In terms of art galleries, art centers, and art education Oaxaca is sort of the Santa Fe of MesoAmerica, mostly due to the generosity and activism of artists who achieved some fame (Toledo) and founded film and painting libraries and schools to train young artists.  Paper making,weaving, pottery, woodcarving, textiles, painting — all have a strong presence.  Today we visited a paper making facility that works only with renewable resources to see the materials and processes they use.  Strolling around the historic district this afternoon, we wandered into the textile museum which had magnificent weaving on display; the numerous galleries in the district featuring local artists have very interesting and fine work.  The historic district has narrow, one-way streets, lots of traffic and very few traffic lights.  Pedestrians do not have the right of way so getting across the streets is a challenge.  The streets have the annoying habit of changing names every two or three blocks which is not particularly helpful but thanks to google maps, we manage when we are out on our own.

We drank wine and had guacamole tonight on the zocalo, the city square, where residents are spending the early evening strolling.  Dinner last night was incredible – both salsa and guacamole were made table side and the turkey breast mole was great.  I declined the invitation to add grasshoppers to the guacamole, although I did taste one.  Small, crunchy and salty.  Insects are part of some of the traditional local cuisine.

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