Oaxaca Exploration
December 22, 2009

Governor's courtyard
Church
Tacos at night
Governor's Courtyard 2
Wedding
Dancer

Today we played tourists and explored the central area of Oaxaca. What a great day. First a taxi ride to the Central Zocalo (the central park of the city) after dropping off the laundry at the lavenderia. The Zocala was all decorated out for Christmas with poinsettias everywhere. They were also getting ready for the Night of the Radish which will be tomorrow and we will go down there for that.
First was a visit to the main cathedral which always is on one side of the park. A magnificent structure made with the green stone that is common to this area. Then a trip down the street to the artisans Mercado which occupied a block in what was once part of a church I think. Lots of stalls and other things to see.
Today was Tuesday which is market day in Oaxaca so there were lots of stalls on certain streets where the street is closed to traffic and vendors have a real swap meet with everything from arts and crafts to meat, fish, fruits and vegetables. All lining the sidewalk and spilling into the street. So we walked down one street of those and back to the Zocalo to have something to eat at one of the outdoor restaurants. A local dish made of a giant tortilla with meat, mole, tomatoes and other stuff served open faced. Really a great lunch.
Then it was onto the former Governor’s Palace which is now a museum for the state to show off its history and the products that are made there and the peoples that inhabit it. These palaces were huge two story affairs with lots of arches and courtyards in the center of the building with the government offices housed here. Again this was also a structure located on one side of the Zocalo. Really incredible architecture to these buildings and the murals in them were impressive also.
Then it was time to go over to the Ex Dominican Convent ( I think the Convent of Santa Catalina). We arrived just as a wedding was coming out of the church just as we got there and they had costumed dancers, a mariachi band and large costumed people on stilts to greet the wedding party. They even had girls giving out mescal to the people outside the church to toast the wedding party and yes I did wish them the best. Quite an affair with the bride, groom, and all of the families gathered outside the front of the church in the plaza.
We then went into the former convent which is now a museum but I will do a separate blog on that alone.
After visiting the convent which I must say was huge and spectacular we had an iced café frappachino at an Italian coffee shop on the plaza. Then a walk down the street to visit another street fair where Bev could not resist some extra things that we will need to find room for in the RV.
Then a taxi ride home. I did not want to take little TT out today not knowing the traffic and where we were going. Good thing as the streets are all cobblestone here and that would have made it difficult to drive. Then it was tacos at the street market just next to the RV park. Great tacos at a great price too. Five tacos and all of the extra stuff for about $3.50. Then pick up the laundry and come back to the RV and put everything away. Next I will try to go to the coffee shop next to the Sorriana Store (al large supermarket) and try to get these emails out.
Tomorrow we will visit the ruins here and then go to the festival at night.