Safety situation in Oaxaca City?

Old Oct 22nd, 2016, 04:58 PM
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Safety situation in Oaxaca City?

Thinking of visiting in January. Most recent U.S. State dept. info warns of the area around the observatory, which I've read has had muggings for years. We can easily avoid that area. However, latest info on teachers' strike and blockade that I could find was from early Sept., when those were still going on. Unclear to me whether those were still affecting Oaxaca City. Any info would be appreciated.Thanks.
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Old Oct 23rd, 2016, 07:05 PM
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Try posting something on either TA or Thorntree. Few people here ever go to Oaxaca. We've exchanged some Whatsapp's with friends there and they tell us it's calmed down, but they're Mexican and don't often frequent the zocalo area where most tourists go. On TA there is a regular poster that lives there.
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Old Oct 24th, 2016, 08:37 AM
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Thanks Baldone. I had read a local's post somewhere (maybe TA), from back in Aug/Sept., and even then he said the road blockades were not really a problem because bus drivers, etc. knew the back roads to avoid them. I"ll stay tuned.
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Old Oct 27th, 2016, 07:48 AM
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It has been a couple of years but there were demonstrations, blockades & other irritants even then.
We had local connections who escorted us to various locations in the surrounding area. Even in a private car driven by native folk (our host & family was/are
rug weavers) there was some hassling including demands for toll at blockades.
The almost daily demonstrations on the main plaza by both the union members & the police became very tiresome.
Overall while we never felt in danger we will not be going back in the foreseeable future which is a shame as there is so much of interest in the area.
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Old Oct 27th, 2016, 10:04 AM
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I've now been in touch with a few tour guides and they've all said the tents are still in the zocalo, there can be a demonstration every few days, and blockades are almost a fact of life! I'm feeling ok about going, however.
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Old Oct 28th, 2016, 07:02 PM
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Agree, I would not recommend changing plans. While the zocalo when unoccupied may be one of Mexico's most charming, the restaurants around it are average at best, so no big loss in that regard. Cafe Terranova maybe being the exception. Agree with stew in that Oaxaca has so much to offer besides just the zocalo of OdJ. And Oaxaca has always been pretty radical regarding politics, so that's not news.
Stew, you funny man. You always pontificate about how you want to experience the 'real Mexico' but when you find it, you don't like it.
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