MAY is one of the best kept secrets of Puerto Escondido. It's a great time to be here: the "ice backs" have left, the great surf begins, the beginning of the rainy season means relief from the heat and the smoky skies from burning brush in preparation for planting corn and there's lots of celebration going on.
It seems that just about everybody is either being feted or celebrating somebody or something in May. For details of these fiestas and special days, consult our Calendar below.
May also marks the beginng of mango season when this succulent tropic fruit is plentiful and cheap. . It also is the official start of Hurricane Season when, out in the Pacific, tropical depressions and storms start forming. Most pass harmlessly by, others give us a good soaking. But, hurricanes happen. We tend to get the heaviest rains in the latter half of the season, which ends on November 15. But, it is well to be prepared.
But, be aware that during even normal storms, huge amounts of rain can fall in a very short period of time and those previously dry creek beds can convert into raging torrents. Be very careful in crossing these on foot; even if you don't get swept away, they frequently carry heavy debris that can cause serious injury. If you are driving, take it slow, and watch out for washouts and mud slides.
The head of the state Civil Protection agency Ing. Héctor González Hernández says the prognostication for this season in our part of the Pacific, based on computer models from on the measurement of water temperature and currents calls for the likely formation of 7 tropical storms, 3 moderate hurricanes (category 1 and 2) and 7 intense hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5) during the course of this rainy season. Puerto Escondido has its own regional office of the state Civil Protection Agency, responsible for local advisories and implementing emergency measures, if necessary.
Otherwise, stay calm, stay in your hotel. Keep important documents at hand, protected in waterproof bags, pack in some food, water, candles, radio and batteries and wait it out.
| Adrian | Beatriz | Calvin | Dora |
| Eugene | Fernanda | Greg | Hilary |
| Irvin | Jova | Kenneth | Lidia |
| Max | Norma | Otis | Pilar |
Sunday 8
Mother's Day Progam
The city of Puerto invites all moms to a special program with food, gifts and serenade
7 p.m. City Hall Esplanade
Tuesday 10
Mother's Day
It's not a moveable feast in México, it is always celebrated on this
date, which falls on a Tueday this year. Mothers' Day was created un
Philadelphia in 1907 by Mrs. Ana Jarvis, much to the delight of Hall
mark cards and florists everywhere. In México, Moms' Day was initiated by
a guy who worked for the Excelsior newspaper in México City. And it is a
very big deal in the country; celebration of motherhood will span the
entire week, with special events and promotions at many local, hotels
and restaurants. If your mother is
here, take her out for dinner and buy her flowers. If not, relax: Mom's
Day is usually on a Sunday most places. But, why not call her anyway?
Friday 6 - Sun 15
Annual Fair in Rio Grande
Rio Grande is a rich agricultural town about 45-minutes to the west on
the main highway to Acapulco near Chacahua Lagoon National Park. It is a
bustling community of some 30,000 people, built on cattle raising,
limes, peanuts and copra production.
The town's major fair of the year salutes the area's cattlemen and celebrates its patron saint, the Virgin of Guadalupe, the patrona of all of México, whose feast day is normally observed on December 12.
But, When Rio Grande was a tiny settlement, originally known as Piedra Parada, after the ancient Mixteca stone markers found there, the circuit priests were just too busy in larger communities to officiate there in December. So it was decided the town would observe its feast day on May 12, instead.
It's a grand affair attracting visitors from miles around to its cattle
show, elaborate rodeos, dances and nightly cockfighting. Here's some of
the program:
Friday 6 - Monday 9
Cockfights
Friday 6
3 p.m. Horseraces
Monday 9
9 a.m. Chess Tournament
7 p.m. Cultural Program: Viko-Ñuo
Tuesday 10
7 p.m. Mothers' Day program with mariachis
Wednesday 11
11 a.m. Inauguration of the annual Cattle Fair with Bardomiano Gómez
Santaella, one of the country's foremost rodeo stars
6 p.m. Calenda animated procession with live band and huge calenda
puppets through the main streets of town to formally invite everyone to participate in the
festivities.
7 p.m. Cultural program featuring folkloric group from Nopala
10 p.m. Fireworks, including the anarchic toritos and the lighting of the magnificent
castillo.
Thursday 12
5 p.m. Jaripeo big name bull-riding rodeo
10 p.m. Dance with Banda Maguey
Friday 13
5 p.m. Jaripeo rodeo
Sunday 15
3 p.m. Teachers' Day Celebration
Saturday 14
Pedro Torres
A night of romantic music and chilenas by an accomplished troubador in
the delightful environs of the Villa Sol Beach Club. Special menu, cover
just $50.ºº, which includes a beverage.
8 p.m. Beach Club Villa Sol
Disco Night
Hosted by students of the local junior collage CBTIs with Sonido Vikingo
and Sonida Ticolich in dueling sound systems
10 p.m. 'til late, City Hall Esplanade
Friday 13 - Sun 15
Festival of St. Isador the Farmer
Not much is known about Saint Isidore. He is believed to have lived
during the 12th Century in Torrelaguna, near Madrid, and that he was
particularly pious and hard working. San Isidro Labrador is the Spanish
worker saint who tilled the soil, obviously a popular patron saint for
rural México. The Oaxacan coast is no exception, which means lots of
traditional fiestas in the area.
La Barra de Colotepec is one of many communities in the area that will host fiestas in honor of their patron this weekend - There are actually two La Barras, facing each other on opposite banks of the Colotepec River as it runs into the ocean. La Barra de Colotepec, sits on the west bank, closest to Puerto Escondido.
(The other is called Barra de Navidad, which boasts an ecological reserve, iguana and crocodile hatchery and offers birding and turtle nesting tours around its small lagoons.)
The waters off La Barra often have some good breaks and a growing number of surfers are discovering the place.
Bajos de Chila also reveres San Isidro as patron saint and will hold observances during those same days, even though Chila's major annual fair takes place around St. Valentine's Day in February. That's when the inhabitants, mostly workers in agriculture, traditionally had more money to spend. Chila lies west of Puerto Escondido on the road to Manialtepec Lagoon.
Sunday 15 is the actual saint's day, so the peak of the festivities
will take place on the eve of the feast, Saturday 14. This is the night
of the traditional castillo, or "castle", a wondrously choreographed
display of pyrotechnical magic. The cohetero, "rocket maker", also
creates los toritos, "little bulls", effigies of bulls and other
figures, carried on the head and shoulders of local youths as they rush
around the square in a loud explosion of fire and smoke.
Here's the fiesta program for Bajos de Chila:
Friday 13
Calenda parade
Saturday 14
4 p.m. Jaripeo rodeo
10 p.m. Castillo and fireworks
Sunday 15
4 p.m. Jaripeo rodeo
9 p.m. Dance
Other community fiestas for San Isidro include: San Isidro Pochutla, on
the coast highway about 35 minutes east towards Pochutla, San Francisco
Cotzoaltepec, located on a dirt road off the same highway some 20
minutes driving time, and San Isidro Nopala, reached along the highway
to Oaxaca, via Sola de Vega.
Sunday 15
Teachers' Day
Day to pay tribute to the nation's maestros. Apples all around. All
trades and professions in México have their special day on which society
recognizes their contribution.
This month, for example also includes News Vendors' Day, Sun. 8 and Students' Day, Mon. 23.
Homage to Juan Rulfo
The famed author and photographer was born in Acapulco on May 16, 1918
and died in 1986.
This special social-cultural program is hosted by the students of the
school that bears the illustrious writer's name.
7 p.m. City Hall Esplanade
Friday 20
Concert
Reynaldo Ruiz
Becasurf Language Institute initiates its program of free cultural
activities. Reynaldo Ruiz is a popular local singer and guitarist (as
well as being a fine dentist).
6 p,.m. Becasurf, 2º norte, corner of 3ª oriente.
Dance
Benefit for the coast diocese, which is in the process of raising funds
for the construction of a cathedral.
8 p.m. City Hall Esplanade
Monday 23
Students' Day
Special programs and a day off for the kids, and a busy day on the
beach.
Monday 23 - Tue 24
Annual Fiesta La Luz
Tutútepec, Santiago Cuixtla
Specific details unavailable at press time. xxxSee El Sol de la Costa,
April 2005xx, for information of the county of Tutútepec.
Cuixtla is in the Chatino hill country near Nopala.
Sat 28 - Sun 29
2nd Annual Children's Festival of Surf
The hospitable waters of the beautiful Carrizalillo Bay is the venue
for the second running of this splendid two-day surfing festival open to
all kids aged 4 to 15.
Come out and support the surf stars of the future.
See more
10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Carrizalillo Beach
Monday 30
Smoke Out
Worldwide effort to get people to finally just stop smoking. Will it work?
Art
"proyecciones"
20 oils by Edgar Salinas
Oaxacan painter Edgar Salinas is very highly regarded, he has shown
internationally and his work is in dozens of important collections
Opening:
7 p.m., Friday 20
Galería Ch'che, on the Adoquín