Oaxaca - photos

Oaxaca:

From Puerto Escondido we took a colectivo van to Oaxaca. The route used was Highway 115 and we were happy when we arrived because we were not feeling very well...so much turns and turns...

Well in Oaxaca and especially around Oaxaca, there were lots to visit: archeological sites like Monte Alban or Mitla {that we did not go to visit as we went to see Monte}, the Valle Centrales, Valle de Tlacolula, Valle de Etla and Valle de Zimatlan and the Sierra Norte. Due to our schedule, we went only to visit some spots in Valle de Tlacolula and the ''Pueblos Mancomunados'' in the Sierra Norte. These various sites will be described in other posts.

Oaxaca, or Oaxaca de Juarez in honor of the 19th President and national hero Benito Juarez, was founded in 1522 by the Spaniards on the old Aztec settlement of ''Huaxyácac'', area which was primarily occupied by Zapotecs and Mixtecs. Oaxaca has been the theater of the major social action from the teachers in 2006 which resulted in several deaths including teachers and a journalist.

- Well when we arrived in Oaxaca, there were banners everywhere on the main plaza Zocalo and settings in front of the Government Palace. The protesters were asking the liberty for political opponents. We were also witnesses of a pacific protest of teachers who blocked the ring road making for us difficult to go to visit the Tule Tree and Hierve El Agua.
- Our friend from Newcastle, Fernando who is coming from Mexico City, gave us a list of local dishes which could be interesting to try. Here we are...Tlayuda con Tasajo y Quesillo {a tortilla with beef meat and cheese}...a 'delice' and a very nutritious dish. The brown sauce on the tlayuda is called ''mole'',
- The theatre Macedonio Alcala,
- The superb church and former convent Santo Domingo de Guzman. Built between 1555 and 1 666, the inside of the church is all covered by gold leaves like we can see in the next picture. The covent area is now the guest of the Centro Cultural Santo Domingo.