getting here, day one - Zocolo, day two - walking and shopping

We made it without any catastrophes.  I lucked out in Vancouver when they called for people to check their carry on luggage.  So, I didn't have to lug my big backpack all over hell and half acres.  The overnight flight was a bit of a slog but it was fine. I watched Crazy Rich Asians followed by a couple of hours of gravol and free rum induced sleep.  Then a four hour layover in Mexico City, a quick hop to Oaxaca and a taxi to our apartment.

Waiting in Victoria Airport

Mexico City is so big, we flew over it forever before getting to the airport

Mexico city airport is FREEZING!

Flying into Oaxaca is beautiful, all rolling hills and farmland

We arrived at the apartment and it isn't quite as shown. Not bad but each room has a double bed instead of a double and two singles.  They'll change out the  beds when my new guests arrive.  I think the five apartments shown on airbnb are somewhat interchangeable.  You book Natalia but get Margarita (or whatever).

Then it was down to the business of setting up apartment.  First, water.  I bought a garafond from the family who run this place.  Then we went in search of groceries.  We found a market which of course here means tiny stalls and unrefrigerated meat.  We skipped the meat, I have to work Joe and Carolyn up to that level of Mexico, but we bought fruit & veggies (MANGOS!!!, AVOCADOS!!!), tortillas and some Oaxacan cheese.  And three kinds of fresh salsa.  And coffee.  

This is where we bought our fruit and veg. 
She never got off the phone the whole time.

Came back here for lunch.  I made quesadillas.  (Oaxacan cheese makes the best quesadillas).  And then we headed into downtown and the Zocolo which is the main square.  Even on a Tuesday at 4 in the afternoon, it was a busy place.  Lots of people selling stuff, food carts, restaurants, churches (of course).  Carolyn and Joe are not shoppers so hanging out with them is going to save me some money.  We wandered a bit and sat a bit.  But, no sleep the night before meant we were all pretty bagged so we headed home around 6.  

My rule is always, stay awake until 8pm in any new city, no matter the time zone or how onerous the trip. I may not have quite made it.  J & C went to bed at 7.  I went to bed around 7:45 and read.  I turned out my light at 7:58 but I don't think I was still awake at 8.  I think that still falls within the rule. 

I slept really well that night.  Our apartment is surprisingly not hot (I won't go so far as cool).  I woke up at 4am and ignored that and slept again until 7.  Nothing like a good 11 hours.

Eggs for breakfast.  Then I somehow convinced C & J to follow me to Chedraui.  Val and I used to love Chedraui (Supermarket) in Ciudad Del Carmen when we lived down there so I always look for an opportunity to visit one.  

I dutifully wrote down the directions and we headed out.  Regular readers of my travel blogs will know where this is going.  We walked and walked and never found the street we were supposed to turn on.  That, of course, did not stop me from turning on some random unmarked street.  C & J, being far more sensible than me, decided it was time for me to ask someone.  She looked at me like we were crazy, no Chedraui around here.  Next guy, nope, it's a million miles away.  

So, we ended up at another market, buying fruit from old ladies sitting on the ground - just like Safeway.  10 000 steps.

This lady was very nice.  When we bought avocados and garlic,
she said we just need lime to make guacamole (I think). 

I also managed to get some hanging meat - chorizo sausage
for our eggs which we forgot to buy

We went home.  Joe looked up the actual directions to Chedraui while we ate lunch.  I turned right when I should have turned left.  Pretty standard for me.  Joe was keen to try again.  He is looking for whiskey.  So, off we went again.  Carolyn, probably wisely, stayed home.

This time we made it.  Shopped a bit.  Bought some more food.  We should be set for a while.  Joe ended up buying his whiskey at OXXO so he didn't have to carry it so far.  Home again.  20 000 steps and an impressive sunburn on my ankles. 

A terrible picture of Chedraui (for Val)

After a wee siesta, we headed back to the Zocolo for dinner.  But it started raining fairly soon after we left so we ended up nipping into a coffee shop and having sandwiches for dinner. Not exactly the most exciting first restaurant meal in Mexico.  It stopped raining and we eventually made it downtown.  

We stopped and listened to a live band and watched the people dancing

Then C & J, having learned nothing over the last 12 hours, followed me to the Monte Alban ticket booth, down some dark and empty roads.  I'm sure Carolyn did not love that but, trooper that she is, she came along.  But the booth was closed.  We will just show up tomorrow and buy whatever is leaving next.  

Dark street

Selling drawings 

Joe and Carolyn in Oaxaca

Then I led the way home with only a minor, multiblock detour.  I tried to tell them to never trust my directions but either they didn't believe me or decided I was still better than nothing (wrong!).  We were literally standing next to our building and I said it's on the right.  But it was RIGHT there, on the LEFT.  I am pretty sure this has finally convinced Joe to take directional charge in all future endeavours.  30 000 steps.  

It is past bed time so just a last couple of thoughts.  My Spanish is getting us by.  I am falling right back into life living in Mexico.  I love it.  

Joe and Carolyn figured out how to turn on the hot water.  We all had a shower before that happened.  I was willing to just live with cold showers since that is just normal, but J & C assumed this was not normal and they were right.  

Tomorrow we head to Monte Alban.