Contextualizing The Trajinera Wajiha Ibrahim
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CONTEXT
The Trajinera Today, as in the past, a large number of small, non-motorized boats and barges float through the canals of Xochimilco. Before, these boats were mostly used for the transport of goods, but today, they are almost exclusively used for tourism. These are popular not only with tourists coming into Mexico City, but also with locals, especially on Sundays. The tranjinera come in various shapes and sizes, though they are known to look similar to gondolas, they are modeled after pre-Hispanic vessels called acallis. The current name is an old Spanish word for ‘canoe’. Originally, trajineras were decorated with floral arches and branches of ahuejote juniper trees. This was eventually changed to an arch affixed to a roof, added on for protection from the sun. The arches often have female names on them such as “María” or “Juanita,” which may refer to someone special or simply be the name of the boat. They can be still decorated with flowers but more often they are painted with floral and other designs. Under the trajineras used for tourists, there is a long table with chairs to allow for eating and drinking. As the Trajinera has evolved to become a core tourist attraction and symbol of the city, it also plays an integral role in Xochimilco’s social, economic and political identity. This study delves into varying uses and purposes of the Trajinera to understand the embedded history and social dynamics of Xochimilco.
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Contextualizing the Trajinera
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SOCIAL MEDIUM
01 As a Social Medium
The Trajinera serves as an integral component of social activities and gatherings. As photographed here, one sees examples of upkeep and maintanence of the trajinera in preparation for festivals in Mexico City. The seating and tables within the trajinera also serve as platform for social gatherings, where groups of people dine and drink while experiencing the canals of Xochimilco. The trajinera tours are a celebrated activitiy by both locals and tourists alike.
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02 As an
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ECONOMIC STIMULANT
Economic Stimulant
The trajinera is seen as a market for tourist, agricultural and recreational economy. Trajinera tours have become a symbolic mode of celebrating the history of Mexico. Many scholars attribute the popularization of the Trajinera as a steady push towards honoring the history of the city. The trajinera’s are known to be the reason that Xochimilco has become the cultural and economic hub of Mexico city. Serving as an opportunity for locals and tourists to understand the canals system and see the ways the land has been appropriated over the years. Finally, we find the transport of agriculture to be a largely conducted via trajinera. Both formal and informal shipments of flowers for commerce and resident’s personal, household needs are transported using the Trajinera.
Modes of Use Self Transport
Recreation
Axonometric Representation of the Trajinera
Agriculture transport
Commerce
Flower Sale
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IDENTITY 4
03 As an Identity
Historical and modern day references of Xochimilco are largely associated with the image of the traditional, flat-bottomed trajinera. The preservation of the trajinera is a form of preserving identity. For several occasions throughout the year, the trajinera plays a key role in maintaining the festive spirit of celebrations. Moreover, the routine use of the trajinera for day to day activities is something that distinguishes Xochimilcan residents from others.
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