TGIF...but it's Saturday.

Friday was basically a day of wasting and killing time.

We had based the morning/afternoon around seeing the slide show put on by the group Krista was teaching. Without going into detail, we missed it.

(I´m sitting in an internet cafe that typically plays rap and heavy metal music quite loudly. But just this moment, "Knights in White Satin" by the Moody Blues came on. Weird.)

So feeling a bit frustrated, we stopped for a capuchino, a bit of journal writing, and then went home. I read a bit more of the Weston Daybooks (California) and feeling like I needed to photograph, I grabbed my Hasselblad and tripod, light meter and film, and went for a walk around 5:30.

About two blocks away is the Oaxacan National Baseball Team ball field. I stopped to look at it and decided the light and shadows where quite nice. The intersection where I was standing was quite busy. Nearby is a technical college so uniformed students were everywhere.

As soon as I got set up, a truck filled with day-laborers came by and they all waved and gave the thumbs up and the ´V´ peace signs. Cool.
A few moments later, two female students stopped to see what I was doing. After a barrage of questions that were about 1000 words a minute, I stopped them to explain "No hablo Espanol!" They got a kick out of this as there giggling was very loud and rapid. They stuck around for about 20 minutes or so, asking me a few questions I did understand such as : "How old am I?" , "Am I single?" , "Where am I staying?" , "Where am I from?" , and the best one of all..."Could I go back to Santa Fe with you?". This was great fun.

(We just went from Led Zeppelin to Barry Manilow)

Wanting to get back to making photographs, I let them look through the waste level finder to see what I was doing. They were very excited so I let them take turns making the exposures. I explained the best I could to wait for the passing faces and the bicyclists and to wait for the right moment. We all had a lot of fun.

Upon arriving back at the apartment and telling the gang of this funny experience, a black and white dove flew from the nearby church, past our heads and directly through a window into out bedroom. This place never ceases to amaze me.

After washing up a bit, Amelia , Steve Merlan and I went to the Francisco Toledo opening. It was fantastic. Crowded with professors and artists and they served lots of Mezcal. I decided two shots were enough on an empty stomach.

We then walked home to a dinner party hosted by Dr. Ramona Perez (Cultural Anthropology). She has been coming here for several years and always rents the same house for her and her grad students. The food was great and the drinks were plentiful.

We spoke of my troubles with INAH and she promptly offered her assistance. She knows the director in charge of Monte Alban and will ask if I can get in after hours. She asked if this was okay with me. "Of course!" was my reply. Anytime, just say when. So I might be able to get in after they close at six and be there for sunset. That would be amazing. And if the moon is right, I could get some night time exposures up there as well. That would be great.

Another person at the party named Marta, is the new person in charge of Exconveto de Cuilipam and works for INAH. She said she will talk to her boss on Monday about allowing me access.

Maybe this will turn around a bit. Wish me luck. Say a prayer.

Tonight at 6pm, I am setting up in El Llano park and will photograph anyone I can. I told the two Mexican girls to come by and to bring their friends. Luckily for me, Mexican law states I do not need model releases. What a crazy place! Then at 7:30pm we are giving Steve a going home party. He returns to Santa Fe tomorrow morning.

That´s all for now...