Weavers struggle with drop in tourism

Last year's Oaxaca teachers' strike diminished tourism in the southern state - not just in the capital, but also in the numerous artisan pueblos of the Central Valley. I visited Oaxaca in late January and spent some time in Teotitlan del Valle, a Zapotec Indian community, where most of the population weaves rugs. Tourism boosted fortunes in Teotitlan over the past 20 years, but with no tourists last year, an estimated 25 percent of the population left for the United States.

Here's what ran in today's Miami Herald, Mexico Edition: http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/miami/23781.html

Update: Teotitlan weaver Luis Lazo Mendoza launched a website: http://www.luislazomendoza.com/ his work is impressive - especially the attention to detail.