Oaxaca

Oaxaca is vibrant colonial city with many attractions. The city is in the state of Oaxaca which is best known for its indigenous peoples and cultures. The most numerous and best known are the zapotecs and the Mixtecs.

Hierve el Auga

The translation is boiling water. The name does not refer to temperature, the water is cool, but that it boils up out of the rock. 16.867621, -96.275965 

When this mineral rich water reaches the surface, the minerals precipitate out forming these beautiful formations

Looking from the pools pictured above to the spectacular water fall cascading into the valley below

Ruins at Mitla

In the city of Mitla are the well preserved ruins of the Zapotec culture. This site was a main religious center. What makes Mitla unique among mesoamerican sites is the elaborate and intricate mosaic fretwork and geometric designs that cover the buildings. This religious center peaked about 1000 AD 16.928626, -96.358947 

Larry checking things out. 

Martha taking a photo of the beautiful fretwork

Kevin, Ruth, Sue and Roy

The Palace 

Columns that once supported a roof in this entrance hall of the Palace.

Behind the entrance hall is a courtyard with narrow living quarters on each side with restored roofs.

Jacobo y Maria Angeles Studio

The Zapotec culture had a zodiac like belief that one's birthdate determined your animal protector and your personality. They would carve one mythical creature that embodied all of your traits.

Jacobo and Maria have raised these carving to an exquisite art.  16.862769, -96.696394

Ricardo explains the creative process. All the wood come from the sacred copal tree.

The artist also use the red inner bark of the copal tree for their natural paint pigment. When this pigment is mixed with other natural ingredients such as indigo, cochineal, limestone and zinc the artists obtain all the natural colors used in painting their creations

The artists palate 

Ricardo shows use one creation that incorporates the face of an owl, the body of a lizard, and the tail of a snake. Like most of the small pieces, it is craved from a single piece of wood. The carvers calling is to see the animals in the raw copal wood.

Some of the work in progress. It is a months long process to carve and stabilize the wood.

Apprentice painters learning their craft using acrylic paint

Master painters work only in natural dyes.

This is Ricardo's own creation. He has learned is craft over the last 20 years here at Jacobo and Maria's studio. He is a master that does all his own carving and painting. It is for sale $1,100.

Magnificent bear

This amazing bull stands 4 feet tall, too large to be carved from a single piece of wood.

Vives Verde

Next we went to a local botanical garden that features the flora of Mexico.  17.024204, -96.759874 

Beginning with the gate, there is also whimsical art incorporated into the garden