Osama bin Oaxaca

The mysterious Monte Alban ruins near Oaxaca

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With a Canadian traveller in tow, we managed to find one of the coolest hostels around. It had a huge lounge area with rooms either side, both at ground and first floor level. Up these stairs is also the way to the hostel pub complete with comfy lounges and cushions. The 940ml coronas only cost 20P so I spent quite a bit of time up there drinking, chatting and sleeping. The crowd was nice and friendly too, lots of laughter and plenty of cute girls.

Oaxaca is another town with plenty of history. The town is built in typical Spanish colonial style, with the main points of interest stemming from the central zocalo. Being high up in the hills at an altitude of 1500m makes it a great getaway from that infernal Yucatan heat!

To be honest, I didn’t spend much time wandering the streets, most of my time was spent drinking. As well as the hostel there are a few nice bars around, but one place in particular we found to be odd. A huge mural of Osama bin Laden covered one wall and after one drink we thought it best to leave.

Not to completely waste my money on booze, a group of us decided to travel to the nearby ruins of Monte Alban. I didn’t know much about them, but upon getting to the site I was mightily impressed. Two large step pyramids at either end of the huge flattened hill are separated by smaller pyramids, temples, tombs and ball courts. The city was believed to have been started 2000 years ago, and subsequent cultures lived there until those Charming Spanish Conquistadors ruined everything! The site is relatively small and so gets a bit crowded but it was well worth the visit. Our motley crew, including a nice, red headed French Canadian girl, then made it back to the hostel where we proceeded to get drunk again. Just for a change!