Dave Renfroe
Well-Known Member
#Oaxaca #Mexico
Oaxaca city, about 400km south of Mexico City is a Mexican gem.
It's colorful and lively streets offer great cultural experiences, amazingly different food and happy friendly locals.
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But ......... There is much more to see Just Outside.
Oaxaca city sits at the convergence of 3 large valleys. Sprinkled throughout those valleys are wonderful villages with everything from artisans, markets, and more good food.
The grasslands cover the hills along with scattered pines that increase in density as you go up in elevation. Transportation is easy with local buses or inexpensive taxis.
The ruins at Monte Alban sit on top of ridge overlooking the three valleys and the city.
On the next ridge over from Monte Alban is a relatively recent discovery and reconstruction just outside the town of Atzompa. In the town we found an interesting garden restaurant that only served pit-cooked "Barbacoa" (mutton) on weekends (along with beer and shots of flavored mezcal). This was a pleasant example of the hospitality found in the surrounding villages. (That's my wife and son enjoying the meal.)
This is Teotitlan del Valle where most of the woven rugs are made. Notice the ancient ruins mixed with the Spanish church.
We saw demonstrations of the natural dying and weaving of these beautiful rugs (we now have many in our home, including the one below).
Santa María del Tule attracts many tourist because of the "Tule Tree". This tree is apparently one of the largest in circumference in the world.
There are many really good restaurants in these towns including Restaurante El Milenario, in Tule where you can get the best chili rellenos!
Hierve de Aqua is a strange overflowing calcium-water pond.
A demonstration of plant dyes, spinning and back-strap weaving with rare brown cotton :
A mezcal distillery (with tasting services) out near Mitla.
A market day in Tlacolula:
The ruins at Mitla and Yagul:
We did several guided hikes with the "Oaxaca Lending Library" out to the rural and wilderness areas, often making one-way trips between villages.
It was great to have this opportunity for getting out into the forests and rural areas (and getting a ride). Here are a few shots from those trips:
A trip into the "Sierra Norte" is a step back in time.
It is a large area high in the mountains where the native villages have got together and created a unique tourist experience. There is a large network of vehicle-free trails and small roads that connect the villages. You can hire a guide and hike or bike between villages, staying in cabins. You can either go from the organization's office in Oaxaca city or take buses or taxis up into the mountains. The first photo here is at 3,200m (about 10,000ft) elevation. You can see the roofs of the cabins.
More information on the Sierra Norte experience is here: https://www.sierranorte.org.mx/#/
___________________________________________________________________
Want to see and learn more?
Please have a look at my Oaxaca web-album for lots more photos with labels and locations.
https://wrenbin.ca/mexico/Oaxaca/
Thanks for watching and please feel free to ask questions and give comments.
Oaxaca city, about 400km south of Mexico City is a Mexican gem.
It's colorful and lively streets offer great cultural experiences, amazingly different food and happy friendly locals.
___________________________________________________________________
But ......... There is much more to see Just Outside.
Oaxaca city sits at the convergence of 3 large valleys. Sprinkled throughout those valleys are wonderful villages with everything from artisans, markets, and more good food.
The grasslands cover the hills along with scattered pines that increase in density as you go up in elevation. Transportation is easy with local buses or inexpensive taxis.
The ruins at Monte Alban sit on top of ridge overlooking the three valleys and the city.
On the next ridge over from Monte Alban is a relatively recent discovery and reconstruction just outside the town of Atzompa. In the town we found an interesting garden restaurant that only served pit-cooked "Barbacoa" (mutton) on weekends (along with beer and shots of flavored mezcal). This was a pleasant example of the hospitality found in the surrounding villages. (That's my wife and son enjoying the meal.)
This is Teotitlan del Valle where most of the woven rugs are made. Notice the ancient ruins mixed with the Spanish church.
We saw demonstrations of the natural dying and weaving of these beautiful rugs (we now have many in our home, including the one below).
Santa María del Tule attracts many tourist because of the "Tule Tree". This tree is apparently one of the largest in circumference in the world.
There are many really good restaurants in these towns including Restaurante El Milenario, in Tule where you can get the best chili rellenos!
Hierve de Aqua is a strange overflowing calcium-water pond.
A demonstration of plant dyes, spinning and back-strap weaving with rare brown cotton :
A mezcal distillery (with tasting services) out near Mitla.
A market day in Tlacolula:
The ruins at Mitla and Yagul:
We did several guided hikes with the "Oaxaca Lending Library" out to the rural and wilderness areas, often making one-way trips between villages.
It was great to have this opportunity for getting out into the forests and rural areas (and getting a ride). Here are a few shots from those trips:
A trip into the "Sierra Norte" is a step back in time.
It is a large area high in the mountains where the native villages have got together and created a unique tourist experience. There is a large network of vehicle-free trails and small roads that connect the villages. You can hire a guide and hike or bike between villages, staying in cabins. You can either go from the organization's office in Oaxaca city or take buses or taxis up into the mountains. The first photo here is at 3,200m (about 10,000ft) elevation. You can see the roofs of the cabins.
More information on the Sierra Norte experience is here: https://www.sierranorte.org.mx/#/
___________________________________________________________________
Want to see and learn more?
Please have a look at my Oaxaca web-album for lots more photos with labels and locations.
https://wrenbin.ca/mexico/Oaxaca/
Thanks for watching and please feel free to ask questions and give comments.
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