Meng's Travels: Oaxaca

In the morning we took taxis to the bus station at Puebla, where we took a public bus to Oaxaca (pronounced wa-ha-ka). It was a 4-5 hour trip on a comfortable motor coach. Unlike buses in most countries, the buses don't stop at rest stops or truck stops. I think it's because of security reasons. There are toilets on the bus but you don't get the opportunity to get off the bus to stretch or to buy some snacks.

We arrived at Oaxaca in the middle of the afternoon, took taxis to our hotel, then immediately walked a few blocks to the market. Like any markets in many places that I've been to, this market sells almost everything - meat, produce, food, souvenirs, jewelry, etc. It's an interesting mix. Around the market there are many more stands that also sell a variety of things. This is the heart of the people in Oaxaca. It's where they do most of their shopping, instead of in a big supermarket like in most developed countries.

Mercado de Oaxaca

A happy butcher

Different types of moles' available at the spice shop

Our guide arranged for us to visit a chocolate making store, where they demonstrated how chocolate are made. Not many people know that chocolate was first grown in Mexico. It was introduced to Europeans by returning Spanish missionaries in the 17th century. The cacao trees are not grown in this region because it's too cold for it to survive. They come from tropical parts of Mexico. Nevertheless, chocolate has been consumed in this region for several centuries. You find it in some of the native food and many stores sell chocolate-related products.

Chocolate-making machines

We also went to a mezcal store where we got to sample different types of mezcal. Mezcal is made from the agave plant. The heart of the agave plant is cooked, crushed, fermented, then distilled into alcohol. It is similar to tequila, except that tequila is made from the blue agave plant and produced in the state of Jalisco. Mezcal is produced mostly in the state of Oaxaca. There are many retail stores in the city of Oaxaca selling mezcal. We were given samples of at least 20 varieties, some of them the cream types of different flavors.

Sampling mezcal

Varieties of mezcal

In the evening we walked around the Plaza de la Constitucion, the central square where the local population gather to be entertained, shop or just stroll around. It is a lively area. It's nice to see people coming out to meet others and participate in community activities rather than staying indoors to watch TV.

The next morning we were to driven to Monte_Albán, a large archaeological site dating back to 500 BC.

Monte Alban site

One of the pyramids

Stone Carving

Steps up a burial site

In the afternoon we toured a mezcal distillery and a weaver's shop just outside of town. We also visited the village of Tule where we saw one of the biggest tree (cypress) in the world.