Santo Domingo Church ~ Oaxaca!
Located 4 blocks north of the zocalo on Alcala (no
sightseeing during mass), considered to be one of the most elaborately decorated churches in the world, dripping with
gold taken from the Indians.
Oaxaca's Attraction Info:
There is so much sightseeing
to do inside and outside Oaxaca that you have to be sure to allow some idle time for enjoying the zócalo. In the traffic-free square, you can relax while getting a feel for the town and a good glimpse
of Oaxacan society. I recommend going in the late afternoon and taking a seat at the outdoor cafe with the best view
of the cathedral. You can get a beer or order a bowl of the traditional drink of Oaxaca: chocolate. The afternoon
light filters through the shiny green leaves of the laurel trees, heightening the color of the cathedral's green stone. As
dusk comes, a small drill corps enters stage left and performs a flag-lowering ceremony with much pomp and circumstance.
Then the marimba or the municipal band usually strikes up in the central bandstand.
The city contains museums
worth visiting, some interesting churches, and colorful markets. Outside town are the famous ruins
of Monte Albán and Mitla,
and area villages known for their arts and crafts. It is sometimes best to check these out on market day.
Try to get to the Casa de
Cortés, which houses the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo , and the former
convent of Santa Catalina, home of the Hotel Camino Real.
Oaxaca, Mexico!{Pronunciation: wä-'hä-kä]
Near the City of Oaxaca,
in the town of Santa Maria del Tule, there are 8 great ahuehuetes (Taxodium mucronatum).
One of these trees, known as El Arbol del Tule {photo shown], is world wide admired for its longevity
and huge dimensions: it is more than 2000 years old and has a circumference of about 58 meters.
Oaxaca's all about shopping, and
well worth your while!
It's fun to
shop from your seat in the sidewalk cafe's. Oaxaca, Mexico is all about shopping!
Sure, there
are Mixtec ruins at Monte Alban and
the ornatey gilded Santo Domingo church
to visit {shown above]. But you can't leave this city
without a suitcase stuffed with souvenirs from the state capital and its neighboring villages - colorful carved animals from
Arazola, back clay pottery from San Bartolo
Coyotepec, tapestries from Teotitlan de
Valle and clay figurines from Ocotlan. Oaxaca, Mexico is home to many artisans.
While the city
of Oaxaca is about the size of Austin, Texas, a colonial center makes it feel like a well perserved
village from another time. Much of the architecture is colonial Spanish, its villas painted
in vibrant hues of pink, blue and orange with bougainvillea spilling out of courtyards and window boxes. Many
Oaxacans are indegenous, dressed in embroided blouses or woven shawls and serapes, speaking a
mix of Spanish and Zapotec.
The stalls of
La Alameda, just north of the zocao,
sell every manner of handicrafts - embroidered textiles, leather goods, pottery, bags - and beads! Oaxaca, Mexico is a beaders delight: strands of garnet, onyx, abalone, mother of
pearl, red jasper, turquoise, amethyst, coral, hemayke, silver and ceramic beads.
On Saturdays,
the downtown Benito Juarez Market,
two blocks southwest of the zocalo, is brimming with buyers and vendors.
The cobblestone
streets of Oaxaca's colonial center are lined with shops selling textiles, jewelry, pottery,
paintings and carvings. For the best selection and price, a trip to the works' points of origin may be worth your while.
To reach the
weaver's village, head east from Oaxaca.
On the left, you'll spy Casa Cruz,
a small brick building on the road to the viage of Teotitan del
Valle.
Shopping in: Oaxaca, Mexico!
(A few of the city's best artesan shops)
Mujeres
Artesans de las Regiones de
Oaxaca:
5 de Mayo 204
(Cooperative of Oaxacan women offers a huge selection of
crafts)
Casa
de Artesanias de Oaxaca, Matamoros:
105 at Garcia Vigil
(more than 60 organizations and family businesses)
Gogo: (several locations including)
Hotel Camino Real, 5 de Mayo
(for great deals on silver jewelry designs)
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