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Post by bixaorellana on Feb 20, 2012 5:46:28 GMT
There are several organizations in Oaxaca dedicated to rescuing animals and working to keep down the population of strays, promoting adoptions instead of buying, etc. One of the organizations has a weekly dog walk -- hike, really -- every Sunday. This morning Darla and I attended for the first time. The name is a take-off on caminata -- long walk or ramble -- and canino/a -- canine. We met at a playground & parking area on the side of the Cerro del Fortín, a ways below the auditorium with its fancy new roof.  Wish everyone else would get here, so we could go!  Human says this is going to be fun, but I'm still thinking about it.  There are many permutations of pups here ~~   Participants in the walk are asked to bring bags to help pick up trash in the playground area before the walk.  Quite a group is gathering.  |
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Post by bixaorellana on Feb 20, 2012 5:58:15 GMT
Finally we set off, up the steps, through a tunnel, up and up ~~ |
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Post by bixaorellana on Feb 20, 2012 6:13:02 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on Feb 20, 2012 6:31:09 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2012 6:52:16 GMT
What a great way to show Oaxaca from above! It is really an excellent setting for a city. This sort of event does show, however, how lazy pet dogs have become. They don't have to go looking for food any farther than their bowl, and except for a few walks around the neighbourhood (when allowed), they really don't get much exercise anymore. I think they are in danger of becoming cats.  |
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Post by bjd on Feb 20, 2012 7:42:35 GMT
This sort of event does show, however, how lazy pet dogs have become. They don't have to go looking for food any farther than their bowl, and except for a few walks around the neighbourhood (when allowed), they really don't get much exercise anymore. I think they are in danger of becoming cats. Spoken like a true big city dweller! Put a pet dog and a pet cat in a situation where they have to fend for themselves, I would bet on the cat any time. They never lose their hunting instinct and skills. And in urban neighbourhoods with houses & gardens, the cats can roam around while dogs just stay in their yards and bark their fool heads off when anyone goes by. Or, in the case of my neighbour, the stupid dog thinks he owns the street and runs up and down and barks at everybody who goes by. |
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Post by bixaorellana on Feb 23, 2012 2:58:07 GMT
Thanks, Kerouac. The vistas in this city are great. Well, humph, anyway. I thought the animal lovers would be all over this thread like dogs at a hydrant, but I guess not. Nevertheless, I will grace you all with some pics I took yesterday, of the hill seen from below. For map people, I was west of downtown on Francisco Madero, almost to the railroad station. All three pictures were taken with zoom. You get a much closer look at the roof of the auditorium in #1 above.   I'm pleased with these pictures because of all the quintessential Oaxacan elements in them -- Juárez, the Cerro del Fortín, the Guelaguetza auditorium, the guaje trees from which Oaxaca supposedly took its name, and the beautifully blue jacarandas. Oh yeah -- and the graffiti. |
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Post by tod2 on Feb 23, 2012 4:54:42 GMT
I don't own a dog but I loved the walk with you all!! The big white 'awning' like building reminds me of the Millenium Dome and the Grand Arch all rolled into one!. It looks new and unblemished.
What a view! I was surprised to see Jacarandas in bloom.....ours only bloom from October to December. The trees here are all just green leaves now.
Lovely photos and a very different and interesting subject - thanks Bixa ;D
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Post by nycgirl on Feb 24, 2012 15:01:07 GMT
Those are some cute dogs. I agree with Kerouac, though. They do look a bit lazy. The dog I used to have would have been in seventh heaven, racing around and smelling everything. These dogs don't know how good they have it.
Nice auditorium. Love the views from up top. They definitely look like they were worth the difficult climb.
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Post by bixaorellana on Feb 24, 2012 17:24:32 GMT
Thank you so much, Tod. The big-roofed building is somewhat controversial. It was one of the expensive public works installed by the last, much-hated governor. One of the reasons it's so unblemished is that the original coating peeled off or something & had to be replaced -- this at less than a year old! Your remarks on jacaranda prompted me to look it up, whereupon I learned that "Pretoria in South Africa is popularly known as The Jacaranda City", among other interesting facts. Mainly what I found is that its range is so vast, it must have different blooming seasons around the globe. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JacarandaI am mystified by the lazy dogs comments. The purpose of those walks is to socialize and help train the dogs and their owners. Some of the people let their dogs off the leash so that they could run. I don't understand how dogs pictured restrained on leashes, presumably not the dogs' choice, can be typified as "lazy". |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2012 17:42:23 GMT
You started it with the dog resting on the steps!  |
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 10, 2012 23:43:20 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2012 6:38:55 GMT
So, who is going to be blamed about this? The architect, the builder, municipal cost cutting or god?
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Post by tod2 on Mar 11, 2012 8:14:56 GMT
Stone the crows, what a terrible thing to happen! Such a pity when it looked so elegant set upon the hilltop. I suppose they cannot just put it all back as it was but would have to carefully look into the speed and strength of that particular wind and put in extra measures. I think they should create some 'holes' in the roof to let air through - might be defeating the object of the covering  |
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 12, 2012 7:30:18 GMT
It was almost worth it just to hear Tod say, "Stone the crows" -- what an expression! As you all can imagine, the blame is flying thick & fast. One theory is that a whirlwind lifted the roof. I've heard so many rumors that I tried to look up some facts. The contract for the roof was originally give to Isolux Corsán. This contract was rescinded for non-completion of the project & for poor workmanship, & the company was penalized & sanctioned. The part of the project that Isolux Corsán failed to perform was the installation of the roof awning. The contract to cover the roof was then given to Lonas Lorenzo. sourceI see your point about doing something to foil the wind lifting the covering, Tod. What surprised me, looking at that last picture in #11, is that the covering seems to be nothing more than a glorified tarp. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2012 8:04:40 GMT
Yes, well that is pretty much like the Pompidou Center in Metz and quite a number of other modern constructions, such as stadiums. Apparently, this matter is now considered to be sufficiently durable for roofing -- when done correctly.
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