Lorenzo de Oaxaca
Gonna be real with y'all since I've been posting beautiful pictures of me on Facebook traveling in Mexico which often can create a highlight reel effect. I started feeling bored after the first day of being here in Oaxaca. I noticed it and I started to panic: "What's wrong with me? Don't people just 'enjoy' vacations? Why can't I?" I tried not to worry too much about it and just stay open minded. Meeting a bunch of travelers from around the world at a language exchange on Thursday was great fun, but what really did it for me was my trip to Monte Alban, an archaeological site west of Oaxaca City where there are pyramid ruins from the Olmec, Zapotecan, & Mixtecan people. Even when I initially arrived, I was still a little bored. Until! Until we walked past a man sitting in the shade of a tree with a backpack and some figurines. I love talking to people, especially in Mexico, so we stopped to talk with him.
Lorenzo is an indigenous man with Zapotecan heritage. He lives in a small village near Oaxaca City. His people used to farm this area and as a kid he remembered wandering around the ruins freely, going in and out of tombs, until the government saw the value in it, took position of it and the indigenous farms (hey, all this indigenous abuse isn't just happening in the US). So now some indigenous folks hang out at Monte Alban sharing artifacts they have dug up while farming or traditional art that they themselves made by hand with traditional methods. Folks like Lorenzo not only want to sell these items, but also they love to educate about their history and these ancient cultures.
Lorenzo started taking us on a tour, teaching us so many things. Showed us a plant called yierba del cancer that ancient cultures used medicinally for injuries. Showed us a tree whose sap can be used as glue. Educated us about how when one culture built on the ruins of the other, they would incorporate fragments of stone of the past culture instead of throwing it away. He showed us their drainage system and crossed the cordons with us, saying he can cuz he's indigenous, walking us into a deep Zapotecan tomb. I had SO much fun with Lorenzo. He was so kind and so passionate about his history. If you think of him, his birthday is on February 3rd and he'll be turning 68.
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