Walking around Oaxaca

We came to Oaxaca to see the world-famous ruins at nearby Monte Alban.

But like many Mexican cities, this one is so much more than just a jumping -off spot to a tourist destination. The city of Oaxaca is a wonderful place to stroll, to discover interesting sights, to visit art galleries and museums, dine and sample some exciting local dishes, maybe purchase a rug or a blanket or a toy produced locally.

And to just enjoy watching the people.

Oaxaca airport
But first we had to get here, so we took a short flight south from Mexico City.

Our hotel
Another picture that doesn't tell the full story. We arrived in...

Yellow bird
There were lots of birds singing and flying around our hotel area, but...

Plumeria
And lots of colorful flowers on our hotel grounds,too.

Fountain
The first stop on our local tour was at this fountain representing the Seven...

Warrior
He proudly dances high above the fountain, happy to be surrounded by seven...

Headgear
But it must have been quite difficult to dance gracefully with...

Sculpture
One of the seven symbolic sculptures around the fountain.

Another
Each symbolized a different region in the state.

And another

The zocolo
Every Mexican city has its zocolo, in the activity center of town with the...

Fiddler
One of many entertainers at the zocolo.

Balloon girl
Just one of many Oaxacans around the zocolo, offering balloons for just about...

Signing the bill
We had a nice lunch in an upstairs restaurant overlooking the zocolo.

Four years ago
The same four people in the same restaurant four years ago . All that's...

Restaurant painting
Another wonderful painting in our favorite restaurant.

The view below
Down below us, the never-ending pageant of people selling balloons and other...

Dolls

Blankets

Masks

Parade of people
Oaxaca is known for its many fine artists and their works are displayed...

Very interesting
There must be a story here, with the bishop dancing with the bandito...

Carved animal
These colorful animals are made in the Oaxaca area. In the homes of a nearby...

Another one
The most wildly painted, the most whimsical the better.

Black pottery
Oaxaca is well known for the beautiful black pottery unique to this area.

Tamayo's art exhibit
Just two blocks away from the zocolo is the Rodolfo Morales cultural museum...

More art
More of the Rodolfo Morales collection.

In the market
Just a few blocks away from the zocolo, where all sorts of local...

Chapulines
Chapulines are better known to us as ... grasshoppers. Some of us...

Sorry
After two visits to Oaxaca, we're ready to go for a third. You might even...

article published 05/15/2002

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Great pics Bob..... i hope to get there someday for a long stay if i can find suitable/affordable self-catering accomodations.. ;o)
— Lorraine Brecht, June 10, 2004

CPN-ARg
También yo me enamoróe de Oaxaca. "Zocolo" es "zócalo", y tiene que ver con una historia referida a la Plaza Principal de México DF y posteriormente se adoptó en todas las ciudades mexicanas. Excelentes fotos. Muy generosos de mostrárnoslas.
— stella, September 6, 2003

Great photos, thanks! "leis" is spelled that way (not lais)!!
— ellie robb, May 13, 2003

The flower you label as "hydrangea" is actually plumeria. It is the same flower they use to make "lai's" in Hawaii. Great pictures!!
— Chuck Posten, August 5, 2002

Headgear
I had seen the real guys dancing, and they look like they wearing nothing on their heads because the way they move. They dance what is called "La danza de la Pluma", "The dance of the feather". The city is old and beautiful. Thanks for sharing your trip.
— Estrella Rode M., May 18, 2002

Thanks Bob, thanks for you're not just "walking around Oaxaca", thanks for you used your camera and did a great and detailed records for the area. Very interesting.
— Yu-Chia Chang, May 15, 2002

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