Jose Maria Morelos was a Mexican priest and rebel leader that fought in the Mexican War of Independence.
Does your street name or the street names around your school have a special meaning or tell a historical story? Pay attention the next time you're on a walk to see if there are any special stories related to the street names where you live. Simply walking around a new place and paying attention to the street names can teach you a lot about the history that's important to the people who live there.
At special times of year, the streets around el centro or downtown are decorated with papel picado. These are banners made of thin, colorful tissue paper that has been cut into delicate designs. For the extravagent celebrations that take place in Oaxaca city throughout December and January, many streets are decorated with papel picado. You might also see a lifesize display of a nativity scene made out of paper maché or small lanterns made of paper with elaborate designs hanging in front of everyone's doorways. Walking the streets at this time of year is a colorful experience!
Walking around el centro is always interesting because there are buildings and churches that might not be as big as the central cathedral but are just as beautiful. Every couple of blocks you might find a nice little park with large agave plants or a fountain where families hang around in the morning or the early afternoon. It's also common for many homes and businesses to have a simple exterior that hides a beautiful courtyard. If you walk around often enough, you might catch a sneak peak of the courtyards behind the main doors of someone's house.
