AdventureZ In Mexico 2010-2022: Dia de Los Muertos in Oaxaca City 2012- Part 1

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Dia de Los Muertos in Oaxaca City 2012- Part 1

Blog post by Tina Winterlik © 2012
tina_winterlik@yahoo.com
http://tinawinterlik.blogspot.com
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Here's the first of 3 videos. I have a slow connection so it may take me a few days to get them all up. Right now it's on the second one and say 164 minutes remaining :( We've had a fabulous time here in Oaxaca.

I have been dreaming about this day for 2 years. Ever since I saw Sylvia Ji's painting of a Catrina, I dreamed of going to Oaxaca and getting my face painted and celebrating Dia de Los Muertos. Yesterday my dream came true.

I had wanted to buy new Mexican clothes - a skirt and blouse for both Angel and I but my budget is really small and so I had to make due with what I had. I went to the material store and got 2 metres of beautiful material for $50 pesos each. Then I got 2 metres of this black mesh with sparkles on it for veils. I bought thread and a little elastic and needles. The total was less than $150 pesos so less than $15 Cdn.

I went to work and started sewing...by hand. I think they turned out awesome. I folded the top 3 times and them stitched it. Then wrapped it around and figured where buttons should go. Since I didn't buy buttons I had to make them. I used the elastic, I rolled it into a ball and then wrapped the material around it. I had bought transparent thread and its really strong, so I liked that. I made button holes and well it all just came together, with a little gather here and tuck there.

I shortened the dresses by gathering the material up into a little rose on the side, this created little gathers and gave a nice effect. In the end I wore black tights under my dress and Angel wore dark jeans. This is because it was cold and also because my dress had a slit on the side down the leg. I did actually sew the dresses onto us in the end. LOL! I know Angel thought that was very funny. "Please Mom, no, please don't so it onto me!" But to really gather it tight and make it hang nice I did sew it tight on the hip/leg. Later I just snipped that to get the dresses off and who knows maybe we will use them again.

We got our faces painted in the Zocalo. I went the day before to ask the girl when she would come, she said 3pm. So I did my hair...oh I bought gardenias the day before, 2 bunches for $30 pesos. WOW!! They smell so BEAUTIFUL!! I just love gardenias. Anyways I put my hair up and put the flowers in...I had used fishing line and attached them to some big bobby pins I bought. So I went to the Zocalo but she wasn't there. Luckily she'd given me a card and a girl with a cell was kind enough to send a text and she said she was on her way.

In the meantime I bought a globo, (balloon) for Angel to chase and bounce...they are special here in Oaxaca, I'll put a pic up later and show you. So the girl finally arrived and painted both our faces. $100 pesos for mine and $50 pesos for Angel. I was a little disappointed as she didn't have the colors I wanted. I also thought the brush she used was to thick and was hoping she'd put more detail in it. It only took her about 30 minutes to do both Angel and I. I think she may have been rushing as it was starting to sprinkle. I was worried too. That would have been so sad to get our faces painted and then have to go home in the rain.

Luckily it didn't rain...then. We went home, had something to eat...which is a little tricky and got dressed. I put up Angel's hair and put in the flowers. I put on our veils. Oh I made a purse from the veil material as mine did not match and I didn't want to carry much that evening. I also took a Q-tip and smudged the makeup a bit and filled in little spots that had been missed and on my eyes in the lid where it was separating. I also put on mascara. I really wish we'd had fake eye lashes but good ones are expensive and like I said our budget is small.

Then it RAINED!! But the cool thing about Oaxaca, it pours and then stops. So we waited a bit. Mindi, someone we met at the hotel, took photos of us and then when it started to dry up we went out.

It was pretty chilly and I was worried about Angel, she has no meat on her. But as we walked we warmed up. As soon as we got to the Zocalo, people started stopping us and asking to take our photos. WOW! I was surprised and flattered.

We made our way up to Santa Domingo and on the way saw lots of people dressed up and lots of great musicians and events. Watch the videos and you will see.

Unfortunately Angel was not into having a lot of photos. Which was sad as this is maybe a once in life time, or at least she will only be this age this time. But I did manage to get a few really great shots and I hope to paint them one day!! ** That is when I get some canvas :( Still didn't get any. Was going to when I was here, but no money in the budget for it right now :(

Anyways, soon, I just know it will all come together..I'm praying and projecting more work comes my way. It's just tough because I don't have papers to work in Mexico so that means I have to bring it in from outside of Mexico. And normally my work comes by word of mouth and face to face encounters. I haven't been in Canada for 2 months so things are getting tight, but I've got a plan. :D

Anyways we had a fabulous night. Here are a few photos and I will load my next video in the next blogpost as soon as it's up. Buenos Noches. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.