Jacarandas

I love jacaranda trees. I am especially fond of these two and the nice little house they are in front of because they make one little spot of what is really a pretty grimy part of downtown Tijuana beautiful. One walks down a dusty, littered street full of parking lots and mechanics' shops and there they are.

Me encanta los arboles llamada jacaranda, especialmente estos dos y la chula casa donde estan porque hacen hermoso uno chiquito lugar en el centro de Tijuana que es en realidad bien sucio. Camina en la calle polvorosa y llena de basura con parqueos y talleres mecanicos y ya estan los lindos arboles.

Working class housing/Casas de la clase obrera

Most of the working class neighborhoods of Tijuana have simply grown in the canyons and mesas without much planning. The city has grown at such a rapid rate it is difficult to imagine anyone being able to manage the growth.
Muchas de las colonias de la clase obrera en Tijuana han crecido en las barrancas y mesas sin planamiento. La ciudad ha crecido tan rapidamente es dificil imaginar el poder manejar su aumento.

Chiki Jai

Another pretty Tijuana building and my favorite restaurant on la Avenida Revolucion is Chiki Jai just north of the old Jai Lai Palace.
Otra hermoso edificio y mi restaurante favorito en la Avenida Revolucion es Chiki Jai al norte del antiguo Palacio de Jai Alai.

The Old Jai Lai Palace/El Antiguo Palacio Jai Alia

The former Jai Lai Palace in the center of old downtown Tijuana on "La Revo" is now El Foro and mostly a concert venue. On June 2 Lila Downs will appear in concert, presenting her new disc "La Cantina." You can hear a sample here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EHQ7WY/102-6554876-1578554?v=glance&n=5174

El Antiguo Palacio Jai Alai en el Centro de Tijuana en "La Revo" ahora es El Foro un lugar para conciertos populares. El 2 de Junio va a cantar Lila Downs, presentando su nuevo disco "La Cantina". Puede oir una muestra aqui: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EHQ7WY/102-6554876-1578554?v=glance&n=5174

One of Tijuana's many beautiful buildings. Uno de los numerosos hermosos edificios de Tijuana.

Lives on the line/Las vidas en la linea divisoria

Last fall a ceremony honoring the persons who died crossing the border since the wall was constructed placed placards with the names of those whose names were known on the wall in Playas de Tijuana. This spring the United States Homeland Security destroyed the tribute when it rebuilt this portion of the wall. Here is how it was.

En el oton~o pasado una ceremonia en honor de las personas que murieran crusando la frontera desde la construccion del muro puso letreros con los nombres de ellos conocidos en la barda en Playas de Tijuana. Esta primavera el "Homeland Security" de los EEUU destruyo' el homenaje en la recontruccion del muro. Aqui es como era.

Atenco in Tijuana/Atenco en Tijuana

8 rock bands played a concert to benefit the Atenco prisoners at the Multiculti in downtown Tijuana last Saturday.
8 grupos de rock tocaron sabado en un beneficio para apoyo de los presos de atenco en el Multiculti en centro de Tijuana.


Posters outside the Multiculti.

Letreros afuera el Multiculti.





The stage.

El encenario.





Poster on the dance floor.

Letrero en la pista de baile.







The store.

La tiendita.

Book Fair part 2/ Feria de Libros parte 2

This will be my last installment on the XXIV Tijuana Book Fair, though the fair runs through May 28. If you can get to Avenida Revolucion between Calles 6 & 7 between now and then, it will be well worth your trip. The fair is lots of fun for the whole family.

Esto va a ser me ultimo episodio sobre la Feria del Libro XXIV de Tijuana, pero la feria va a continuar hasta el 28 de mayo. Si puede llegar en la Revo entre calles 6ta y 7ma, vale la pena. La feria es mui divertida para toda la familia.

Here Snow White tells her story to the children.

Aqui cuenta Blanca Nieve su historia a los nin~os.





There are antiquarian books.

Hay libros antiguos.





There are new books.

Hay libros nuevos.




Everywhere there are discounts & sales.

Por todas partes hay descuentos y ofertas.

XXIV Book Fair/XXIV Feria del libro

The 2006 version of the Tijuana Book Fair opened this morning and runs through the 28th of May. The theme is Books without Borders

La Feria del Libro de Tijuana 2006 abrio' esta man~ana y continua hasta el 28 de Mayo. Su tema es Libros sin fronteras.


The mayor Jorge Hank Rhon & his wife opened the fair.

El presidente municipal Jorge Hank Rhon y su esposa abrio' la feria.



Readings, presentations & lectures will take place throughout the fair.

Lecturas, presentaciones y platicas va a ocurrir durante la feria.


The crowd at the opening.

La gente en el abrimiento.



The fair this year is in honor of Dr. Jorge A. Bustamante who is being proposed for a Nobel Peace Prize for his work for the human rights of migrants. It takes place on Avenida Revolucion between 7th & 8th Streets in front of the old jai lai palace. There are special events from 4pm to 8pm each day from now until Sunday the 28th.

La feria esta an~o es un homenaje a Dr. Jorge A. Bustamante, aprobo' por unanimidad del Congresso Mexicano para el Premio Nobel de la Paz por su trabajo para los derechos humanos de los migrantes. Esta' en la avenida revolucion entre 7ma y 8va frente del antiguo palacio del jai lai. Hay eventos especiales desde 4 a 8 de la tarde hasta domingo el 28 de mayo.

Looking for breakfast/Buscar desayuno

This morning we saw two small groups looking for breakfast
Esta man~ana vimos dos pequen~os grupos buscando sus desayunos.


Raking for clams,

Rastrillando para almejas,




And digging for worms.

Y cavando para gusanos.

Beachcombing/raqueando

A group of bus drivers on their day off found a net washed up on the beach today.
En su dia libre un grupo de choferes de camiones encontraron a un red abandonada en la playa hoy.


They cut loose the bounty,

Desataron la munificencia,





One crab,

Uno cangrejo,




In total 2 crabs & 2 fish.

En total 2 cangrejos y 2 pescados.

Are we enemies?/?Enemigos somos?

Less than 90 years ago President Wilson ordered the most recent U.S. military invasion of Mexico. Now President Bush has again ordered U.S. troops massed along the U.S.-Mexican frontier. It does not seem like a friendly act from this side of the border.

A few facts about migration from Mexico to the United States may not be known. The migration was low and dropping prior to NAFTA. Migration has increased every year since NAFTA went into effect. Now 11 years after NAFTA it is at an all time high.

President Clinton ordered the beginning of the construction of what has become known in Mexico as the Wall of Death just before NAFTA went into effect, knowing what effect the treaty would have on Mexico's economy and on migration patterns. Each year in the past 11 years the number of deaths on the border has increased. The total is now well over 1000 more than were killed on 9/11 in Pennsylvania, New York & Washington D.C. It is hundreds of times more than were killed at the Berlin wall. It is a crime against humanity.


Art on the Tijuana, Mexico side of the wall

El arte en el lado de la barda de Tijuana, Mexico






honors the dead year by year

da honor a los muertos an~o por an~o






and also as individual human beings.

y tambien como ser humanos individuales.




The USA as seen from Tijuana.

Los EEUU, la vista desde Tijuana.


Hace menos que 90 an~os dio ordenes el presidente Wilson al ejercito de los EEUU invadir a Mexico. Ahora mismo ha dado ordenes el presidente Bush al ejercito de los EEUU formarse en la frontera Mexicana. No aparece como un hecho amable.

Unos datos de la migracion desde Mexico a los EEUU no son familiares a todos. Eran bajo los numeros de migrantes antes del TLCAN. La migracion ha subido cada an~o despues. Ahora es mas alta que siempre.

El presidente Clinton dio los ordenes construir la barda de muerte antes del inicio del TLCAN sabiendo su efecto en la economia de Mexico y en las estampas de la migracion. Cada an~o de los 11 an~os ha subido los muertes hasta ahora es mas que 4000. Es un crimen contra la humanidad.

New art on the beach/Arte nuevo en la playa

A new mural,

Un mural nuevo,





new graffiti,

graffiti nuevo,




& a show by the lifeguards.

y un show por los salvavidas.

May gray/ Gris de Mayo

The weather is not always perfect here. This is known locally as May gray. May turns out to be the cloudiest month of the year. Who would have guessed?

Aqui la clima no es siempre perfecta. Hoy hay como dice la gente el gris del mayo. Mayo es el mes mas nublado del an~o. Saber!

Ps: My apologies for not posting this week. I've been ill but learned a good lesson. Never eat fresh cheese that is not fresh!

P.D.: Mis disculpas para no poner mensajes esta semana. Ha estado infermo pero era una leccion buena. Jamas coma queso fresco que no es fresco!

The bullfight, part 4/La corrida de toros, parte 4

After an afternoon of only moments of brilliance Alejandro Amaya saved the day.

Despues de la tarde de no mas que momentos de la emocion Alejandro Amaya salvo' el dia.


A chest pass.

Su paso de pecho.





A low right hand by "EL Juli".

La mano derecha baja por "El Juli".





And lower by Amaya.

Y mas baja por Amaya.




The death of the wild & noble bull.

El muerte del toro noble y bravo.



Amaya cut the only two ears with a very emotional performance with the last bull of the afternoon and left the arena carried out on the shoulders of the fans.

Amaya corto' los unicos dos orejas con su faena muy emocionante con el ultimo toro de la tarde y salio' la plaza en hombros.

The bullfight, part 3/La corrida de toros, parte 3

La faena de Julian Lopez "El Juli".

"El Juli's" work.

The right hand.

La mano derecha.






Working a bit closer.

Trabajando mas circa.





To wrap up his work.

Envolver su faena.




Profiling for the kill.

Perfilar para matar.



A continuacion Alejandro Amaya.

We'll continue with Alejandro Amaya.

The bullfight, part 2/La corrida de toros, parte 2

The large cape/ El capote


The assistant running the bull.

El peon mostrando el toro.





A nice veronica from "El Juli".

La veronica bella de "El Juli".




The bull is quick and agile.

El toro es rapido y agil.



We continue tomorrow with the last act.

Continuamos man~ana con las faenas.

Bullfight season begins/La temporada de los toros

The season began at the Plaza Monumental in Playas de Tijuana with a corrida of 6 bulls from Xajay for matadors Cesar Castan~eda, Julian Lopez "El Juli", & Alejandro Amaya.
La temporada empezo' en la Plaza Monumental de Playas de Tijuana con una corrida de 6 toros desde Xajay para matadores Cesar Castan~eda, Julian Lopez "El Juli" y Alejandro Amaya.


The bullfighters' entrance.

La entrada de los toreros.




The bull.

El toro.





The first pic.

La primera vara.






The bandarillas.

Las banderillas.



We'll follow with the large cape work and tomorrow the final act with the small cape & sword.

Continuamos con el capote y man~ana el ultimo tercero con la muleta y espada.