We got on the bus at 9 AM and headed south to two towns where we learned about Black pottery (Huixtepec) and wood carving and painting (Ocotlan). The Black pottery is made from a special clay that after formed is burnished with quartz rock and then fired for only 10 hours. It comes out naturally shiny. But it is very porous so you cannot put water in it. They had some beautiful pieces at very reasonable prices. Again, the residents of this town are all skilled in the making of this pottery but we got to see the inventor's son actually form a pot for us.
The second stop was to visit a woodcarver. He carves the wood of a Capal tree into imaginative shapes of animals then artists paint each piece in fantastic colors and designs. From there we went into the central part of Ocotlan where the weekly market was in full swing. People from all the surrounding villages come to town every Friday to trade and sell their wares, produce, crafts and doodads. After lunch our bus then drove back to Oaxaca to the grocery store. Tonight we will try another restaurant recommended by our wagon master.
Oh, yes, we got to see a most beautiful church that was covered in gold leaf. Lots of busts, statues, and paintings. And more gold leaf. We even got to watch them refurbish one area and apply the golf leaf.
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