Oaxaca, Mexico 2010: Santo Domingo

We walked by the Santo Domingo Cathedral almost every day, but only on our last day in Oaxaca did we make it inside to see the famous museum and views of the city.

Oaxaca, Mexico 2010: Yagul

My favorite archeological site was Yagul because it was so peaceful and wild. Hardly anyone else was there.

View from on top of the Yagul ruins

The ball court

Max and I hiked to the top of the hill for another view

Oaxaca, Mexico 2010: Mitla and Tlacolula

We were all kind of tired out from our weekend in the mountains, but we decided we wanted to see the Mitla ruins and some stuff in the surrounding valley.

Mitla Ruins

This incredible little church was "undiscovered" until a few years ago. Now it is being restored by a Oaxacan millionaire who is related to Carlos Slim.

Oaxaca, Mexico 2010: EcoTurIxtlán

These photos are from our tour of the Ixtlán community lands, which have one of the highest rates of biodiversity in the world.

Elfin Forest (supposedly the tree in Avatar)

El Mirador, looking down over the town

Ixtlán's beautiful church

Ixtlán was very prosperous from Cochineal, thus all the gold

Oaxaca, Mexico 2010: Ixtlán de Juárez

We took a weekend "ferning" trip to the town of Ixtlán de Juárez in the Sierra Norte mountains. Very beautiful area, but far too much time in the car as we drove around for about 8 hrs looking for a certain type of tree fern.

Lea loves nature : )

Oaxaca, Mexico 2010: Taller Arte Papel

Photos from our visit to the Toledo paper studio and the nearby art museum. This was in a tiny town outside of Oaxaca city.

Driving through town on the way there, not really expecting much...

Max outside the paper factory.

Francisco Toledo's incredible printed kites

The gorgeous local art museum. The pink fountain is dyed with the local cochineal dye



I liked the squashed pots...


& local black pottery



The fountains





Views from the balconies of the museum

Oaxaca, Mexico 2010: Teotitlán del Valle

Teotitlán del Valle is famous for its traditional Oaxacan rugs. However, while we were in Oaxaca they also had a parade in Teotitlán called La Preciosa Sangre (the precious blood). All of the unmarried girls and women in the village carry decorated baskets through the streets in honor of Jesus. However, for the village men it is also just a chance to check out the single girls.

Oaxaca, Mexico 2010: Monte Albán

Day trip to Monte Albán, just a short way outside Oaxaca city, to see the Zapotec ruins.

Oaxaca, Mexico 2010: First week of settling in

We celebrated Lea's birthday with a Quemén cake and a trip to see the Guelaguetza traditional Oaxacan dances, which included the Pineapple Adoration dance.




We walked around the city center, trying to find the things we needed, like banks and grocery stores.


And we were constantly being startled from the sound of firecrackers, which went off at totally inexplicable times of night and day.