Wood Artist

Oaxaca is an area where cacao has been grown for making chocolate long before the Spaniards came. Each region has its own special method for preparing chocolate drinks, which might include milk, water, rice, cinnamon, or other ingredients. Tonight we attended a "Tasting of Chocolate", and annual event for showcasing the different styles. The drinks are served in jícara bowls (we would know these as gourds).
A molinillo is a wooden tool that is used to froth the chocolate in some of the drinks, and a skilled artist was demonstrating how these are handmade on a wood lathe. I have bought these works of art for 25-35 pesos, which is about $2.25. The frothing is done by spinning the molinillo between your hands.

On the way home (about 10 blocks) we watched a wedding procession in the street led by a brass band, dancing monos of a bride and groom, twirling folkloric dancers, and a guy lighting fireworks.

We got home and settled into our chairs on the porch, and on the plaza in the next block some program was concluding, so a band was playing and spectacular colored fireworks lit the sky.

What a night! And we didn't spend a peso.