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Day 6: Saturday 5th July: To Mitla on a Chicken Bus
Arrive in Oaxaca (Pronounced Wahaka) at 6am after a six and a half hour bus ride. Don't get much sleep as it was unbelievably cold on the bus even though I had a micro fleece on - guess its the sleeping bag next time! Hang around in bus station for an hour or so until it gets light.
Oaxaca was the Zapotec heartland over 3000 years ago, so decide to check out the Zapotec ruins at Mitla, which is an hour away by bus. Its a second class bus (or Chicken bus) I get on which is a world away from the first class buses I have used so far. I find Mitla rather disappoining but have an entertaining ride back on the bus, where the driver thinks he's Michael Schumacher!
The hostel I'm staying at has a good feel to it, and there's a good crowd. After a few beers in the evening we head to a local club. Its certainly a cheaper night out than back in the UK, beers are only 25 pesos (1 pound 25 pence). Unfortunately hit the wall after a while.....the
lack of sleep on the overnight bus catches up with me.
Day 7: Sunday 6th July: Looking Down on the Oaxacan Valley from Monte Alban
Take a tour in the morning to Monte Alban which overlooks Oaxaca, being 2000ft above Oaxcaa in the surrounding mountains. Monte Alban was the Zapotec capital betweem 300-700AD and is amazingly well preserved.....probably because the Spanish didn't find it to build a church on top of it! The site and views are amazing, unfortunately manage to catch too much sun.
When we get back to the hostel we realise its Men's Singles Day at Wimbledon and they're still playing in the last set....it must be around 9pm back in London. Hop in a taxi with another guy looking for a sports bar which will have it on, not knowing if we'll get there in time before; a) the match finishes b) it gets too dark at Wimbledon and they have to stop playing. Unfortunately we don't bank on c) that the bar we head to doesn't show it despite assurances from the guy behind the desk in the hostel.
On way back from the bar head to the Zocalo (city square)
and spend an hour or so watching a Mexican clown performing. Although I donĀ“t understand what she's saying it is still quite entertaining.
Day 8: Monday 7th July - Chill out in Oaxaca
Don't intend doing much today, just going to spend it wandering around Oaxaca. which although a city of some 250,000 people retains a small town feel. Walk up a nearby hill in the morning with one of the girls from the hostel to get some amazing views across Oaxaca.
In the afternoon head to the photography museum with another of the girls from the hostel. The photography museum documents the struggles of local striking teachers who clash with riot police and the troubles escalate into protests over the alleged corruption of the state governor. The images are remniscent of Northern Ireland between 1970-1990, and the remarkable thing is that although less than 2 years ago, the city doesn't have any edge to it or even excessive police prescence.
Leave Oaxaca at 9pm to get on a night bus to San Cristobal which will be an 11 hour journey. I'm not looking forward to this, and will be sad to leave Oaxaca behind after
a cracking few days, however most of the group of people in the hostel are leaving today anyway, unfortunately most are heading to Puerto Escondido on the Pacific Coast. Would like to check out Puerto Escondido but I'm not going to have enough time to get to Guatemala for my flight on the 25th if I do, and I don't want to miss the Yucatan and all the Mayan ruins.
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Dan B
non-member comment
Is there a travel guide being written?
How do Chappers. Sounds like the trip is going very well so far. Apologies for missing your leaving do I was in Dundee instead! This is a rather in depth blog, are you being paid for your travel memoirs or something? If not you should be it's great and I for one am very jealous. Hope you enjoy the Yuctan I was there about 6 or 7 years ago, some fantastic sights especially Tulum an old fortress right on the coast and inland from there there is an old Mayan city called Coba, Coba is in the middle of the jungle, and a totally different experience from the other ruins. I think it is largest set of ruins in Mexico. Much better than Chitchen Itza which is full of tourists. Have fun. Dan