Mexico city-Oaxaca solo trip
Sep 18th, 2022, 07:26 PM
#22
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Not trying to be overly snarky here but I don’t think your biggest problem will be food in Mexico (which by the way i have never had any problems with. I ADORE Mexico). I think your biggest problem is that you are a stated 39 year old man that has not cut your apron strings from Mom and Dad. I’m not sure international travel is really for you if you haven’t found a true love for it yet after all of the places you have been to.
YMMV.
YMMV.
Sep 19th, 2022, 04:10 PM
#23
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In September 2015, I took a solo trip to Quebec. Since then I took 5 solo trips to Europe, went to northern Michigan for 2 nights and to Florida for 8 nights. These trips were the most memorable times of the year. I have an anxiety associated with planning a trip. This is really an anxiety about getting trouble with my parents for doing something I am not supposed to do. I travel anyway because people have hypocracies and contradictions and see above. How can I stand flippantly not caring how my mom feels about how i have "no sense" and solo travel is "dangerous" and "half-cocked". I let my parents talk me into seeing them at least once ce a weekend. If I don't see them I need an excuse for not seeing them and then comes their reaction to me telling them about an upcoming trip: horror, revulsion, anger, fear, and worse, them desperately trying to talk me out of traveling, and so on. Maybe part of my brain is used to thinking everything my parents say has to be right even if I know better. It is easy to say, "oh who cares what your parents think because you are an otherwise normal functioning crooning thirty-nine-year-old adult living on your own and your parents phobias are their own darn problem" but their reaction is so terrible and I feel so guilty or stupid for planning travel. I have no clue why I have so little fear or anxiety over actual travel.
Assuming I sublimate my excessive guilty over making my mom feel anxious and worse, like on past trips, do you think solo travel to Mexico approximately following my itinerary above could be safe enough? Should I stay in a hostel so I might meet other solo travelers or should I just look for typical hotels?
Assuming I sublimate my excessive guilty over making my mom feel anxious and worse, like on past trips, do you think solo travel to Mexico approximately following my itinerary above could be safe enough? Should I stay in a hostel so I might meet other solo travelers or should I just look for typical hotels?
Sep 19th, 2022, 04:54 PM
#24
Michael, I don’t say this with any ill will. These kinds of relationship difficulties are what therapists are for. We can help you plan your trip but we cannot help with parent problems. It’s painful to listen to. Maybe think about therapy as part of your travel budget if you don’t have insurance that covers it. It would certainly contribute to enjoying planning your trips which for many of us is as much fun as the trip itself.
Regarding safety, I’m a woman, 77 years old, have spent months in Mexico on my own, have never felt unsafe nor had any difficulties of any kind. You can put that particular worry aside.
Regarding safety, I’m a woman, 77 years old, have spent months in Mexico on my own, have never felt unsafe nor had any difficulties of any kind. You can put that particular worry aside.
Sep 19th, 2022, 07:51 PM
#25
Some thoughts.
Your itinerary seems heavy on archeological sites. And museums. You may get weary of them part way through your trip. Unless you're a true ruinophile. That said, Tula might be missable. I'd suggest something like mineral del monte just to explore a handsome colonial town, with a visit to the prismas Balsaticas near Huasca. Or a mine tour for a change of pace from ruins and museums.
Sundays are free days at museums and archeological sites for Mexican citizens. As such, they get busy. Fwiw.
Generally, less is more in Mexico. Dont try to cram too much into a day. Mexico is better sipped than gulped. And travel delays are not uncommon. Near where i live in Queretaro state, there's a toll booth that routinely has an hour or more delay. On a recent trip through San Luis Potosi state, there were 2 military checkpoints that backed up traffic for more than a mile on the northbound lanes. Buses included. Each checkpoint. And there's rarely an alternative route.
May is the month that the Oaxacan teacher's contract is typically negotiated. There may be strikes and demonstrations prior to and after that date. They're a pretty radical bunch. Not a physical threat to tourists, but demonstrations can cause travel delays. Heck, there may be demonstrations at any time in Oaxaca. Although since the president is sympathetic to their cause, lately there's not been much activity. Omg, don't tell your mother.
Btw, Ive lived in Mexico for almost 12 years now and only have gotten sick i believe twice from food. And in both cases it was likely from contaminated salsa. That i overindulged in. I won't eat from fruit cups on the street. Leery of the dust that gets stirred up by traffic. And sanitation of the vendors knives. But cooked/grilled food is another matter. Generally ok if there's a line. And you're correct that certain foods are prepared with manteca (lard) including refried beans and tlayudas in Oaxaca.
Your itinerary seems heavy on archeological sites. And museums. You may get weary of them part way through your trip. Unless you're a true ruinophile. That said, Tula might be missable. I'd suggest something like mineral del monte just to explore a handsome colonial town, with a visit to the prismas Balsaticas near Huasca. Or a mine tour for a change of pace from ruins and museums.
Sundays are free days at museums and archeological sites for Mexican citizens. As such, they get busy. Fwiw.
Generally, less is more in Mexico. Dont try to cram too much into a day. Mexico is better sipped than gulped. And travel delays are not uncommon. Near where i live in Queretaro state, there's a toll booth that routinely has an hour or more delay. On a recent trip through San Luis Potosi state, there were 2 military checkpoints that backed up traffic for more than a mile on the northbound lanes. Buses included. Each checkpoint. And there's rarely an alternative route.
May is the month that the Oaxacan teacher's contract is typically negotiated. There may be strikes and demonstrations prior to and after that date. They're a pretty radical bunch. Not a physical threat to tourists, but demonstrations can cause travel delays. Heck, there may be demonstrations at any time in Oaxaca. Although since the president is sympathetic to their cause, lately there's not been much activity. Omg, don't tell your mother.
Btw, Ive lived in Mexico for almost 12 years now and only have gotten sick i believe twice from food. And in both cases it was likely from contaminated salsa. That i overindulged in. I won't eat from fruit cups on the street. Leery of the dust that gets stirred up by traffic. And sanitation of the vendors knives. But cooked/grilled food is another matter. Generally ok if there's a line. And you're correct that certain foods are prepared with manteca (lard) including refried beans and tlayudas in Oaxaca.
Sep 19th, 2022, 11:16 PM
#26
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I agree with Baldone that your itinerary does seem a little heavy on museums and antiquity. If that is you primary interest then fair enough, no one can decide if that is right for you. You do seem to be mixing it up with markets etc. and the like and for me at least that is the best way to get to understand a country. Just wandering around without an agenda can sometimes lead to wonderful experiences.
As for where to stay, hostels, rather than hotels may be an option as some, but by no means all, tend to be more sociable environments. Probably easier to meet fellow travellers in your 20s than late 30s and it likely gets easier again in later life . An interesting question!
As for where to stay, hostels, rather than hotels may be an option as some, but by no means all, tend to be more sociable environments. Probably easier to meet fellow travellers in your 20s than late 30s and it likely gets easier again in later life . An interesting question!
Sep 20th, 2022, 02:45 PM
#27
I think a small inn which provides breakfast is probably a better choice than a hostel with shared bunk rooms. The opportunity to chat over breakfast or in a common lounge area. The hotel that crellston recommended in Oaxaca (Hotel con Corazon) was that sort of place. Another way to meet people is to take a day tour/walking tour. An Eat Mexico tour might be fun in Mexico City.
Don't worry about Mexico City and not being fluent in Spanish, as long as you can say Buenos dias, por favor and gracias you will do just fine. There are plenty of people in Mexico that watch enough American TV to speak basic English and others willing to help if necessary.
Nearly everyone will tell you to use Uber in Mexico City.
PS I know you said you were going to Oaxaca and that is so popular with gringos that you wil have no issues. Ask your hotel to arrange the taxi up to Monte Alban if you are worried, there is also a shuttle but the taxi isn't that expensive and the shuttle office isn't in the main tourist part of town.
For an inexpensive healthy restaurant in Oaxaca, I liked El Quinque, Hidalgo 218.
Don't worry about Mexico City and not being fluent in Spanish, as long as you can say Buenos dias, por favor and gracias you will do just fine. There are plenty of people in Mexico that watch enough American TV to speak basic English and others willing to help if necessary.
Nearly everyone will tell you to use Uber in Mexico City.
PS I know you said you were going to Oaxaca and that is so popular with gringos that you wil have no issues. Ask your hotel to arrange the taxi up to Monte Alban if you are worried, there is also a shuttle but the taxi isn't that expensive and the shuttle office isn't in the main tourist part of town.
For an inexpensive healthy restaurant in Oaxaca, I liked El Quinque, Hidalgo 218.
Sep 21st, 2022, 06:53 PM
#28
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Thanks for your input. As for whether I am planning on too many ruins: possibly. My assumption has been that the essence of a country has to do with antiquities or ruins and stuff from a long time ago. Perhaps that is a naive view and culture evolves and changes over time and recent artifacts and culture needs some attention in travel too. For comparison, in Greece, I saw about 3 sites with Ancient Greek ruins in Athens and 4 Ancient Greek sites in other parts of Greece; if you want to count old Venetian castles, that brings the total to 10 sites, in addition to little insignificant plots of ruins that i saw without going out of the way. But in Greece I also complicated m y trip by staying in 5 different hotels in 13 nights (2 hostels, 3 low-end but still decent hotels). Perhaps I am a ruinophile. You are right that if I was going to cut out a site of ruins from my itinerary, I would skip Tula. Places I have seen outside seem more memorable that stuff I see in museums. My gut reaction is, there is such a thing as spending too much time in museums but maybe it is harder to spend too much time at ruins.
Sep 21st, 2022, 07:06 PM
#29
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Would taking the bus to Teotihuacan be more risky or hard compared to taking the bus in Europe? I took a long distance bus ride in Spain and multiple long distance bus rides in Greece. I have never taken local public transportation in Michigan.
I want to think going to Mexico solo wouldn't be much harder than going to West Europe. Like I mentioned, my thoughts on travel are screwed up compared to other travelers because my biggest anxieties are about getting in trouble with my mom, how to tell my mom I won't see her, whether to tell my mom where I am going, what to do about feeling like I am doing something wrong for traveling given that it is not ok with my mom and so on. 6eah I know this is all nuts because I am an otherwise normal functioning 39 year old man, I live on my own, i manage my money great compared to other people and I logically know that I shouldn't need my mom's permission to travel.
I want to think going to Mexico solo wouldn't be much harder than going to West Europe. Like I mentioned, my thoughts on travel are screwed up compared to other travelers because my biggest anxieties are about getting in trouble with my mom, how to tell my mom I won't see her, whether to tell my mom where I am going, what to do about feeling like I am doing something wrong for traveling given that it is not ok with my mom and so on. 6eah I know this is all nuts because I am an otherwise normal functioning 39 year old man, I live on my own, i manage my money great compared to other people and I logically know that I shouldn't need my mom's permission to travel.
Sep 22nd, 2022, 06:18 AM
#31
*Would taking the bus to Teotihuacan be more risky or hard compared to taking the bus in Europe? *
Never taken a bus in Europe. But the bus to Teotihuacán is a piece of cake. From the Norte bus station, just go to the "pyramides" ticket counter.
Never taken a bus in Europe. But the bus to Teotihuacán is a piece of cake. From the Norte bus station, just go to the "pyramides" ticket counter.
Sep 22nd, 2022, 06:30 PM
#33
Michael, I must admit, this is maybe the most interesting post I think I've ever seen here. I mean, to bare your soul like you have to complete strangers? I know I wouldn't have had the nads to do it. So, do us a favor. *When* you take your trip, and I'm sure you will, you gotta promise us a full Trip Report after you return.
Sep 27th, 2022, 05:41 PM
#34
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Michael, I must admit, this is maybe the most interesting post I think I've ever seen here. I mean, to bare your soul like you have to complete strangers? I know I wouldn't have had the nads to do it. So, do us a favor. *When* you take your trip, and I'm sure you will, you gotta promise us a full Trip Report after you return.
Sep 27th, 2022, 06:29 PM
#35
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"We seem to have lost Michael."
With comments like;
"Maybe you should take your mom with you"
"These kinds of relationship difficulties are what therapists are for."
and
" I think your biggest problem is that you are a stated 39 year old man that has not cut your apron strings from Mom and Dad"
You can perhaps see why.
With comments like;
"Maybe you should take your mom with you"
"These kinds of relationship difficulties are what therapists are for."
and
" I think your biggest problem is that you are a stated 39 year old man that has not cut your apron strings from Mom and Dad"
You can perhaps see why.
Sep 28th, 2022, 06:12 AM
#36
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"We seem to have lost Michael."
With comments like;
"Maybe you should take your mom with you"
"These kinds of relationship difficulties are what therapists are for."
and
" I think your biggest problem is that you are a stated 39 year old man that has not cut your apron strings from Mom and Dad"
You can perhaps see why.
With comments like;
"Maybe you should take your mom with you"
"These kinds of relationship difficulties are what therapists are for."
and
" I think your biggest problem is that you are a stated 39 year old man that has not cut your apron strings from Mom and Dad"
You can perhaps see why.
Sep 28th, 2022, 07:34 PM
#37
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Teotihuacan seems definitely worth seeing. Tentatively I will rank it is top priority ruin.
Monte Albán looks somehow special. Tentatively I will rank it as the ruins next in priority for me.
As for other ruins: I saw Mitla mentioned at least once above. My impression had been that Monte Albán is worthwhile and Mitla is skippable. Maybe I was wrong. Yeah I know wrong is subjective. Is Mitla worth another day trip? Mitla looks like an approximately 40 minute trip from Oaxaca City.
I had thought Tula looked special but I see that it is actually about a 2 hour and 31 minute bus ride and probably needing a taxi too, from Mexico City. Maybe one of you is right that it is skippable.
Should I cut one or more days from Mexico City and add a night to Oaxaca city?
I doubt I would take a second trip to Mexico just for Oaxaca City and places nearby, if for example in theory I limited my trip to just Mexico City in order to avoid feeling guilty for taking a trip of more than a week given that my dad can't understand why a trip should last more than a week.
As of now to me it seems like the only reason to go to Puebla would be for the Baroque art museum and Cholula. I know Cholula is supposed to have the biggest pyramid in the world by volume except that it looks just like a grass and dirt covered hill with a church on top - probably not worth it compared to the other sites I mentioned.
Monte Albán looks somehow special. Tentatively I will rank it as the ruins next in priority for me.
As for other ruins: I saw Mitla mentioned at least once above. My impression had been that Monte Albán is worthwhile and Mitla is skippable. Maybe I was wrong. Yeah I know wrong is subjective. Is Mitla worth another day trip? Mitla looks like an approximately 40 minute trip from Oaxaca City.
I had thought Tula looked special but I see that it is actually about a 2 hour and 31 minute bus ride and probably needing a taxi too, from Mexico City. Maybe one of you is right that it is skippable.
Should I cut one or more days from Mexico City and add a night to Oaxaca city?
I doubt I would take a second trip to Mexico just for Oaxaca City and places nearby, if for example in theory I limited my trip to just Mexico City in order to avoid feeling guilty for taking a trip of more than a week given that my dad can't understand why a trip should last more than a week.
As of now to me it seems like the only reason to go to Puebla would be for the Baroque art museum and Cholula. I know Cholula is supposed to have the biggest pyramid in the world by volume except that it looks just like a grass and dirt covered hill with a church on top - probably not worth it compared to the other sites I mentioned.
Sep 29th, 2022, 07:44 AM
#38
"Cholula is supposed to have the biggest pyramid in the world by volume except that it looks just like a grass and dirt covered hill with a church on top "
My feelings exactly. Although one side is partially uncovered. I've been to Cholula (the town) 3 times now and to be honest, once was enough. Others may disagree. Puebla is a beautiful city.
" Monte Albán looks somehow special. "
I agree. There's something intriguing about looking out over the Central Valleys and imagining being in the city during its zenith.
"Is Mitla worth another day trip?"
Possibly. Especially if you combined Mitla with other stops along the way. El Tule, Teotitlan, and some Mezcal tasting.
"Should I cut one or more days from Mexico City and add a night to Oaxaca city?"
If you're still figuring 9 days for CDMX, and then eliminate Tula, yes another night for Oaxaca would be worthwhile.
My feelings exactly. Although one side is partially uncovered. I've been to Cholula (the town) 3 times now and to be honest, once was enough. Others may disagree. Puebla is a beautiful city.
" Monte Albán looks somehow special. "
I agree. There's something intriguing about looking out over the Central Valleys and imagining being in the city during its zenith.
"Is Mitla worth another day trip?"
Possibly. Especially if you combined Mitla with other stops along the way. El Tule, Teotitlan, and some Mezcal tasting.
"Should I cut one or more days from Mexico City and add a night to Oaxaca city?"
If you're still figuring 9 days for CDMX, and then eliminate Tula, yes another night for Oaxaca would be worthwhile.
Sep 29th, 2022, 08:24 AM
#39
The site for me of interest near Cholula was not the pyramid (I didn't go inside) but instead the church Santa María Tonantzintla (the attraction is the polychrome stucco work mixing indigenous and Catholic imagery) Since photos aren't permitted inside it's harder to find online photos but Google should turn up a few. It's about 6k south of the town center of Cholula so many budget tourists take a tour from Puebla that also includes Cholula itself. You can also take a taxi, not really that expensive from Puebla although you may need to ask them to wait for you at the church if you want to include any other sights. I'm sure a hotel there could arrange one for you.
The city of Puebla also has the ex convent Santa Rosa kitchen and museum, streets such as the Calle de los Dulces and Callejon de los Sapos. Amparo museum is good for a small museum. I didn't go to the Baroque Museum. The other attractions in Puebla include but are not limited to the brightly painted churches, cuisine (apparently not of interest to the OP), and the views of Popocatapetal from the top of the Teleferico if you didn't manage to see it elsewhere.
If I was only interested in ruins I would go to the Yucatan and Mexico City. I didn't bother to go to Teotihuacan ( of course I went to the Templo Mayor) but at the last minute did decide to go to Monte Alban because I was less than impressed with central Oaxaca. I was coming from places like Paleque, Uxmal, Calakmul and Yaxchilan all of which I found more impressive than Monte Alban.
The city of Puebla also has the ex convent Santa Rosa kitchen and museum, streets such as the Calle de los Dulces and Callejon de los Sapos. Amparo museum is good for a small museum. I didn't go to the Baroque Museum. The other attractions in Puebla include but are not limited to the brightly painted churches, cuisine (apparently not of interest to the OP), and the views of Popocatapetal from the top of the Teleferico if you didn't manage to see it elsewhere.
If I was only interested in ruins I would go to the Yucatan and Mexico City. I didn't bother to go to Teotihuacan ( of course I went to the Templo Mayor) but at the last minute did decide to go to Monte Alban because I was less than impressed with central Oaxaca. I was coming from places like Paleque, Uxmal, Calakmul and Yaxchilan all of which I found more impressive than Monte Alban.
Last edited by mlgb; Sep 29th, 2022 at 08:51 AM. Reason: u
Oct 1st, 2022, 05:19 AM
#40
>>>I was coming from places like Paleque, Uxmal, Calakmul and Yaxchilan<<<
mlgb --
I have wanted to get to Palenque, Bonampak and Yaxchilan for a long while. Didd you visit Yaxchilan on the one-day excursion from Palenque? How was it, or if you traveled another way, how did that work out?
mlgb --
I have wanted to get to Palenque, Bonampak and Yaxchilan for a long while. Didd you visit Yaxchilan on the one-day excursion from Palenque? How was it, or if you traveled another way, how did that work out?
