Alejandro de Ávila Blomberg, the founding director of Jardín Etnobotánico in Oaxaca City, and I were strolling there not too long ago. I had a question: how do you account for the incredibly rich biodiversity in the area? He said, "It's all in the soil." The diversity of cultures and customs, including those related to food, architecture, and design, is directly correlated with the diversity of biology and geology. For these reasons, Oaxaca is one of Mexico's most inspirational states and one that is becoming more and more popular with travelers, reported Financial Times.
Although I currently reside in Mexico City, where I was born, I have always made trips to Oaxaca. I have two reasons for loving it so much: the clear light and the blue skies. Oaxaca City's architecture narrates both historical and modern tales. Colonial convents abound in the center historico's streets and squares; frequently, they are located close to hip modern eateries, mezcalerias, and design stores. Modern builders have also employed cantera verde, the distinctive green stone found in many of the city's older structures. I've always found this stone to be fascinating since it acquires a faint, otherworldly green hue after a light downpour.
I keep returning to other locations farther out, such the more private Mitla, with its charming geometrical patterns and little courtyards, and the majestic, imposing Monte Albán, a Zapotec city built above a hill. They have both been affected by Mexico's widespread urbanization, but the insights they provide into Oaxaca's pre-Hispanic past are unaltered. A stroll about the ruins of the more isolated Yagul captures the imagination; I may lose hours trying to imagine what life must have been like at the height of civilization here.
Wonders of nature abound. Some people think that Hierve el Agua, a scene of ponds hanging precariously on cliff sides, has magical healing powers. These naturally occurring travertine rock formations resemble tumbling waterfalls that have been frozen in time; the artificial pools provide a basic link to the area's history./BGNES