I decided to post a new search for anyone who can give us the name of a good guide for Oaxaca at Christmas time for 4 older travelers. It could be a guide or a guide with a car. I think we can figure out a car or taxi to get us to Mitla and Monte Alban, and would like to ask a guide about other possible trips. Thanks for any help.

Check out the Moon Handbook recomendations; I was in Oaxaca a year and a half ago and we hired a woman originally from Scandinavia (Karin, I think) who married a man from Oaxaca and has lived there for 20 years. She drove us to Monte Alban and some surrounding craft towns, and we had a great day with her. She knew some folks personally and we went to their workshops (no pressure to buy) and she was knowledgeable about Monte Alban. She drove, which was great.
Enjoy Oaxaca!
Melissa

Melissa: Many thanks. I have that book (I guess it's one of the "bibles" for the area??) and will definitely check it out.

Melissa: forgot to ask: what is a decent rate for guides such as the woman named Karin that you used, can you tell me? thanks.

Unfortunately I can't remember at all! I split the cost with a friend that I was traveling with, and we would trade off paying for dinner/sites (depending on who had enough pesos on them) and then settle up at the end. I don't think it was super cheap, but it was well worth it for an entire day of private guided tour. When we called her she gave us a quote that was per hour, I think, and we went from there.

I'm sorry I can't remember the specifics!

Also, on the subject of Oaxaca, one of the best things we did was a market tour and cooking class (more of a demonstration where we got to help with some tasks) at El Naranjo. We made an entire fabulous meal and got to enjoy it in their courtyard. Even if you don't do the cooking lesson, check out the restaurant--I ate there twice in 5 days, that's how good it was! They have a different mole every day, really fresh and delicious food.

This is making me want to go back--have fun!

topping to see if anyone else has any further ideas, or great guides that we could try to use. Thanks.

Our method is to use a driver recommended by the hotel, and rely on on-site guides if a guide is needed, as at Monte Alban. We really enjoyed our trips to the various nearby craft villages and markets. If you like pottery, for example, the workshops of the Aguillera sisters, especially Josefina, are in (if memory serves) Ocotlan, which also has a wonderful ex-convent museum, and Teotitlan de valle (I think) has the rug weavers. Look at a map to decide which combinations of villages make the most sense geographically.

Thanks, Marilyn: That sounds good.