I am, at long last, back in home sweet home Oaxaca. The weather is warm, the garden looks great, and the building at the end of the block that has looked to be on the verge of collapse since I first laid eyes on it thirteen years ago, has had a new paint job — announcing in a very creative way that, despite its dilapidated condition, it is not for sale.
And, don’t just take my word for its neglected and decrepit condition. There is a precaution notice from the city of Oaxaca warning passersby that the building is in a bad state.
All one has to do is peek through one of the broken windows to see there isn’t much there, there.
Located at the corner of Crespo and Matamoros, it is one of the more than five and a half thousand historic structures in the state of Oaxaca listed by the Instituto Nacional de Antropología y Historia (National Institute of Anthropology and History).
There is currently a building boom going on in the city, especially of upscale hotels, to meet the snowballing tourist demand. I suspect that restrictions and costs related to remodeling these cataloged buildings is why the much-needed renovation to this one hasn’t happened.
However, the owner of this building, whoever she or he may be, has let it be known, in a variety of designs, fonts, colors, and in no uncertain terms, that it is NOT FOR SALE!
The artwork covering the building is quite an improvement. However, I can’t help thinking of one of my grandmother’s sayings, “You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.”
Mexican Peso Converter
View From Casita Colibrí 
Bienvenidos! There has definitely been a void around here. Dean
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Thanks, Dean!
Great article but for the right price it will sell. I have a friend visiting Oaxaca you should meet she is a Japan Expert
Thanks, Hope! It was so great to finally meet you. 🙂 Have your friend contact me.
Interesting how quickly that happened! I just walked by on Wed. morning and it was as normal – I’m sure I would have noticed that paint job!
Rumor has it that it was done one night. What a work of art!!!
I must have been too busy looking down at the sidewalk….David said he noticed that a couple of weeks ago!
¡Jajaja!
Glad to hear you are back home. That was a long trip to El Norte. Welcome home.
We have heard that the teachers are back…is that true?
Love the paint job…guess the owner got tired of answering the question! Very creative
A long trip, it was and it’s good to be back. The only people filling the zócalo are tourists, winter regulars, and the usual ambulantes.
And my grandmother used to say, “You can put lipstick on a pig but you will still only have a pig.” Still, cosmetics count. Welcome home and thanks for another visually engaging photo essay.
The cosmetics cause me to chuckle every time I walk by. 🙂
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Nice! Thanks for sharing.