For the past six months, the zócalo has played reluctant host to a game of “now you seem them, now you don’t” by the ambulantes (unlicensed vendors) who are “attached” to Sección 22 of the teachers who have been occupying the zócalo since the summer. During that time, behind-the-scenes negotiations seem to have occurred that has the vendors departing for various “high season (tourist) events. Most recently, a last-minute deal cleared the zócalo and Alameda de León of vendors for Noche de Rabanos.
When I returned two weeks ago, the walkways were still open. However, sometime late Sunday night or early Monday morning the ambulantes returned…
Meanwhile, the real story of the still missing Ayotzinapa 43 has yet to be told, teachers and just about every other sector of Oaxaca’s working class continue to march, occupy, and blockade.
Sheesh, a simple trip out to Etla for lunch on Friday had us coming up to a blockade (this time by state police) just after Santa Rosa. My taxi was forced to turn left and take the “scenic route” down by the Rio Atoyac and then back up to the Carretera 190 at Viguera, where we came up to the massive statue of Benito Juárez (in the middle of the road) that presides over this major intersection, but also with more flashing red and blue lights and state police with automatic weapons than I have ever seen before. This is where I got out; you can pick up the rest of the story on Chris’s blog.
My new favorite website is the Facebook page, bloqueos y accidentes en oaxaca. But, mostly, we’re just dancing in the dark.
Through early January, a strong police presence blockaded the vendors from returning to the Zocolo. We found twitter with a Oaxaca hashtag was a good way of figuring out who was protesting where and about what. We were just sad the airport occupation only lasted one day, so we had no excuse to extend our stay in Oaxaca.
I look at Twitter, too. However, that Facebook page is, by far, the most current and informative I’ve found. As for the tarmac occupation, I completely understand, BUT I was in the opposite position — about to return to Oaxaca and making offerings to the airport gods and goddesses that all would be clear so I could come home!!! And, I did, on schedule. 😉 By the way, sorry to have missed you.
We’ll return. Definitely one of our favorite places in the world.
The occupation of the zocalo has ruined it for us and the blocades have no doubt hurt local businesses and adversely affected tourism in general. Sadly, Oaxaca isnt what it used to be. As snowbirds nesting in Oaxaca since our retirement, we now find ourselves looking for alternatives, notwithstanding our connections to wonderful people and places there.
I’m so sorry to hear that. I guess for many of us who live here full-time, we have adapted. It’s either that or wasting energy on being continuously irritated. Even without venturing down to the zócalo, there is so much to see and do!
It was certainly disappointing to enjoy the vendors’ return. I’m glad Susy got to see the zócalo without them.
I know and I’m glad she did, too!