Hierve del Agua Photos (9)
Monte Alban Photos (12)
Mitla Photos (10)
Oaxaca is a gem of a place. I absolutely fell in love with it, and even fate (or just my perpetually forgetful mind) played a hand in making me stay longer. But more on that later.
Santo Domingo, inside and out
L - More doors; R - Christmas time in the Zocalo
First, we should start in on a minor pronunciation lesson. Ditch whatever gringo pronunciation you had in your head (I crashed and burned the first time too, so no worries). In English phonetics it becomes wah-ha-ca. Good. Now let's continue. So what was so great about Oaxaca? Allow me...
Food
Always a wonderful thing, and even better when it is delicious and there is plenty of variety. The Oaxacan cooking is world renowned, and there are countless ways to enjoy it. Shopping the market for fresh cheeses, vegetables, fruits, meats, and the like, there are endless possibilities to supply your homemade Mexican cooking. Don't feel like going to the trouble? Then check out the huge market dedicated just to typical Oaxacan food, or one of the street food stalls that set up around dusk, or splurge on one of the ritzier restraunts on the pleasant Zócalo square or elsewhere on the charming streets of Oaxaca.
One of the Oaxacan specialities are Chapulines, or grasshoppers, fried and seasoned to a wonderful crispy treat. They are a perfect replacement to nuts when enjoying a beer, and go well with Quesidillas, Tacos, etc. Probably every notion you have of them is wrong, as all of us found out, even if some didn't end up liking them. We did the beer and chapulines thing, and I made some chapuline Quesadillas. Here is the photo documentary.
A little cheese, a few chapulines....
Finished product
mmm, mmm, mmm. Delicious!
Hierve del Agua
Meaning boiling water, this is a natural spring, that while bubbly, is anything but boiling. However, it was warm enough out to take a dip in the pools, which are wonderfully situated on a steep hillside with amazing views of the canyon. A calcified set of rock form the Petrified Falls, and the desert landscape full of cacti adds a nice touch.
Pools of Hierve del Agua
R - Petrified Falls
Amazing views
Ruins
There were some cool ruins in the area, which is saying something after coming from Tikal and Palenque. But Monte Alban above the city has amazing views and cool layout. Mitla has some amazing architectural style, even more impressive when you consider it is one of the least restored sights in Mexico. Here are some photos.
L - Main plaza of Mitla; R - Columns in Mitla
Architectural details in Mitla
Mitla Tomb
Ruins and Cathedral (Mitla)
Monte Alban
View from Monte Alban over Oaxaca
People
Adding to the fun was the group I found in the hostel I stayed in. Whether we were wandering the food markets, the sights around Oaxaca, or just chillin in the hostel courtyard, I had a great time with all of them. The night I was to leave, just five minutes before boarding my bus, I realized I had left my passport in a locker back at the hostel. I had trek back at midnight to the hostel and spend another day and night there, but it was a good time once again. Sometimes forgetting stuff can be a good thing.
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