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Published: October 29th 2012
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![Hotel Front Hotel Front](//photos.travelblog.net/136732/752644/t/7235536-hotel-front-0.jpg)
Hotel Front
Hotel Monte AlbanWell we have been here a few days now and it has been fun getting reaquainted with Oaxaca. Staying in the central area right on the Zacola has its ups and downs for sure. It is great watching people from our balcony that faces right onto the square with such a fabulous Church and constant activity but with that comes the noise! If you have never been to a busy city in Mexico hang on to your ear plugs because it is noisy. Right now they are setting up a huge stage for all the many events and concerts that Day of the Dead has and if the set up is any indication of how loud it can be well it is going to be hard to get any rest in the hotel that's for sure. However I am here to see and enjoy all that this major celebration has in store. For those of you who may be unfamiliar with the Day of the Dead it is a celebration of family and connecting with their passed family and loved ones. Many people think it is just like Halloween but it really isn't. True many things from our Halloween are similar
but in fact they are not really that much the same. I guess a better description is a cross between Halloween and Memorial day. They will go to the cemetery and clean the graves of loves ones but they also decorate and celebrate the night there. They see this as an opportunity to reach out to their passed loved ones in a way that is loving, fun and a cause of celebration not of sadness and grief, of course I am not saying they don't miss them or feel sad missing those they loved but instead they embrace the life they lived and remember them with gifts and flowers and small mementos in the altars (offerendas) they make for them leaving things they loved and enjoyed in their lifetime. Every place you pass has some type of altar that they have made some very elaborate and some very simple. I will be taking a lot of pictures of them and will post all after the major celebration on November 1. Today I have already walked about 9 miles and the day is but half over. Yesterday we walked about 8.5 miles so definitely getting some exercise! The markets are so
![This is the hotel courtyard This is the hotel courtyard](/pix/shim.gif)
This is the hotel courtyard
This is where they have the nightly entertainmentinteresting filled with everything you can think of. The food has also been really amazing! We have been eating at the small comedors for the most part as this is usually the cheapest and I have to say usually the best food. Oaxaca is known for their Chocolate Mole and Hot Chocolate so delicious you can't help but eat some more. The streets smell like chocolate because of all the many shops that sell the chocolate for all their dishes. If you ever come to Oaxaca make sure you visit some of the shops as they are always giving away samples. We did have lunch here at our hotel today and had the Comida Corrida which is a set meal with a few choices for a set price and they are the best deal around. Today's was Sopa Azteca (tortilla soup) choice of rice, spaghetti al fredo or potatoes, then your main dish which today was a shredded Chicken with sauce and black beans to finish with a dessert of either Flan or Gelatinas with a creamy Baileys like liqueur and a beer all for 55 Pesos which is about 4.50 Us so quite a deal and a main meal
for me. Many places do them but we saw many locals eating here and now we know why. They also do a Traditional dance evening here from 8:30 to 10 or so all in traditional clothing and music just beautiful. Anyway's, so much to come and I plan on sharing as much as I can so get ready because I think there is going to be some fun stuff in store.
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