Oaxaca (day 4)

The day started out with blazing sun and finished with an evening downpour of rain. Fortunately I timed my activities to mitigate the two extremes. First thing in the morning I took a tour of the botanical gardens, which were once part of the monastery and Iglesia de Santo Domingo. I most enjoyed learning about the medicinal plants; it"s funny how sometimes the plants that most resemble weeds are the most versatile in function. Then, with a small map of the museums and main attractions of Oaxaca city in hand, I started to go down the list one by one. My two favorites were the Casa de las Pintores, home to paintings by Oaxacan contemporary artists, and the Casa Juarez, the house where former Mexican president Benito Juarez grew up. He is remembered as the first Mexican president to come from an indigenous upbringing, and for having along advocated separation of church and state. Then in the late afternoon I inadvertantly stepped inside one of the public libraries. With my chocolate investigation constantly at the back of my mind, I inquired about any books about Oaxacan gastronomy and, well, you can probably guess how I spent the rest of the afternoon. I stepped out of the library just as it was starting to rain.