This city was worth exploring. The zocola is the heart of the city and is always full of people shopping, dancing, playing their musical instruments and selling their wares. In the evening Troy and I found the best seats of the house were on a restaurant balcony enjoying good food and watching the evening show. Equally as much fun, but calmer is the area around Santo Domingo de Guzman Temple. It was first a Spanish Church with all of the gold trappings and glorious altar. Then it became a military station and finally it is a beautiful cultural center. Behind the church is an ethnobiological garden that has specimen of the plants that represent the various biocultural areas of the state of Oaxaca. One of the most interesting are the rows of maize that show the changes over the centuries. Maize and so many of the other plants have evolved to meet the needs of the people. The restaurants of the city feature many of the food that were eaten centuries ago. Our lunch that day was a maize tamal and a squash blossom salad. Art is everywhere in the city. IN museums, in galleries and painted on the walls. There is nothing subtle about the pieces that we saw. Bold colors, and shapes frightening dreams and wildly clad individuals. There is no holding back. Although these were the last days of Lent there was nothing quiet about the city. Even during an outdoor Mass children played with their balloons and pan flute music blocked out any attempt the choir made to sing. Saturday was more exploration and Sunday we will take a trip to Mitla and visit some of the smaller towns and churches.
