Truck Decoration in Oaxaca. Decoracion de Camionetas en Oaxaca

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

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

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

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

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

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)

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

San Andres Mixquic

Tulyehualco (náhuatl: lugar alrededor de los tules ).

Domingo en La Alameda, Mexico D.F.

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

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.

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

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

Novios en La Alameda Central, Mexico D.F.

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

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

Long Beach at Dusk, looking north towards San Pedro

Detail of Watts Towers, South Central Los Angeles

Downtown Los Angeles at sunset from Boyle Heights neighborhood.

Bungalow in court. Boyle Heights, Downtown Los Angeles

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Roaming Photographer, Alameda Central, Mexico City

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

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

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

Paseo de La Reforma, D.F.'s most iconic boulevard connects downtown with the city's most important park, Chapultepec.

Coyoacan Centro, a un costado de la Plaza. Some well known Coyoacanenses: Hernan Cortez, Leon Trotsky, Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo

Parque Los Viveros, Coyoacan, D.F. Nursery/Park in the south of the city. The background mist is air pollution.

Afuera de Casa de los Azulejos. Exterior of House of Tiles, Mexico D.F.

Sanborn's Cafe, Casa de los Azulejos, Centro Historico, Mexico D.F.

Senora con su puesto en el centro. A woman with her stall near Hidalgo Metro in downtown Mexico City

Palacio de Bellas Artes, perhaps the most photographed building in Mexico.

Jim Alford at La Habana Cafe, Mexico City. Un amigo from "La Casa de Los Amigos" (Quaker House).