Oaxaca City (wa-ha-ca City)

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Oaxaca City. I was DONE with Mexcio City. I admit to feeling isolated and I just don´t really enjoy looking at museums, galleries and the urban sprawl totally got to me. My original plan was to head from MC north to the cultural cities of SanMiguelDeAllende and then the silver mines at Zacatas which was 7hrs bus ride but...well...I felt I should go there. And I now banish ´shoulds´! So, (since I have a lot of spare time) if my thoughts were to be condensed into a city it would be....Phuket! So, I´m heading to the BEACH (via Oaxaca City)!! Yeeha! With this thought my rather gloomy mood was lightened, it´s my darn trip.

Thankfully my bodyclock is still adjusting so by 7am I was locked, loaded and mentally ready for the Metro! I paid 20c USD and got to the San Lorenz Metro station, bought a ticket on an ADL GL deluxe bus and set off for Oaxaca City 6hrs SW of Mexico City and half way to Puerto Escondido where the surf is hot and the bars are cool! Felt very proud of myself for organising the whole mission and not just hopping into a taxi. I was thinking how I could best desribe the bus trip....blissful!! It was half full and the seats were soooo comfy and went horizontal! It was incredible to see the diverse landscape on my journey: from city, outer-city ghettos, farmland then gave way to grassy open plains, then mountainous rocky terrain opening back out onto plains again but with a richer red soil and cacti.

Oaxaca City couldn´t contrast more with MC. It is a beautifully colourful city of 450,000 people of Zapotec origin, all the buildings are rarely larger than two stories and the facades are splashed with bright primary colours which gives the whole place a real cheerful, friendly atmosphere. I took up a position on a balcony table overlooking the main square (Zocalo) which had a massive festival in full swing, purely by coincidence it was a chocolate resturant and I had THE best hot chocolate I have EVER had, thick pure chocolate with a hint of almond and cinnamon....ahhhhh!!

I next met with my mission objectives of the Mexico adventure which was to dive into the Hostel scene and dorm rooms, as you all know, it´s not my ideal choice. I picked Hostel Pochon as it had a big common area and seemed friendly...and friendly it was! I checked in and just started random conversations with anyone, poor people! 😉 I met two lovely English ladies from Dulwich so we popped out for a few cocktails and had a great time! Thanks Hayley and Alexa!

Monday I spent the whole day on a guided tour to Mitla, which were...um...ruins, they were very ruin like, with a series of small walls (aren´t they all!) and a big mineral lake much like inifinity pools....oh and history, LOTS of history. Hm. However, though the tour was informative I had the pleasure of spending a lot of time with a REAL Mexican chavo my age called Fernando and found out all his opinons on his country, history and future and that was way more satisfying than looking at petrified waterfalls. Mezcal drinking was the perfect end!!

Hurray: To making small steps to big changes, my silk sleeping sack
Argh: ...to being a light sleeper
Thought of the Day: Don´t think, just do. Inaction is the enemy!

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Photos

London Ladies!
Alexa and Hayley

Widest Tree
Cyprus tree, sucks up 5000 litres of water a day

Comments

[Kate]

Yay!
Wow Lord S. Things sounds lovely so far. Am so excited for your adventures and that you have found a city that fits your mood of the moment. Please keep us updated! ...and don't forget ear plugs...they'll become a good friend. You can probably get some at a pharmacy!

[Mum]

Let the good times continue!
So far so good! Thinking of when I suggested we sold up, bought a big van and all just took off to experience life's rich adventure! Your reply was, 'don't be daft Mum, gotta do my G.C.S.E.s and get a job'. Hmmm.. But hey, still can do it, only now it will be posh van! x Mum