08:00

Bamboo Guatemala

2011-11-10T11:32:00.001-08:00

Garden of Retired Actresses and Mistresses, Cementerio General, Guatemala City

2011-11-10T07:05:00.000-08:00

I didn't see the name of this garden so I gave it my own. Hello, Norma Desmond…

Also a space for having your stars read or secrets of the tarot channeled from outer space.

Volcano at Sunset in Antigua, Guatemala

2011-10-29T20:24:00.000-07:00

Forest at Cerro de La Cruz, Antigua

2011-10-28T20:33:00.000-07:00

Photo Ranch brings "Hudson River School" Romanticism to Sacatepéquez!?

2011-10-27T20:29:00.000-07:00

Photo Ranch Presidente and Particle of Dust avoids being mugged in the forest, at least one more time, and brings mid-19th century American art movement embodied by a group of landscape painters whose aesthetic vision was influenced by romanticism to Sacatepéquez, Guatemala this afternoon.

Basurero, Cuidad de Guatemala; Garbage Dump and Landfill in Guatemala City

2011-10-25T20:43:00.000-07:00

A massive dump and land fill for the city of Guatemala is located below the General Cemetery. Zoom in on the image and see the 100's of people who collect items from the garbage trucks as they dump their load.

Garden in General Cemetery, Guatemala City; Jardin en Cementerio General, Cuidad de Guatemala

2011-10-25T19:53:00.000-07:00

Late afternoon in Cementerio General, Guatemala City. A mysterious garden seeking a part in a movie or suggestive enough to warp into your dreams or nightmares.

Cementerio General, Cuidad de Guatemala; General Cemetery, Guatemala City

2011-10-24T20:30:00.000-07:00

A most mysterious historical space in the Halloween strange city of Guatemala (called "Guate" by the bus drivers from the outlying areas), at least from the perspective of a north american anglo saxon still in novice stage being in this peculiar spell of black green magic on the tropical crust. Nothing out of the ordinary for a "Chapin" (nickname for a native Guatemalan). The General Cemetery is alongside an awe inspiring and very deep canyon, at the base of which is the dump and landfill for the city of Guatemala, a city of 3 million inhabitants. The sides of the canyon are coated with XXX lush vegetation, trees and trash, now being the end of any mold's fantasy rainy season in these tropics. The trash heaved down the ravines by cemetery workers and gravity giving it a landslide look. With a little lack of attention a rummed up pedestrian could drop fast hundreds of feet to the base of the canyon into the active landfill or streams of black sewage, and if that wouldn't be grimy enough, under the hungry attention of thousands of really creepy black vultures circling above when not scavenging below. The vultures' other activities are acting out Edgar Poe book illustrations, shedding feathers, defecating and generally stinking up the top of tombs. Many can't resist the iconic, overdone, perch atop the christian crosses cemented over almost all the walk in style tombs. Careful, again. The tombs teeter right up to the edge of the precipice and there are no fences. The cemetery has a number of fancy tombs from olden days with surnames in addition to the majority in spanish of german, english and other tribes who occupied Guatemala along with the indigenous people, the Mayans.

Not recommended: To bring your astrologer, psychic friend, priest, pastor, imam, rabbi, tarot card reader, hairdresser or any other magician to this place late at night for visionary reading of your future. Unless of course, you're hoping not to have one.

Walk from Antigua to El Hado and San Mateo Milpas Altas; Landscape and view of San Mateo thru windshield of bus

2011-10-20T21:59:00.000-07:00

Church in partial ruin at dusk; Rainy street; Detailed Colonial Church, Antigua, Guatemala

2011-10-18T19:25:00.000-07:00

Traditional Textiles, Fabrics of Antigua, Guatemala

2011-10-17T08:40:00.000-07:00

Around town in Antigua, Guatemala

2011-10-17T08:24:00.000-07:00

People at the Parque Central in Antigua, Guatemala

2011-10-16T23:14:00.000-07:00

Abandoned Great Estate in San Salvador, El Salvador

2011-10-09T19:49:00.000-07:00

I often walk by this grand estate in gorgeous decline when I'm staying in downtown San Salvador, El Salvador. It is surrounded by a mildy ugly and gritty looking area which abuts the very heart of the super crowded city center, where many blocks have been converted to markets with stalls. The property is surrounded by an ornate wall with old ironwork. A guard is always posted by the main gate to prevent the public from coming in. The lush, glamourous vegetation evokes associations to Fragonard, the great 18th century french painter of gardens in immense, frivolous for the sake of it detail. Central America is to gorgeous green landscapes what northern Alberta and the tar sands is to oil.

Bad Review for "Ejecutivo" Tica Bus from Leon, Nicaragua to San Salvador, El Salvador

2011-10-08T15:05:00.000-07:00

After my research, I determined the only first class bus from Leon leaving late morning/early afternoon to San Salvador was an "Ejecutivo". The difference between a regular and an Ejecutivo is about 15 or 20 dollars for the same route. It would be 50 dollars without breakfast, 56 with. I would be obligated to buy lunch and dinner whether I wanted to or not. I assumed the higher fare would be for more legroom and more ability to set the backrest further down in addition to the 2 meals. I couldn't have made a worse assumption. But first I want to complain about the "drop off" time at the hotel/restaurant on the highway outside of town. I was told a cab would pick me up at Sonati Hostal where I was staying at 10:30am to drop me off at the highway where the bus originating from Managua would collect me. I didn't pay much attention to when the bus would arrive to pick me up since they determined what time I would be there. I was left along the highway with no place to sit but amongst an aggressive universe of gnats at the edge of a brick planter. The Ejecutivo bus arrived 2 hours and 40 minutes later. I complained to the driver and steward. Both answered gruffly, "Contact the office". They arrived on time apparently. The office leaves you there 2.5 hours early in case the "bus comes early".

Now the real big problem. My seat had much less leg room than any I've ever had on a 1st class bus in my life. I immediately complained as it was obvious that that was not the case with other aisles on the bus. But none were available except 5 reserved behind me for staff on the bus. I was told I could not have one of those. The bus steward had 3 seats for himself. All in aisles with AMPLE leg room, obviously. I made a little measurement with my hands. Almost double the leg room in the row across from me. So I once again complained and the steward admitted that my aisle lacked space. My knees were pressed against the seat in front of me sitting normally. Really horrible considering a 10 hour bus ride ahead at 50 dollars, much more than the "regular" class Tica Bus. But his response was "You picked the seat". Great, as if I would have picked the seat had the agent explained it hadn't enough leg room to fit me. Would anyone pick it ever? So I debated with him a while and he sort of listened to my rant but was not willing to give me one of his 3 seats. He said he needed those to store stuff as he walked around the bus. He stored his backpack on one of the seats throughout the trip and another one remained empty throughout the trip. He used the 3rd seat occasionally to sit in. He looked quite comfortable with the spacious legroom. I don't blame him for not wanting to sit where I was, I envied him his comfort.
3rd complaint: Now that I knew the extra 15 or 20 dollars (regular tica bus is 30 or 35 for the same route from Managua) was not for extra leg room/less seats I deduced it must be for the 2 meals. Meal one was a small portion of Gallo Pinto (Rice and beans) with a bit of chicken and meal 2 was a small Burger King hamburger. Hardly worth 20 dollars I'd say, except maybe in Iceland, where I've heard fast food is outrageously expensive due to strong Icelandic currency.

So the final word from the steward and drivers, "We have nothing to do with the seating problem, contact the office," or "ask the agent when you buy your ticket". Well I did ask an agent at another bus company this happened to me at in San Jose, Costa Rica a while back and he told me "All seats have the same distance between them".

So now I'm going to be very concerned about this when buying my ticket but honestly don't expect it to do much good.

My wish which I tried to convey to the steward was, "Why don't you advise your superiors about physical conditions on the bus". He never accepted that was a good idea, maintaining his role and their role are independent of one another.

Beach and Countryside near Leon Nicaragua

2011-10-01T12:42:00.000-07:00

The colonial city of Leon, Nicaragua is separated by about 14 miles from the oceanfront communities of Poneloya and Las Penitas. I've been going out to the ocean in the afternoons. Yesterday I jogged an hour of distance along the lovely road between Leon and Poneloya and walked most of the rest of the way. The image of the volcano, farm and vegetation was among the views I saw.

Sunset in San Juan del Sur Nicaragua

2011-09-19T19:28:00.000-07:00

San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua

2011-08-31T21:53:00.000-07:00

San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua Puesto Del Sur, Sunset

2011-08-31T21:41:00.000-07:00

San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua

2011-08-30T01:30:00.000-07:00

Plaza Central, Granada Nicaragua

2011-08-30T01:22:00.000-07:00

Nandaime, Nicaragua (afuera de Granada)

2011-08-26T20:19:00.000-07:00

For over two months I've traveled from McAllen, Texas in the north to Panama City in the south. I spent many weeks in Panama City as it's a comfortable metropolis, easy to move by foot and attractive with its spiking high rise towers, ocean, bay, and tropical rain forests. Now I'm heading north again and have returned to the Granada, Nicaragua region. Probably the most photogenic of any of the places I've been to on this widespread journey. These images are from today's day trip 20 kilometers southwest of Granada town. They are from much smaller Nandaime; its peaceful town center and surrounding countryside.

Retro Signage in Panama City

2011-08-01T15:52:00.001-07:00

Summit Park, Panama City, Panama

2011-08-01T13:31:00.000-07:00

Summitt Park, Rain Forest north of Panama City which includes a small zoo.

Boarding Taxi in front of Multi Centro Mall in Panama City

2011-08-01T12:26:00.000-07:00

Buses Diablo Rojos, de la Ciudad de Panamá

2011-07-23T19:25:00.000-07:00

Casco Antiguo, Panama City

2011-07-21T20:09:00.000-07:00

Rain Forest: Parque Natural Metropolitano, Panama City

2011-07-21T19:48:00.000-07:00

Cuidad de Panama Oriente

2011-07-19T20:53:00.000-07:00

This is the skyscraper district from the east side of town.

This is what a skyscraper neighborhood looks like from street level.

Panama Viejo, ruins of the original settlement of Panama City which was destroyed by enemies in the late 17th century.

Multi Plaza Mall, Cuidad de Panama

2011-07-19T20:36:00.000-07:00

The Multi Plaza Mall is probably the most upscale spot in Panama City.

Casco Antiguo, Old Panama City

2011-07-19T19:39:00.000-07:00

Casco Antiguo, the oldest functioning part of the city. Some of it has been fabulously restored and much more is in process. On the other hand the greater area appears dangerous. 2 policeman practically forbade me to cross the street one block from my hotel, which appears to be the unmarked dividing line.

Panama City Skyline

2011-07-19T12:31:00.000-07:00

Afternoon over the harbor. The new skyline is impressive from a distance. However, the modern area isn't particularly exciting as a pedestrian. The tall buildings are situated away from the street and the sidewalk is discontinuous building to building and often very narrow. I didn't note plazas or parks. In three words, suburban skyscraper village.

Dawn over the city from Casco Antiguo, the old city.

Letter: Arriving in Panama City from San Jose, Costa Rica

2011-07-18T12:17:00.000-07:00

...Answering a friend, lightly, whether or not I would be in the "Peace Corps". I would consider a Peace Corps posting handing out condoms and donuts in the Alameda (D.F., Mexico) to the prostitutes. I'd do aids and STD talks too. Mexicans are grateful to receive something for free so its a pleasure to give to them. They don't turn down food, and it seems like americans often do.

The inevitable 1 to 2 hour hotel search with my wheely suitcase in each new city is something i could do without. Finding a cheap hotel is hard, and saying its difficult to do in some of the poorest countries, may mean im not being realistic about what i want to pay. 15 dollars a nite really isnt enough to budget. 25 dollars a nite is about the price of the 3rd world Americas these days. You would have choices and could arrive to one hotel populated neighborhood, spend 20 minutes and get something nice. Getting the deal is too much work. I do have a place for 15.40. that took 2 hours wheeling around Panama City and visiting perhaps 15 hotels plus 2 hours prior research on web. Same routine in more than one place ive been. I have shared bath no tv but do have weak internet signal which means more to me than tv or even a private bathroom. On the bigger benefit side, the place is full of foreign hipsters and it gives me a feeling of safety I dont have at the local hotels that rent by the hour. I found one of those for 12 with tv and bathroom but they were playing hard to get and I felt like a leech asking for a room, when the successive clerks had little patience for me. After a wasted wait and what had seemed like an ok from one young clerk i was told to come back in a few hours because it was too early to offically rent to me, by another, and here it became ridiculous the impediments to making the deal for a 12 dollar room that was available at that moment ON A MONDAY.

Panamanians failed hotel school as far as i can tell. But if you want to work as a hotel clerk, this would be the place to do it. In my actual hotel my request for a table in my room was turned down. I needed it to put my borrowed fan on. Told it couldnt be done, that no way the table in the next room could come to my room as the fan had. It was a decision that required friends in the Kremlin and just workers on duty. Eventually I got it by pleading heart and now have a trashpicked table with wobbly legs from next door. I work magic on people.

Hopefully no more 16 hour bus rides like the last 2 days from San Jose. in fact i did enjoy it but not the following hotel search.

Panama City in old town looks like old town in Mazatlan, Mexico but the surrounding area here is much more lush vegetation. The newer, bigger downtown looks pretty cold and hard times. San Jose is cuddly in comparson. But old town charms.

Costa Rica landscape is uplifting to watch and although san jose may be ugly it does seem friendlier and safer than all the other CA cities.

Tegucigalpa, Honduras

2011-07-12T20:08:00.000-07:00

Tegucigalpa is a mountain city and has an old historic, thriving downtown with narrow streets. I was warned often of dangerous blocks and did not stay out late as it wasn't recommended. Too bad, as it has a good character for a city and the various urban zones seem well integrated with each other and easy to get from one to another. The above landscape near the market reminded me of El Greco's "Toledo".

Granada, Nicaragua

2011-07-12T19:42:00.000-07:00

Granada is supposed to be the oldest colonial city in the Americas. I assume that means continously populated. It is very easy to photograph. Primarily because it feels relatively safe compared to other locations I've been to in Central America. It's a tourist town and perhaps the residents realize they have to put up with foreign photographers. I was able to walk the market without much fear of being assaulted and left my camera outside of my bag, where I kept it hidden in more dangerous settings. Granada feels quite similar to Antigua in Guatemala and also to San Cristobal de las Casas in Chiapas, Mexico. All three are famous tourist towns.

Managua, Nicaragua

2011-07-12T19:20:00.000-07:00

Managua was hard to photograph. The big and busy market offered lots of subjects but it felt too dangerous. Lots of eyes were on me, even without the camera out. And also it was very hot and humid. The photo above is from the nacional museum. It must be a copy of rock/cave art. Really impressive samples, this was among many (rupestre).

Here is the shell of main cathedral which was damaged I believe in an earthquake. The old financial district collapsed and it's rebuilding took place in the suburbs, not downtown.

Pictures of San Salvador, capital of El Salvador

2011-07-04T17:21:00.000-07:00

I went up to the volcano on one side of San Salvador to hike, "el boqueron," the big mouth in english. I walked a long time through coffee cultivations and finally interesected with the main road. It started raining heavily and of course my shoes got soaked which is the worst part of rain. On the way down i discovered a garden around an electrical transfer tower and took the nature shots.

When I returned to downtown San Salvador I walked around and took the urban shots. The downtown area is packed with street stalls and has a bustling character. The surrounding suburbs are more upscale and packed with modern malls. Presumably, the downtown area is the most dangerous.

Art Deco Edificio Victoria de Calle Lopez, D.F.

2011-04-08T13:03:00.000-07:00

Edifico Victoria is one of the most attracive art deco apartment houses along Calle Lopez, which seems to me to have the greatest concentration of that style in downtown Mexico City.

Museo Nacional de Arte, D.F.

2011-04-08T12:37:00.000-07:00

Museo Soumaya, Polanco, Mexico City

2011-04-01T15:37:00.000-07:00

Just opened to the public, no admission fee, Carlos Slim's new museum adjacent to the high end Polanco district in Mexico City. I heard it's the biggest private museum in Latin America. It's part of a Slim project which includes headquarters of Telcel, a luxury condo tower and Plaza Carso, anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue. The Slim project seems to have detonated an upscale building boom on its periphery. Note the new tower being finished behind the musuem. Many more new condo towers are going up to the immediate east of Plaza Carso.

Sculptor in Puerto Vallarta

2011-04-01T15:31:00.000-07:00

"I was at a sweaty little place in the jungle, the other gringos were drinking and pugnacious. I was rinsing warm hair dye off my head when I looked out past the palapas and saw him..."(click to enlarge)

Mission Dolores Park and Downtown San Francisco

2010-06-03T22:12:00.001-07:00

Mission Dolores Park, San Francisco

2010-06-03T22:10:00.000-07:00

Los Angeles from Vista Hermosa Park northwest of downtown

2010-04-30T13:16:00.000-07:00

On my way back from Mexico City to Phoenix I spent a night at the Hotel Cecil downtown and saw a mention of this revamped park in a tourist guide. Nice views.

Roque de Tlanepantla

2010-04-30T13:09:00.000-07:00

Alfonso Galan

2010-04-30T13:06:00.000-07:00

Alfonso en la Alameda Central el ano pasado. A friend from Mexico City.

Flagstaff in January

2010-04-30T13:03:00.000-07:00

Snowbowl ski area in Flagstaff last January.

Tijuana, "Low Calorie Los Angeles"

2009-12-23T07:47:00.001-08:00

Tijuana is the low calorie version of Los Angeles

Santa en la Plaza Central, Guadalajara

2009-12-19T19:20:00.000-08:00

Peregrinos (Pilgrims), Basilica de Guadalupe, December 12th, Mexico City

2009-12-12T17:13:00.000-08:00

The current, modern style basilica is to the left in the photo and its predecessors in the back middle and right. Atop the hill in the distant background is another chapel.

Peregrinos en la esplanada de la Basilica de Guadalupe, 12 de Diciembre, Mexico D.F.

2009-12-12T16:55:00.000-08:00

During the festival of Guadalupe the esplanade is jammed with people moving around, camping out and dancing. Many independent groups of dancers perform at the same time in their respective costumes.

Peregrinos en la esplanada de Basilica de Guadalupe, Mexico D.F.

2009-12-12T15:57:00.000-08:00

Vast numbers of pilgrims come to the basilica to celebrate the appearance of the Virgen on December 12. Literally on foot and on bicycle from locations far from Mexico City. Many of them bring blankets and sleeping materials to camp out on the plaza during their stay.

Virgencita de Guadalupe, Basilica in background

2009-12-12T15:46:00.001-08:00

La Basilica de Guadalupe, December 12 festival of the Virgen. Mexico City

2009-12-12T15:35:00.000-08:00

This is the maximum religious site in Mexico. This building contains the painting of Guadalupe that appears on Don Diego's back at this spot, Tepeyac Hill. The event occurs on December 12 and thus it's the date of the annual festival and celebration of the Virgen of Guadalupe. The building is modern, it's predecessors are located near by. The entire complex is referred to by a mexican friend of mine as the "Little Vatican."

Cool Sunset above Oaxaca (Vista Hermosa, San Agustin Etla)

2009-12-11T17:12:00.001-08:00

Afternoon sun on adobe house in Vista Hermosa, San Agustin Etla, Oaxaca

2009-12-11T16:48:00.000-08:00

After sunset in Vista Hermosa, San Agustin Etla, Oaxaca

2009-12-11T16:45:00.000-08:00

Thicket in Vista Hermosa, San Agustin Etla, Oaxaca

2009-12-10T07:46:00.000-08:00

Sunset over San Felipe sierra in Oaxaca, Oaxaca

2009-12-01T19:09:00.000-08:00

Looking east towards Tlacolula across the valley of Oaxaca.

2009-12-01T19:00:00.000-08:00

View of north Oaxaca city looking east to Tlacolula from atop El Cerro del Fortin.

Quilt of Metal Trash in Colonia Estrella, Oaxaca, Oaxaca

2009-12-01T18:51:00.000-08:00

When I took a photography class decades ago at San Francisco State University there was a fellow who shot images of a yard and house in utter disorder, junkyard style. Those pictures fascinated me. Mexico is saturated with refuse put to work in some cases, like here, and just deteriorating in many others. Garbage isn't processed as well in Mexico as the first world. I've seen this fence and gate numerous times on walks and jogs up and down El Cerro del Fortin, the trademark hill above downtown Oaxaca that is also the site of the Gueleguetza Arena, where an annual pageant convenes indigenous groups from throughout the state for dancing and showing off their typical folk fashions and handicrafts.

Cafe at Arles? Could be but this is Cafe Terra Nova in Oaxaca Zocalo.

2009-11-29T18:05:00.000-08:00

This setting on the Zocalo in Oaxaca reminded me of Vincent Van Gogh's beautiful night painting, "Cafe at Arles." Most historical Mexican cities and towns have a central plaza which is the center of social life. Most american cities don't have anything like it. This particular cafe, "Terra Nova," has a bit of modern myth about it. It is rumored to be owned by the mistress of the controversial governor of Oaxaca, Ulises Ruiz. The mini revolution in Oaxaca a couple of years ago dominated by APPO was initially about teachers salaries and morphed into an effort to unseat him. I think that's how it's interpreted.

Retrato Familiar: Marido, Mujer y Escuincle. Family Portrait, Husband, Wife and child

2009-11-27T15:17:00.000-08:00

Outside of Abastos Market, Oaxaca, Oaxaca.

Seccion de Jarros y Tazones, Mercado Abastos, Oaxaca. Jugs and bowls.

2009-11-27T14:58:00.000-08:00

Inexpensive ceramic products at Abastos Market.

Interior of Abastos Market, Oaxaca. Escenas del interior del Mercado Abastos

2009-11-27T14:38:00.000-08:00

Normally live animals are sold outside on Saturdays. Maybe small fowl is an exception.

Sunlight passes through fabric and plastics of various colors creating a festive, ornamental atmosphere. The seated women are selling tlayudas, big flat tortillas. A Oaxacan staple.

Dos machos y un chamaco en El Mercado Abastos, Oaxaca, Oaxaca

2009-11-27T13:29:00.000-08:00

Chamaco means child or boy child in spanish.

Cargadores en El Mercado de Los Abastos

Oaxaca Abastos Market. Stalls on the surrounding streets.

2009-11-27T12:47:00.000-08:00

The vast market, "Mercado de los Asbastos" has multiple warehouses, and beyond those the activity spills onto the surrounding streets. These images are from spaces on the streets.

Fresh chiles

Truck Decoration in Oaxaca. Decoracion de Camionetas en Oaxaca

2009-11-27T11:57:00.000-08:00

Trucks are often decorated and perhaps the tradition intensifies as one moves south in Mexico. Drivers of public transport also commonly add artistic touches to their vehicles.

Scenes from Mercado de Abastos, Oaxaca

2009-11-25T13:24:00.000-08:00

The Mercado de Abastos is the biggest market complex in Oaxaca city and the state of Oaxaca. It's an exiciting place to be with an enormous variety of goods.

The market complex is bordered on one side by the Rio Atoyac, Oaxaca's river, although it now appears more of a creek.

In the mornings men wait for work on the east side of the complex.

Azulejos (Mexican tiles), Colonia Guerrero, Mexico City

2009-11-25T12:46:00.000-08:00

I pass this fresh tile design on my way to my local Wal-mart in the mornings. The decaying building appears to be from the "Porfiriato", the period when Porfirio Diaz ran Mexico prior to the Mexican Revolution in the 1910's, a time known for "Europeanization".

Hotel Riviera, Colonia Guerrero, Distrito Federal, Mexico

2009-11-25T12:23:00.000-08:00

On the periphery of the colonial center in downtown Mexico City many interesting examples of signage and architecture from deco to mid-century proliferate.

Centro Cultural Ollin Yoliztli, Periferico Sur, Mexico City

2009-11-05T10:33:00.000-08:00

On a bus heading west on the Pereferico Sur (southern segment of the most important ring highway in Mexico City) my view was captivated by this arresting pattern. Later I visited and discovered it is a cultural center next to the pyramid park Cuicuilco. The southern zone of Mexico City is known as a prosperous one relative to other zones of the city. UNAM, the mega university of Mexico is about a 20 minute walk from here.

Panteon San Fernando, Dia de Los Muertos

2009-11-01T18:52:00.000-08:00

Cemetery San Fernando is home of many very important political figures from Mexican history, the most important, of course, is Benito Juarez, Mexico's Abraham Lincoln. As in all cemeteries, tombs are decorated with orange flowers during the holiday. In this case, though, it's not likely relatives of the deceased make the decorations and "ofrendas".

La Catrina, Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead)

2009-11-01T18:35:00.000-08:00

La Catrina, a character popularized by printmaker Jose Guadalupe Posadas, at beginning of 20th century, is immensely popular as a costume during the Dia de Los Muertos holidays. The idea is elegant people, just like everybody else, are subject to death.

WOW! Chinampas in San Andres Mixquic

2009-10-29T13:09:00.000-07:00

San Andres Mixquic

2009-10-29T12:38:00.000-07:00

Tulyehualco (náhuatl: lugar alrededor de los tules ).

2009-10-29T12:09:00.000-07:00

Domingo en La Alameda, Mexico D.F.

2009-10-25T22:41:00.000-07:00

Sunday is busy in Alameda Park. Masses of people congregate to listen to music, dance, eat, shop and cruise each other. Generally, the crowd is of lower economic means, shorter in height, and more indigenous than the city at large. Probably many of these people have come to Mexico City from areas in central and south of the country seeking better opportunities. Cumbia style music is popular with this group.

Returning home late at night I spotted this "comedor" next to an entrance to Metro Bellas Artes.

Ron in Plaza Santo Domingo, Mexico City

2009-10-22T20:04:00.000-07:00

Plaza Santa Domingo is where the illiterate used to go to have letters written. Today there are many small job printers as well as typists who are available for letters and forms. Ron is a friend of mine, originally from Fort Worth, Texas who has lived in Mexico City for ten years. We met at the Spanish Conversation Group held weekly at the Casa de Los Amigos, a Quaker Center and hostel near downtown. He says he swam the Rio Grande to get to Mexico.

Lluvia en La Alameda Central, Mexico D.F.

2009-10-22T19:45:00.000-07:00

Señora paseando por La Alameda Central, Mexico D.F.

2009-10-20T11:29:00.000-07:00

Chava Pensativa y Señor sentados, Alameda Central, Mexico D.F.

2009-10-20T11:21:00.000-07:00

Novios en La Alameda Central, Mexico D.F.

2009-10-20T11:13:00.000-07:00

Amantes y mujer vestido en huipil, La Alameda Central, Mexico DF

2009-10-20T11:07:00.000-07:00

Arreglando su puesto de Dulces frente de la Sala Jose Marti - Mexico DF

2009-10-20T10:57:00.000-07:00

Long Beach at Dusk, looking north towards San Pedro

2009-06-09T20:49:00.000-07:00

Detail of Watts Towers, South Central Los Angeles

2009-06-07T12:48:00.000-07:00

Downtown Los Angeles at sunset from Boyle Heights neighborhood.

2009-06-07T12:20:00.000-07:00

Bungalow in court. Boyle Heights, Downtown Los Angeles

2009-06-07T12:05:00.000-07:00

Boyle Heights is a charming historic neighborhood east of downtown Los Angeles whose enchantment has been damaged by the massive freeways carved through it.

Zocalo, (Central Plaza) Mexico City. Cathedral is to left.

2009-04-07T20:17:00.000-07:00

Espacio Escultorico (Notice couple at right for scale). Located at Universidad Nac'l Autonoma de Mexico. UNAM is biggest university in Mexico.

2009-04-07T20:09:00.000-07:00

Scene from trip to Cuidad Universitaria on the Universidad Line of the Metro

2009-04-07T19:54:00.000-07:00

Colonia at the western edge of Santa Fe (D.F.)

2009-04-07T19:50:00.000-07:00

Mercado Sonora, supplies for witchcraft, magic and the cult of Santa Muerte (associated with narcotrafficers)

2009-03-31T19:01:00.000-07:00

Colonia Santa Fe, maximum symbol of urban modernity and business success in Mexico. (Located in western Distrito Federal)

2009-03-31T18:38:00.000-07:00

Roaming Photographer, Alameda Central, Mexico City

2009-03-25T20:09:00.000-07:00

Nina en el micro rumbo a Metro Revolucion. Girl in bus going towards Metro Revolution

2009-03-14T19:47:00.001-07:00

Outside Metro Tacuba. Hundreds of informal market stalls radiate beyond this metro stop. Many pirated or black market goods are available.

2009-03-12T17:47:00.000-07:00

Paseo de la Reforma, atardecer. Dusk at the Paseo de la Reforma, Mexico City

2009-03-10T20:56:00.000-07:00