festival time

it´s festival time here in the city of oaxaca and the steets are busy and lively. every year on the first two mondays after the 16 of july oaxaca city hosts a festival called the galugetza, a celebreation of the different regions within oaxaca state with the presentation of traditional folk dances. normally this is a time in which tourists flood into the city, and i must admit that it looks pretty busy but apparently not as busy as in years past. it seems that the riots of 2006 (more on this later) have continued to hurt the tourist industry and while people here in oaxaca are optomistic that tourism has begun to recover the region is still feeling a significant lack of one of it´s cheif incomes. meanwhile though the galuegetza has been spectacular. fireworks are set off from the street every night lighting up the entire city, street venders stay out until all hours and all over people are parading the streets in traditional costumes and selling traditional wares, everything from exotic fruits to handmade rugs and jewelry. it´s a splendid time to be in oaxaca, the city only wishes that more people were here to share in it.