I am going to posit a guess that Malia Obama was in Teotitlan del Valle, Oaxaca today with her classmates. It was three o’clock in the afternoon and Pedro Montaño Lorenzo and I were on our way out-of-town heading to Matatlan in search of El Cortijo mezcal. Pedro had just asked me if I thought Malia would visit Teotitlan. It wasn’t on her itinerary, I said. No, I don’t think so. Just then, we passed a house where I saw a lot of activity — much more than usual.
It had to have been the U.S. Secret Service entourage I saw parked in front the house of weavers Victor and Rafaela today. Why else would there be thirty vehicles in front of a small weaving house? Why else would there be Mexican Federal Police cars parked beside them? Why else would there be a truckload of armed military men of the Army of Mexico parked at the Crucero — where the road to Teotitlan connects to the Pan-American Highway? There were probably four or five Federales cars roaming the road, too. And, I couldn’t take a photo or I might have been thrown in jail! And, I wanted to turn around and go back to say, “Hi, welcome to Oaxaca.” But, I knew they wouldn’t take to kindly on that!
I turned my head to look at the doorway of the house, which was packed with people. Yep, I thought. Malia Obama made it to Teotitlan del Valle. She will know about the centuries old tradition of tapestry loom weaving that makes this village so special.
Oaxaca Times reports that Malia Obama, 13-year old daughter of U.S. President Barak Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama is in Oaxaca, Mexico, this weekend!
She arrived on a commercial United Airlines jet direct to Oaxaca from Houston, and will visit archeological sites and craft villages. Even with 25 Secret Service Agents at her disposal, she would not be here if it weren’t safe.
I’m heading out to the Tlacolula market today. Not likely she will be there, since it would be difficult to maintain security among the throngs of shoppers, but who knows?
Thanks to follower Elliot Stoller for alerting me!
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Dye Master Dolores Santiago Arrellanas with son Omar Chavez Santiago, weaver and dyer, Fey y Lola Rugs, Teotitlan del Valle
Was Malia Obama in Teotitlan del Valle, Oaxaca today?
I am going to posit a guess that Malia Obama was in Teotitlan del Valle, Oaxaca today with her classmates. It was three o’clock in the afternoon and Pedro Montaño Lorenzo and I were on our way out-of-town heading to Matatlan in search of El Cortijo mezcal. Pedro had just asked me if I thought Malia would visit Teotitlan. It wasn’t on her itinerary, I said. No, I don’t think so. Just then, we passed a house where I saw a lot of activity — much more than usual.
It had to have been the U.S. Secret Service entourage I saw parked in front the house of weavers Victor and Rafaela today. Why else would there be thirty vehicles in front of a small weaving house? Why else would there be Mexican Federal Police cars parked beside them? Why else would there be a truckload of armed military men of the Army of Mexico parked at the Crucero — where the road to Teotitlan connects to the Pan-American Highway? There were probably four or five Federales cars roaming the road, too. And, I couldn’t take a photo or I might have been thrown in jail! And, I wanted to turn around and go back to say, “Hi, welcome to Oaxaca.” But, I knew they wouldn’t take to kindly on that!
I turned my head to look at the doorway of the house, which was packed with people. Yep, I thought. Malia Obama made it to Teotitlan del Valle. She will know about the centuries old tradition of tapestry loom weaving that makes this village so special.
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Posted in Cultural Commentary, Oaxaca Mexico art and culture, Teotitlan del Valle, Textiles, Tapestries & Weaving, Travel & Tourism
Tagged blogsherpa, Malia Obama, Mexico, Oaxaca, safety, Teotitlan del Valle, weaving