Update

Hola everyone,
Just to let you know we're still in Oaxaca City. We've been relaxing, decompressing and taking care of some last minute business. Tonight we're going out for dinner with some friends at our favourite restaurant which we're really looking forward to. We roll outta here early tomorrow morning. Below are some photos from the great escape. It all seems quite surreal to us now and we keep counting our blessings that we got out of there when we did. Turns out the conflict might continue for a few more weeks.

Found out a bit more about the situation from the newspaper, a few online reports and from our friend Cheryl who lives in San Agustin. We read that 21 officials from Oaxaca who arrived to set up the election were...ah hem...taken hostage by the citizens of Guelache (who we thought were so tranquilo). They are being held in the municipal building. No wonder it was so tense over there! The newspaper reports said they were getting food, water and had a place to sleep. But ah..no word on when they will be released. We're in shock! How can such a thing happen in such a quiet and peaceful pueblo? So it goes in Oaxaca.

Our next post will be from the road. The glorious, free and open road.
xo,
A & J

We've pasted part of Cheryl's email as it explains the situation pretty clearly. (Thanks Cheryl!)
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Apparently Guelache is the county seat and the other villages are agencies. Guelache receives money from the government and is supposed to divide it up amongst the villages. Well as you might guess they didn't and haven't been for some time. The other villages are pretty pissed off about that. Plus Guelache would not let the agencies vote...hence the blockades to keep others out. Now I guess the Feds are going to come in with the military to put up the voting booths so the voting can take place. Oh so interesting. It should be real interesting in the next few weeks until the elections actually take place. I asked why the State gov't wasn't helping and found out that Carmelina Cruz, a state senator or such, is from Guelache and has been helping Guelache. So now the Feds have to take over. So you were able to experience the wonderful Oaxacan politics...and are now on the road to new experiences....
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