Downtown, there is a huge square where there's lots of vendors and all sorts of things to see! We went on Friday night with a family we had met at Spanish classes. We bought the kids bouncy rubber balls with streamers and an elastic rope with which to send it flying. It was very exciting. There were lots of other children playing. And there was live music. We ate ice cream before dessert, played some more and ate tacos for dinner. And then took a taxi home because we absolutely had to pick up our laundry from the lavenderia before it closed (at 8pm) because we were all out of underwear, minus 1! 

And here we are... watching the girls smash the piñata with their fellow classmate on Friday during the school break. When in Mexico! 

Last week, we went on a little walking field trip with the director of our Spanish school and some fellow students. We went to a Piñata workshop. I love all the Piñatas that are hanging up around town, they are so beautiful! The workshop was really neat and we hope to go back and make piñatas ourselves. The contrast between the grey workshop and the bright piñatas was striking! The director of the school bought each of the kids a little dog piñata. They all thought that was pretty awesome! Maeve wanted to walk her dog and love on it like crazy. My girls were so excited about this excursion! Another mom bought a big piñata for the kids to smash the following day at school. I'm so glad Greta will celebrate her birthday here! I can't wait to buy a piñata! 

Sorry, not sorry for the insane number of photos!

In the Center of Oaxaca is Santo Domingo. I've seen some old churches in my day. When Conor and I went to France, we saw many, including Notre Dame. I've seen some in Ecuador, for example the Basilica in Quito (photos here and here, my children look so young!). However, I don't think I've seen a cathedral quite as splendid, adorned, and intricate as Santo Domingo. It took over 200 years to build it, and construction began in the 16th century. In the 90's it was restored. It's interior includes the use of more than 60,000 sheets of 23.5 karat gold leafing. It was mesmerizing. The ceilings and all the walls were so detailed and shiny! Even the smallest among us appreciated the magnitude of this cathedral. 

After we visited the Centro Cultural San Pablo (last week), we went next door to view the Textile Museum. I really, really love fabric. And I especially love the textiles of Latin America. I was wowed by them in Ecuador and I feel the same sense of awe here. I'm looking forward to going to a weaving place of some sort. I have a couple leads. I have a strong appreciation for the work that goes into the pieces that are made by hand. It's not uncommon to see someone embroidering while sitting in their little booth shop with other embroidered items for sale. So seeing this museum and seeing the indigo displays and the big weaving loom for children was really inspiring. A friend had said that maybe this museum would be boring for children, but I've instilled a love of fabric in textiles in my children and so they were thrilled to look at the different pieces. Holly has a very distinct idea of what she would like to buy while here.