Stop 3. Oaxaca

Our guide, Demian, warned us about something called Montezumas revenge while we were in Mexico city. Apperently it is a bug that usually affects gringos travelling in Mexico. I never really get ill from food poisoning and colds and stuff so when he was telling us about it I was like "Oh yeah. It will not be me that gets that." While we were out at lunchtime with a few of the guys from our group I started to feel a bit off. Later on while we were out with the whole group having dinner I came over really ill. It was like the symptons of food poisoning with a loss of balence and co-ordination. By the time I got back to the hotel all of my mucles were sore and my joints were really aching. Howeverafter lying awake most of the night suffering (mainly in the toilet) the symptons had mostly cleared up.

As a result of feeling a bit rough the following day I was unable to go with the rest of the group when the set out to visit the local ancient ruins. Jo spent the day dragging my "feel sorry for myself" arse round the town of Oaxaca (pronounced Wakaka). The town is really pretty and has every thing that we needed. There is a big central square (Zocalo) and bands set up and playing traditional music. It is a very relaxing, family orientated place with lots of Mexican familes all sat outside drinking, eating, socalising and just watching the world go by.

As soon as I walked in I was overwhelmed by the aromas of fresh fruit, vegetables. The smell of the fruits really got my mouth watering.

Off the back streets away from the Zocalo there are lots of little old ladies that have set up stalls selling textiles and trinkets. Also are the fabulously ornate churches of the town with their spectacularly decorated vaulted ceilings. I have never seen anything so beautiful in any of the churches back home.

On our last day we took a cab up to the Monte Alban for 80 peso and had a look around. We spent a total of about 2 hours at the top of the mountain ruins loking around and I thought it was one of the best places I´ve seen so far in Mexico. I found it very easy to imagine what it would have been like up there 2000 years ago. Our cab driver had waited for us while we had a look around the ancient ruins, as we´d arranged, and drove us back into town for another 80 peso.

Once we were back in town Jo remembered that she´d seen a bloke selling hand made leather items and that she needed to go back and visit him. This chap had a stall on the market 5 minutes from the Zocalo and was selling some very decent gear. The market itself is not to be missed. As soon as I walked in I was overwhelmed by the aromas of fresh fruit, vegetables. The smell of the fruits really got my mouth watering. As we walked futher into the market the smells changed to that of cooked meats and cereals and then to that of tanned leather.

Oaxaca has turned out to be really cool. We´re both not looking forward to the travelling the next leg though.......