Best Photos of 2016 & Plans for the Coming Year

In 2016, I moved to Oaxaca for a few months and ended up signing a lease for a lot longer stay. Part of this decision came down to my battle with chronic pain, but also to the fact that the city is beautiful and delicious. After years in Asia, it is a big change. But a welcome one, as I’ve long wanted to improve my Spanish from its inauspicious, embarrassing beginnings.

What’s happening for 2017?

I’ll be in Oaxaca for the winter and spring, and I plan to maintain an apartment here when I head back to North America during the summer. I’m in the middle of writing a long guide to the city, focusing on food – of course – but also what to do, where to stay, and fun trips in the Oaxaca Valley. I’ve eaten at some lovely family-run spots and I look forward to also profiling them on the site.

For those who signed up for my writing course, check your inbox in coming weeks for course outline, costs, and a short application form. I will be taking a class of 10 people to start, and close to 100 have signed up. The application form will help with making sure the class goals fit your needs. I plan to offer these courses on a rolling basis, with a lower price for the first one. So if you are not in the first round, I hope to work with you a little later in the year.

I’ve also started this season’s food walks, and have 25 people booked in so far.

Finally, my shop now offers lightweight black tote bags in addition to the sturdy canvas ones. These are great for errands, and fold up easily to carry around when you’re not using them. Japan food map is coming soon.

It will be a busy winter and spring, and I’m excited to dive into these projects. I’ll update further in my customary annual review on 1 April — last year’s piece, 8 Years of Legal Nomads, follows that model! — but for now: thank you for reading Legal Nomads, for your support of the site through the shop, and for reaching out to share your stories.

Now: the photos! For those reading via email – you’ll need to click through to the web to view the embedded Instagram photos.

2016 in Photos

1. Day of the Dead, Oaxaca

My first muertos celebration, and it won’t be my last. Fabulous time, filled with visits to the cemeteries, marching bands, fireworks, offerings, and a face painting to end all face paintings. So fun!

Amazingly fun night in Oaxaca. Parades with brass bands, a light show on Santo Domingo, face painting, wandering, costumes aplenty and time with good friends. So lovely to spend my first Day of the Dead in Oaxaca. I'll be writing more about the holiday's origins and beliefs, but for now I'll leave you with Catrina-Jodi, from yesterday afternoon.

A photo posted by Jodi Ettenberg (@legalnomads) on Oct 30, 2016 at 6:23am PDT

2. Me in a Field of Marigolds, Zaachila

My friend Susanne took me and her son out to the fields near Zaachila just before Day of the Dead, so we could frolic in the flowers like nobody’s business. The farmers were amused but tolerant, aided by the fact that I bought a bunch before we departed the fields.

A photo posted by Jodi Ettenberg (@legalnomads) on Dec 15, 2016 at 9:26am PST

3. Oaxaca City at Dusk

This city’s light knows no limits.

I don't know what catches my eye more, the crazy cotton candy pink clouds, or the fact that you can see the mountains outside Oaxaca. So lovely!

A photo posted by Jodi Ettenberg (@legalnomads) on Dec 10, 2016 at 1:36pm PST

4. Corn Husk Installation, Oaxaca

These corn husks-as-birds were installed over the Alcala, the main walking street in town, and hovered over for a few weeks before they were taken down. Lovely.

A photo posted by Jodi Ettenberg (@legalnomads) on May 6, 2016 at 5:53am PDT

5. Oaxaca at Dusk on Cinco de Mayo street

A photo posted by Jodi Ettenberg (@legalnomads) on Oct 25, 2016 at 5:05am PDT

6. Hierve El Agua

I wrote a longer post with higher-res photos of the gorgeous calcified waterfalls outside Oaxaca City, but understandably this photo was a hit. Such a beautiful spot.

A beautiful day at Hierve el Agua, mineral springs that bubble into a giant cascade of rocks. Translated to "boiling waterfall" the site has both the falls themselves (made of rock worn down over the ages) and these beautiful natural infinity pools at the edge of the cliff. Looks more frozen than boiling to me! I'll post the other photo of the rocks later, but I wanted to share this one of the calcium carbonate springs first, easily one of the more beautiful sights I've seen in Mexico.

A photo posted by Jodi Ettenberg (@legalnomads) on Feb 12, 2016 at 3:21pm PST

7. Tornado at my Dad’s Place (RUN!), Quebec

Family reunion gone just slightly awry. Of course, seeing as how we aren’t used to tornados, we simply took photos and stared instead of running for cover. Luckily it dissipated quickly!

A photo posted by Jodi Ettenberg (@legalnomads) on Jul 1, 2016 at 7:29pm PDT

8. Alpacas in New Zealand

These alpacas were in my photoessay from last year also, but this time I reposted as a throwback on a day I needed some cheering up. Apparently you did too.

A photo posted by Jodi Ettenberg (@legalnomads) on May 23, 2016 at 9:33am PDT

9. Me in a field of Cockscomb Celosia

The flower I love most in the world is everywhere in Oaxaca come Day of the Dead. I was a happy Jodi.

And right next to the fields of gold, fields of my fave flower on the planet, the cockscomb celosia. It's an important flower for Vietnamese people during Tet (lunar new year) and – I've learned – for Oaxacans during day of the dead, when families lay it on the tombstones of their loved ones. A fun excursion out to the Oaxaca valley to find these fields! Thanks to @mexicoguide for taking me with her to frolic in the flowers!

A photo posted by Jodi Ettenberg (@legalnomads) on Dec 15, 2016 at 1:40pm PST

10.Jacarandas on the Ground, Oaxaca

The trees in town bloom at different times, from bright orange flamboyantes to yellow blossoms that paper the sidewalks, to these gorgeous purple jacarandas.

A photo posted by Jodi Ettenberg (@legalnomads) on Mar 6, 2016 at 9:16am PST

11. Rio de Janerio from above

One from my fabulous trip to Brazil to help friends celebrate their wedding. This one was taken from atop the

Rio, you sure are beautiful.

A photo posted by Jodi Ettenberg (@legalnomads) on Nov 26, 2016 at 4:40am PST

Thank you again for reading, andI hope each of you have a wonderful, healthy, and happy 2017.

-Jodi

The post Best Photos of 2016 & Plans for the Coming Year appeared first on Legal Nomads.

Source: legalnomads.com

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