Colors of Oaxaca: The Last Photos from Mexico

As a grand finale, may I present a selection of rainbow-bright scenes from the streets of Oaxaca? Let's start with the graffiti, which was outrageously creative:

This one had the title "Luchadora Langstrump" (Pippi Longstocking as a wrestler). 

Now let's have a quick tour of painted walls and security grilles:

And for the very last images from the trip, how about a few of the most colorful inhabitants?

These girls were gathered in the Zocalo posing for family photographs on the Sunday before Christmas. The bright ribbons woven through their braids with enormous bows at each end were just so adorable I could hardly stand it.

I did ask permission to take photos, and one bright side about having grown up into a plump, cheerful, middle-aged mom is that I'm utterly non-threatening and nobody much minds if I smile at their children.

And the children usually smile back!

Even the busy chef at a well-known local restaurant didn't mind. For my very last travel tip: this was at La Casa de la Abuela, which serves really really good classic local dishes and overlooks the Zocalo. Next time you're in town, you have to stop by and try the stuffed squash flowers.

So that's the end of our visit to Oaxaca. Next post - back to Maine for snowstorms and window frost!