Oaxaca Love Letter

Oaxaca is designated as one of the most spectacular places in the world to visit and live in. I decided to move to Oaxaca in 2017 after a tumultuous break up with my partner at the time and the fact that I had lived longer in the U.S. than in my own country, Mexico. Oaxaca had always been my first choice; the pleasant memories of visits to this amazing place while an art student, the adventures in chicken buses, the happenings in the main plaza, the indigenous craftspeople selling their intricate handmade creations in the markets, the young artist exhibiting their work in the streets and parks and the wonderful museums found in every corner, were what drove me to return as often as I could to this magnificent place so dear to my heart.

Oaxaca, as I learned while living there for 8 years, is the most biodiverse and ethnically diverse state in Mexico. It encompasses 72% of Mexico's unique flora and fauna, including coastal and marine species. The State of Oaxaca also houses sixteen original tribal groups that maintain their own cultures, traditions, 32 languages, and unique dress. Among those traditions are the making of renowned pottery techniques like black pottery, green-glazed pottery, white pottery, and red pottery. Other traditions include backstrap-woven accessories and gastronomy that date to pre-Columbian times and have evolved into world-renowned techniques prized worldwide.

While hiking in the mountains and across the various valleys that surround the city of Oaxaca, I opened my eyes to welcoming communities that offered their culinary delights to foreign friends, as well as personal visits to their precious lands, homes, and their ancestors’ archeological remains. I quickly made friends with several artisans who offered me their homes for meals or festivities, including rituals that only a local would experience, such as a funeral, a celebration for the Virgin of Guadalupe, receiving the souls for All Souls Day, birthdays, and weddings. Their warmth was beyond my expectations, teaching me to weave, dance, cook, and make candles.

In the city, I became involved with a non-profit that helps high school and university students graduate successfully, and I taught them about Oaxacan art and architecture, and the history of their own people. It was an amazing way to learn from them and, at the same time, share my experiences to create long-lasting friendships. I also got involved with a non-profit library run by US and Canadian expats, which invited me to teach yoga to their members, lecture on subjects related to art and health, and organize outings. It was a wonderful way to meet the expat community and feel their passion for Oaxaca and its people.

I welcome you to imagine living all this with me on our planned trip to Oaxaca this coming June, 2026. We will walk among the locals, learn about them and their environment, form a new community, and see the world in a new light. Come join us!