Oaxaca!

I leave tomorrow morning (sniff) from Oaxaca airport.  I've been here since satudary and have been having such a great time that I haven't had even a small chance to write any posts! 

So Oaxaca is the state just south of Puebla and it extends through several types of mountains all the way to the ocean.  I've been in Oaxaca city the entire time, which is a fantastic city.  It is beautifully historic, very interesting, very chill and mostly quiet (except in some of the crazier markets), and has some spectacular food.

I was expecting to come here alone, but at the last minute I roped two students into coming with me.  One stayed from Saturday until Monday afternoon and the other stayed until just a few hours ago, on Tuesday.  Having people down here with me definitely enhanced the experience.  One of the best experieences in Oaxaca is the food and sharing food is always better than eating alone.  We spent our time here mostly wandering through food markets, crafts markets, the areas around the zocalo, and eating spectacular food.  Saturday afternoon, Kristen and I went out for an amazing lunch at Casa Oaxaca, which seemed to be the height of fine dining here but only set us back about $20 each.  The food was great, partly because of the quality and partly because it actually had flavors we hadn't eaten in a while.

Sunday was mostly a day of wandering markets and then a nice italian dinner with Kristen and Cove.  Monday was more market wandering, and a great botanical garden with the three of us.  Cove left and 4ish and Kristen and I had a less than fantastic dinner at a restaurant with more than fantastic decorations (Las Danzantes)...  the restaurant was very fung shui as someone else described it to me, with a ceiling open to the sky although mostly covered by a billowing canvas roof.  Once it started raining and we got a bit wet and moved, the whole restaurant was filled by the sounds of the water falling into the pools at one end of the restaurant, which was prett amazing.

Today was more craft shopping and markets (oh yeah, and a lot of hot chocolate) before Kristen finally went home.  I've spent the rest of teh evening just getting my stuff together and getting ready for my trip home tomorrow.  I can't believe it's all over... it's been a real trip, both literally and figuratively.

mike.