I’ve completely fallen in love with Mexico! I’m currently in Oaxaca, another of this countries charming cities. As soon as I arrived I knew it would be the perfect spot to take a vacation from travelling for a short while.
Oaxaca’s a rather touristy city, but in a good way. It has the conveniences that I was craving including an English language bookstore, lots of entertainment and the Zócalo is packed with locals as well as tourists and is surrounded by wonderful (vegetarian friendly!) restaurants with menus in both Spanish and English along with some of the best coffee and chocolate I’ve ever tasted. It’s fairly high elevation (5085 ft. or 1550 m.) also makes the weather moderate but nicely warm.
For the adventurous there’s plenty of unique local dishes that may either make your mouth water (Mole is everywhere here) or cringe a bit (chapulines, or roasted grasshoppers are a local delicacy). For the vegetarians it’s heaven! Not only do many restaurants have lots of veg*n dishes to choose from, the local fruits are amazing and super cheap in the main market!
Nearby Oaxaca there are many interesting things to do as well. I watched weavers in a small town nearby create beautiful rugs the same way their ancestors have for hundreds of years, visited the ruins of Mitla, seen the world’s largest tree, Arbol del Tule in Santa Maria del Tule, which may also be the oldest living thing on the planet and took in the view of the mineral falls (Hierve el Agua). There are also a bunch of great museums and art galleries, a wonderful way to spend a few afternoons.
I’ve very much enjoyed my time here, I finally feel rested, relaxed and ready to take on a new adventure!
Photos From Oaxaca, Mexico
A Vagabond Bus
=D I couldn’t resist putting a shot of this in this gallery!
Arbol del Tule in Santa Maria del Tule
Here’s a photo of the trunk of this massive tree that the locals claim may be the world’s largest and perhaps even the world’s oldest living thing. It’s guessed at 2000 years old, weighing in at almost 550 tons, and a diameter of 42 meters!
Chapulines – Fried Grasshoppers
Roasted grasshoppers are a delicacy here. A travelling friend tried one and said they tasted salty but pretty good. The local legend is that if you eat some you’ll travel to Oaxaca again, if you skip this, you’ll never be back.
Colourful Crafts Found in Oaxaca City Market
A selection of colourful crafts found in the square.
Brightly Coloured Wool Ready for Weaving
I got to watch and learn about how the wool is tinted with all natural colours and spun the way their ancestors have for centuries.
Spinning Wheel
This photo shows the spinning wheel used to create the yarn and baskets and bowls filled with the natural dyes.
Hand Woven Rugs
Some examples of the beautiful craftspersonship in the area, these rugs are made by hand from start to finish!
Mineral Falls
That isn’t a waterfall, in fact it’s quite dry. It’s named Hierve el Agua which means ‘the waterboils’. The area is so packed with minerals that water pushing up creates this amazing natural wonder.
Landscape shot of Hierve el Agua
Here’s a wide angle photo of the mineral falls showing the surrounding mountains.
Mitla Details
I couldn’t get over the carvings in Mitla, each block was different but extremely precise with it’s geometric paterns.
The Zapotec Ruins of Mitla
The name Mitla comes from the Nahuatl word Mictlán, which means Place of the Dead, it’s Zapotec name is Lyobaa, which means Place of Rest.
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Many cool pictures, but the one of the one of the Tree leaves me a little awestruck. (Is that a word?) That you were that close to something that was alive 2000 years ago.
Boggles the mind a bit.
P.S. If I ever make it to Oaxaca, I might skip the Roasted Grasshoppers :)
It boggled my mind a bit to. I wandered off alone for a bit thinking what the world was like when that tree was a sapling, what it could tell us if we could hear it talk.
Oaxaca has been on my short list for a while, but it definitely just moved up. I always assumed that begin veg*n would be nearly impossible in Mexico, but it sounds like it’s quite the opposite. Awesome pictures.
It’s a challenge at times, but you’ll quickly find what you can and can’t eat in Mexico. Some areas are definitely easier than others but it’s doable anywhere and is quite easy if you don’t mind making your own meals.
Just be sure to pack a snack in your daybag for those odd times that there’s not a vegetable in sight. If you don’t mind making meals yourself it’s a snap, I’ve rarely tasted fruit and veggies this good.
I’ve become totally addicted to the way some of the street vendors serve up the fresh mango… sliced, sprinkled with lime juice and spiced with ground, dried chilies. The combo of sweet, tangy and heat is pure heaven!
I’m so glad to find your blog! My husband and I are planning a trip to Oaxaca in November and I’ve been wondering if I should start eating cheese in October or preparation. I hope I can find these vegan-friendly restaurants so I don’t have to worry about it. My guy is lucky… he’ll eat anything. I’m the high-maintenance eater of the family. :)
Hi, Catia. I’m also a fan of Oaxaca. As you said, it’s a “touristy city, but in a good way.” I agree! How about that hot cocoa? Yum. And the people are pretty friendly, too. I got to know a family that owned one of the hot cocoa places called Mayordomo, not too far from the Zócalo. I actually visited there two years in a row, sort of because of my connection to them. Fun!
Have you been to San Cristóbal in Chiapas? I loved it there, too, and highly recommend it!