http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Oaxaca/Oaxaca/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from North America , Mexico , Oaxaca , Oaxaca en-us Mon, 07 Dec 09 04:34:55 +0000 Mon, 07 Dec 09 04:34:55 +0000 Dann werd ich meine 3h Aufenthalt in Chetumal mal sinnvoll nutzen und euch von meiner Reise berichten. Ich warte gerade auf meinen Bus nach Flores Guatemala d.h. mein MexikoTrip ist zu Ende . Mexiko ist ein wunderschoenes Land mit sehr offenen Menschen. Die Landschaft ist unglaublich und sehr verschieden in den einzelnen Staaten aber davon mehr in den BIldern... Ich werde Mexiko in sehr guter http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Oaxaca/Oaxaca/blog-457391.html HolaWe have landed in the land of Tequlia and Tacos. We have forgotten how hard it is not to speak the language however we are managing to get by with what we have learnt and with some sign language and pointing. Leanne even managed to purchase a memory card for her camera with the locals.First day in Mexico City was a public holiday they were celebrating the revolution hence there wasnt much o http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Oaxaca/Oaxaca/blog-454694.html Mexico's First Class Bus Service can help you discover the hidden places of Mexico on your next visit if you donrsquot listen to all those outdated clichs about chicken buses and the like. The first class buses in Mexico are perhaps the best in the world Brand new Volvos and Mercedez with comfortable seats seatbelts lavatory TV AC bring a sweater tV Movies bring earplugs for the b http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Oaxaca/Oaxaca/blog-440909.html A map of where i've been that ill update as often as i can. I'll try to tag some photos too but im too tired to work that out now... http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Oaxaca/Oaxaca/blog-431750.html We had a long drive from Xalapa stopping for dinner in Tuxtepec. We made it through the mountains to Oaxaca city after midnight. I'm sick and feeling tired and grouchy.Our stay in Oaxaca City was brief. We woke up had breakfast the hostel served enfrijoladas and went to see the main plaza downtown. There were a some people selling clothes and crafts laid out around the square but it was http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Oaxaca/Oaxaca/blog-423175.html Ok this makes up for the piddly little space I left myself to explain two of the particular wonders of Oaxaca...Mitla was indeed another beautiful site opposite another very religious symbol a colonial church no division there with some exciting tombs underneath that I surprised myself by scrabbling around in. It was dark and damp but exciting and you could clearly see the three main bur http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Oaxaca/Oaxaca/Monte-Albon/blog-420806.html Is been an interesting few days in Oaxaca pronounced owacka.Firstly the noise the Guelaguetza has been getting into full flow and this mostly means from our hostel where we have been getting in pretty knackered by about 9pm each night to sleep at 10pm we start to hear the fireworks going off from about 10.05. When i say fireworks I039m talking serious explosions here that sound as th http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Oaxaca/Oaxaca/Monte-Albon/blog-420771.html An old friend has asked me via facebook having read my blogs exactly what Im doing here. Not a clue is my answer aside from seeing as much as possible before I die which is what I recommend everyone does frankly. I know shell agree.After Angel at BandB Mexico was so down on Bamba Pfft All high all the time Left a couple here for three days before taking them to the bus station Rubbish http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Oaxaca/Oaxaca/blog-419841.html Early morning arrivalWe arrived at 6am into Oaxaca on the overnight bus from San Cristobal de Las Casas. We were tired and dirty and after catching a cab to the hostel that we booked for the next evening we found it closed up behind large iron gates. Even though it says 24 hour reception we didn't want to wake the manager and get charged for an extra evening as part of our stay. Fortunately the http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Oaxaca/Oaxaca/blog-415563.html Oh Oaxaca There are no words. i'm going to have to leave it that way http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Oaxaca/Oaxaca/blog-415027.html So it was with a heavy heart that we spent our last day saying good bye to Mexico City. We all really loved it. There's so much to do there we were tempted to extend our stay some more but you could spend 6 months there and still have loads to do. Our last day was spent having a lazy morning much needed after pyramid climbing and then heading to the Mercado. This is the largest covered http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Oaxaca/Oaxaca/blog-413126.html 1509 A church and stormy day in Oaxaca Actually had a half decent nights sleep only ruined by the bitten body I woke up to...my body that is Been really lucky in Mexico so far not even seen any mosquitoes but they got me good and proper last nighthelliparms...legs... back...everywhere Curse my tasty blood Skipped out for the tasty eggs and toast breakfast had seen advertised only to http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Oaxaca/Oaxaca/blog-412174.html 30409 V.scary arrival in OaxacaAnother bad sleep. Still awake when a guy came in just before midnight and then kept awake when same guy fell asleep instantly and snored for rest of night. Donrsquot need to reiterate how I feel about snorers Did the halfsleep thing until 8am then got up packed up had breakfast and headed out just after 930 to visit Zona Archeological Cholula a churc http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Oaxaca/Oaxaca/blog-412170.html We toured around a bit outside the city today. First stop was the ruins of the Zapotepec capital at Monte Alban. It was occupied between approximately 500 BC to 700 AD. It is located on a hilltop that affords excellent views overlooking the three valleys that connect to form Oaxaca City. The ruins reminded me very much of the Mayan ruins at Copan Honduras because of the layout of the city and the http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Oaxaca/Oaxaca/Monte-Albon/blog-409070.html Day ThreeWe are just taking it easy today after all the driving and checking out the historic center of Oaxaca which centers around the Zocolo the main plaza. We are fortunate because today happens to be the 3rd anniversary of major protests here in favor of better pay for teachers. The protesters occupied the Zocolo for months hoping to force the governor of Oaxaca State to resign. They neither http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Oaxaca/Oaxaca/blog-408733.html Day TwoToday was every bit as grueling as I thought the first day would be. We started out at 630AM but it took till around 11 for us to travel the first 100 miles of the 500 mile total.We spent the vast majority of that time crossing the border into Mexico at Ciudad Tecun Uman. As you travel north along the Pacific Coast on CA2 in Guatemala and approach the border there is a fork in the roadm http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Oaxaca/Oaxaca/blog-408436.html We took a day trip with a private guide on our last day in Oaxaca. He took us to the Friday market at Ocatlan. This market was fairly overwhelming. With the guide along we never really felt like it was OK to stop and buy something or to explore. It kept feeling like we were rushing through the market to get somewhere and then suddenly it was over. We had seen the market but we hadn't http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Oaxaca/Oaxaca/blog-399492.html The days that we spent in Oaxaca were for the most part very leisurely. This beautiful colonial town is perfect for long strolls with its Spanish colonial architecture broad plazas ancient churches and delectable food. It feels that there is an equal part traveller or Spanish student for every native Mexican here. As many people are here studying in language schools it is easy to find pe http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Oaxaca/Oaxaca/Monte-Albon/blog-399489.html We spent four fantastic days in Oaxaca and it is known for its food. so this entry will be all about the foodFriday March 6Los DanzantesModern restaurant with open sky atmosphere great service very popular.duck tacos with slices of avocado and a smoky salsahoja de hierba santa relleno con queso de ldquogoatrdquo in a sweet sauceblack bean soup with Chiapas cheese masa dumpings and onio http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Oaxaca/Oaxaca/blog-399472.html pop. 268000 elevation 1550mSierra Madre del SurComida food Mole tradicional meat dishes covered with a sauce made out of a manifold of different spices and chocolate a local specialty Chapulines grashoppers yum Tacos dorados con pollo y guacomole Fried chicken tacos and guacamole Enchiladas de pollo con mojo verde Chicken Enchiladas w green salsa Mezcal distilled fr http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Oaxaca/Oaxaca/blog-386881.html