Melnq8 and Pedro_Gorman,
The ice cream was delicious! But we also became very partial to the nieves, which was surprisingly rich and tasty!

First day trip: Mitla, Tlacolula and Teotitlan
Mitla:

Tlacolula - we came for the Sunday market, and it was HUUUGE. It was actually a bit too overwhelming for us but quite an experience to be there. We loved the church in Tlacolula with all its ornate design.

And then there was Teotitlan…
It was the end of the day, and we were taken directly to Casa Don Juan, the home and workshop of a 5-generation rug-making family. While I wish we had seen more of the town, we enjoyed the presentation a lot and are happy with our small rug that we bought.

Hierve el Agua (see the first post in this thread for description)

Thank you for reporting on Oaxaca! We hope to visit next year and your report is very helpful.

Thanks, HapoyTrvlr! Oaxaca was such a wonderful surprise for us - though it probably shouldn’t have been, since so many people rave about it! And it didn’t feel overly “touristy”, but very much a thriving and alive city.

I’ll try to post more soon.

Great photos! You saw so much. We've been 3 times to Oaxaca and haven't seen some of what you did. Saving this for winter maybe.

Thanks, yestravel! As I keep saying, Oaxaca was such a surprise for us. And though it seems like we saw a lot, we really did it in a relaxed way. Of course, having 10 days to sightsee allows for a lot of breathing space! But it's also such a fun city to amble and not do too much.

Progol, when you get a chance will you include the information about your transportation? I am curious about Mexican airports, transportation from airports to hotels and how you got from Oaxaca to Mexico City. Thank you!

Hi, Irice,
We flew JFK to Mexico City, where we stayed in the airport hotel in Terminal 2, taking an 8:10am flight to Oaxaca. From the airport, we took a shuttle service (colectivo) to our hotel, Hotel Pereyra. The hotel arranged all our transportation around Oaxaca (though a taxi service ($15/hour), including all our day trips. I don’t have the name of the service but I imagine most hotels offer similar. Oaxaca is very walkable but if you need transportation in the city, taxis are very easy to use. Uber isn’t available in Oaxaca.

We flew from Oaxaca to Mexico City (less than an hour’s flight), taking an official taxi from the airport to our hotel in Condesa, Villa Condesa. Once there, we used Uber regularly, although we did take the metro one day with no problems. Ironic, given what happened to us later.

Hope that answers all your questions! If not, let me know!

Yes, thanks Progol! This helps! I look forward to your report on Mexico City to read about Villa Condesa and the neighborhood.

Bkmarking

Hi progol ... I read on the Mexico City airport site you need to go to one of the modules at the arrivals area to get a "taxi ticket." How did that work? Thanks.

I don’t remember exactly where they were, but there was an area before you left the airport with several kiosks where you can purchase tickets for authorized cabs. It was pretty obvious so nothing to worry about. Then you go outside and there is a row of taxis that are clearly the official ones.

Monte Albán
We took a half day to explore Monte Albán and it was was fantastic! A large archeological site a short distance from Oaxaca, we were both quite taken by the site (and sight!). Located on top of a flattened mountaintop, it was the capital of the Zapotec civilization from 500BC to 800AD, reaching its peak between 200 and 600AD. It’s an extensive site, only partially excavated, but what is there has an impressive grandeur when taking in the scope of the site.

The Zapotec name for Monte Albán is Dani Baá, which means Sacred Mountain. There’s several sections to the site, but the main plaza contains several buildings, including an astronomical observatory. The Galeria de Los Danzantes, a series of steles (not original, but recreated to mimic the objects as they were found) likely show defeated warriors from other cities. Still, these objects feel real and very powerful.

There is also a small museum on site which feature objects found, including many objects from daily life.

Visiting Monte Albán, one really feels the power of the place.

Overview of Monte Albán














Stela 18, largest of its kind in Monte Albán, thought to be used as an astronomical instrument










Getting artsy

Were you warned to avoid certain places at night?

Or advised not to flash expensive gear or cash in certain situations?

No, we weren’t, not in Oaxaca. Are you asking about anything in particular?

Just trying to get a feel for the place, as far as whether foreigners should be wary.

Of course State Dept has issued warnings recently about traveling through certain regions. I know Oaxaca wasn't one of those places. But something happens and then the warnings are issued.

Or Yucatan, there's been some civilian bystanders injured near Cancun.