The Vibrance and Colour of Mexico

Written by Chase Buckner

On a recent trip to Mexico which included travelling through central and southern Mexico, I felt completely blown away by the amount of colors I saw not just in the nature, but in the cities and towns too. Being from Philadelphia, I’ve grown up accustomed to the bland grays and whites of most Philly/NYC buildings. No one would ever paint their house pink or orange, but in Mexico the cities explode with such colour.

The first city that caught my eye was Puebla. It seemed like every other building was either bright red or bright blue.

The streets were bustling with college students but the vivid colors seemed to bring even more life to the city. Some say the more sun a city gets, the happier its people. I’d bet that you would be able to bump up that happiness level even further thanks to the more colorful buildings in Puebla.

In a similar vein, Oaxaca City was equally flourishing with colours, albeit of a more pastel tone. As we strolled the cobblestone streets, these hues evoked feelings of tranquility and peace. It seemed as if buildings emitted a “warmth” to combat the morning chill (because of Oaxaca’s elevation, mornings are actually chilly) and to start your day off on a positive note.

Everything about Mexico radiates warmth. The friendly people enhance their welcoming auras with bright clothes and accessories such as flowers in their hair. During a visit to the home of a local family of weavers in Oaxaca, we learned how they crush a type of dried insect, then add some acid from citrus fruits to create the vivid colors in their clothing and their weavings.

Town after town, city after city, the colors kept coming. They were freeing and fun, and they’re only a short flight away from the US. It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of The States, but Mexican colours can remedy that. It’s hard not to smile when you’re strolling through a painting.