Fela Fever....

There are many, many reasons to visit the Big Apple and enjoy everything New York has to offer. Culturally, it is a great city for music, and this summer one of the hottest tickets on Broadway is the musical "Fela" which documents the life, music and political activism of Nigerian musician Fela Kuti who died in 1999. The Eugene O'Neill theatre off Times Square is transformed into Kuti's notorious club in Lagos in the 70's, and a 10 piece band welcomes you with some hot African rhythms as you set foot in "The Shrine" - hot because they are Kuti's own invented Afrobeat, and hot because the lyrics are incendiary against the corruption of the repressive military dictatorship. Kuti was regularly carted off to jail for beatings and torture, and his own mother was thrown to her death from an upstairs window by soldiers on a raid. Sahr Ngaujah stars as Fela himself, and it is an unmissable show - due to transfer to the National Theatre in London in the Autumn...

Also on offer in New York this summer was the fantastic series of free outdoor concerts at the Lincoln Centre. Above is one of my favourite performers, Aurelio Martinez, with his dynamic and infectious music. From Honduras, he plays Garifuna Soul, - Garifuna being an African culture in Central America - predominantly in Honduras and Belize. If you enjoy Garifuna soul then also check out the music of another wonderful exponent Andy Palacio from Belize.

The headlining act was superstar diva from Peru - namely Susana Baca (pictured above) who captivated the audience with her soaring songs and beautiful ballads....

New York is one of my favourite cities to visit and soak up art, culture and music - if you get the chance to go, don't miss all the wonderful music on offer.....

Art at the Anthropology......

The amazing Anthropology Museum here in Mexico city currently has a special exhibition entitled "Rostras de la Divinidad" (Faces of Divinity) including some of these beautiful jade mosaic masks....

Also displayed are these detailed stone sculptures of the heads of Mayan warriors....

and these lovely Mayan stone friezes.........

Outside the museum along Reforma you can stroll and enjoy the bronze sculptures of two Mexican artists. Firstly the work of Jorge Marin (who was featured in last week's post) distinctive in his choice of winged and beaked creatures as his dominant subject matter....

Secondly there is the powerful, strong work of artist Jorge Soriano distinguished by the bold shapes of a variety of birds, animals, and more fantastical creatures...

Mexico City is a paradise for art lovers as there is always wonderful public art on display in the streets, as well as high profile exhibitions in public museums and private galleries. You are always spoilt for choice whether you are interested in pre-hispanic or more contemporary fare.

To find out what else is on display around the world this week, check out the My World Tuesday postings by clicking here....

Shadow Shot Sunday 71 - London

The belief in my mind is that the sun shines much more strongly here in Mexico compared to England, but when I was home in the summer and walking along the Thames towpath at Richmond Lock, you couldn't fault the power of the rays and consequently the shadows....

The ornamental iron railings, signposts and fancy wrought ironwork of the bridge at the lock cast these rather bold shadows on the towpath as I walked along heading for the centre of Richmond... These images may lack the vibrant colour of recent Mexico posts, but for a change I rather like the monochromatic effect, and the stark but striking shapes cast in my home city...

What do you think?? For more fun with shadows check out Shadow Shot Sunday by clicking here

Angels of Independence.....

Mexico has been celebrating 200 years of Independence in style this week, and local artist Jorge Marin has been giving all chilangos (citizens of Mexico City) the chance to become an Angel of Independence. His sculpture on Reforma entitled "Alas de la Ciudad" (wings of the city) has quickly become the most popular posing spot in the city....

Angels, it appears, can come in all shapes, sizes, genders, ages, and poses....

Mexican artist Jorge Marin was born in Uruapan, Michoacan and has soon made a name for himself with large strong bronze sculptures of beaked winged male creatures...

Here is the artist himself....

And here, of course, further along Reforma is the real Angel of Independence - the city's winged victory and iconic landmark which truly symbolises Mexico City's two hundred years of Independence - Viva Mexico!!

For more global glimpses this week check out My World Tuesday by clicking here.

Shadow Shot Sunday 70 - Mexico's Bicentennial

As a tribute to Mexico's Bicentennial celebrated this week, the shadow shots are all of the Mexican flag and bunting proudly displayed on every building to mark 200 years of Independence...

The shadows of the bunting strung up on every street create interesting patterns on the terracotta walls...

The strong sunlight makes the shadow flags throw bold and striking shapes on the ochre walls......

All these shots were taken in the charming town of San Miguel de Allende - close to the cradle of Mexican Independence. For more shadowplay from around the world, check out Shadow Shot Sunday by clicking here.... You won't be disappointed!

Viva Mexico - 200 Years!!

On Wednesday 15th September Mexico will be celebrating the Bicentennial - 200 years of Mexican Independence. The flags are out....

The roads are blocked, the fireworks are set, the decorations are up......

Now all we are waiting for is the traditional annual "grito de independencia" to get the biggest party in town started.....VIVA MEXICO!!

To see what else is happening around the world this week, click here for My World Tuesday postings - Enjoy!

Shadow Shot Sunday 69 - Pachuca pretty in pink and pistachio...

Colour and light here in Mexico are impossible to ignore, thus check out these shadow shots from the mining towns of Pachuca and Real de Monte - both rich in British history hence the legacy of the Cornish pasty in these parts brought by the Cornish miners...

With the one-storey cottages and corrugated iron roofs, the British influenced architecture may be more prosaic than the Spanish colonial of recent posts, but don't you just love the bright colours and the patterns of the tangle of overhead cables, wires, and telegraph poles...

For more fun with shadow patterns this week, check out Tracy's meme Shadow Shot Sunday by clicking here. Enjoy!

Magic Villages - Huamantla

It is impossible to become weary of the richness of colour, and light, and the interplay with shadows here in Mexico. Feast your eyes on these ochre, russet, terracotta, and dusky pink hues as the magic village of Huamantla slides languidly into late, late afternoon.....

Appreciate the architectural details of wrought iron balconies, beautiful windows, lamps, and signs - all features of the distinctive colonial heritage of this town - and all throwing longer and longer shadows as sunset approaches....

Magic villages are thus named and designated as they offer the visitor a "magical experience" in terms of culture, heritage, and tradition. Need I say more?? Only that Huamantla is 47km east of Tlaxcala - check the sign in the last post - and thus only two and half hours away from Mexico City. What are you waiting for??

Treasures of Tranquil Tlaxcala....

Just 32km North of the much better known city of Puebla, the small state capital of Tlaxcala is an architectural gem, a treasure house of colonial architecture - and largely unvisited.......

Edging the plaza are some of the most elegant and best preserved colonial buildings to be seen anywhere in Mexico. Step inside the Palacio de Justicia and you will be treated to this feast of murals documenting important events in Mexico's history...

Ascend a steep and shady winding path and you will reach the Ex-Convento Franciscano de la Asuncion and its wonderfully peaceful courtyards and tranquil atmosphere....

Ascend 1 km in a different direction and you will come across one of Mexico's most spectacular churches - Santuario de la Virgen Ocotlan which is a very important pilgrimage site ever since the belief that the Virgin appeared here in 1541...

The classic facade with white stucco "wedding cake" decorations contrasting with the plain red tiles creates an imposing and impressive first impression. The architectural details of this church plus the wealth of others in the town make Tlaxcala a must for those interested in colonial architecture...

For accomodation there is a range of small homely posadas, but the most atmospheric place to stay in town is the renovated 19thc mansion on the south side of the zocalo namely the Posada San Francisco....

However, at only 122km east of Mexico City which translates into a two hour bus journey from TAPO, Tlaxcala is perfectly reachable for a day trip. If you like peaceful and tranquil places for a day's wandering and meandering then don't miss this town!! For more travelling around the world this week check out the My World Tuesday postings by clicking here... Don't you just love how Tlaxcala is placed as the centre of the world in this signpost??

Shadow Shot Sunday 68 - Fire Island NY

Come along this boardwalk with me, down the steps....

..and what a treat is in store for you...the beautiful beaches and deserted dunes of Fire Island...

You can walk along the surf for miles and take in all the different communities from Cherry Grove to Sunken Forest to Point o' Woods ( the only permanent community and by application only!) to Ocean Bay Park and further still....

In fact this thin New York Island stretches 32 miles along Long Island's south shore and is also a haven for birds and wild deer; indeed a perfect antidote to the frenzied frantic pace of the city...

When the afternoon shadows get this long on the sandy beach, you know the last ferry is just about to depart, and it is time to bid farewell and head back. You can get day package returns for the train, taxi and ferry from the Long Island Railroad at Penn Street Station at a very reasonable price. In the meantime check out more shadow photography over at Tracy's meme Shadow Shot Sunday by clicking here...Enjoy!!