Good-bye Oaxaca, Hello Puebla

Friday morning we spent shopping for souvenirs and more crafts (the Mujeres Artes Regionales de Oaxaca is below). We went to the zocalo for lunch, and unexpectedly ran into my parents, who had spent the morning in Ocotlan. We chatted briefly and went our separate ways; our plan had been to meet in the evening. After lunch we headed to the Museo de Arte Contomporeano (the Museum of Contemporary Art), however, as usual (we’ve gone by there before) it was closed.

Back at the house we spent a couple of hours packing. My parents brought us an extra suitcase for everything we’ve purchased down here, so that was extremely helpful. We have a few more days of our trip, but my parents return to Washington on Sunday.

Around 5 p.m. we met my parents at their hotel room and walked over to the zocalo. It was alive with protests (communist), vendors, mariachi music and all kinds of people enjoying their Friday evening. I bought the kids some bubbles and they played while we watched the activity and listened to the music. We had a wonderful dinner – tlayudas one last time – and as has become our custom, discussed our favorite and least favorite part of Oaxaca.

Rafael, Isa and Davis all agreed that swimming at Hierve el Agua was their favorite. Davis also really enjoyed the zocalo and great food. Rafael’s least favorites were walking and the ruins (although he seemed to enjoy some of them). Isa’s least favorite was going to so many markets. Davis’s least favorite were all the vendors at the zocalo. My folks agreed that both Monte Alban and the zocalo was their favorite part of Oaxaca; my dad also really enjoyed the markets. My dad’s least favorite was dealing with Hertz and my mom’s was the vendors. I had so many favorites: Monte Alban, the zocalo, my cooking class and the wonderful arts and crafts. Selso’s favorites were Monte Alban, the Rufino Tamayo museum, and both the Templo de la Soledad and Santo Domingo. Selso and I agreed that our least favorite was the water problems and quality at the house; Selso also didn’t like the vendors, and I was sick of city traffic and parking.

We were up bright and early Saturday morning and packed up the car; with an extra suitcase, that was no easy feat (go Selso!). The drive to Puebla took about four hours (including a couple of stops) along a very smooth freeway. We saw lots of agriculture along our route.

We are staying in a lovely hotel here, just a block off the zocalo. The hotel is a former Jesuit convent (above is the staircase) and right across the sidewalk is the Iglesia de la Compania, the Jesuit church. It is beautiful and airy.

Next we walked around the zocalo – which looked much like Oaxaca’s zocalo, with its balloon vendors, families and activity. A few blocks past the zocalo is the Museo Amparo, which houses pre-Hispanic and colonial era art. We’ve seen tons of pre-Hispanic artifacts in Mexico, and we’re starting to get a feel for the different styles of each area. Fascinating stuff.

We had some delicious churros (fried sweet light dough – I’ve never had a good one in the U.S.) on the walk back and then stopped and watched some clowns in the zocalo. We had dinner out at a pretty restaurant; I had mole poblano, Mexico’s national dish which originated in Puebla.