Another day in Oaxaca, we went on a tour bus and they took us to a market in a nearby village. The veggies really looked good. Lots of people bargaining.

Lets make a deal.

Every town has a big church. This was just off the square rite next to  the market.

Next stop, hand weavers. Only women work here and run their shops.

Then on to a black pottery shop. All of this is done by hand, no wheel. They turn the pot by hand when it is sitting on a plate with another place under it.

This was a very nice demonstration. If you remember President Obama's daughter visited Mexico about a year ago. She was at this exact same shop. It was also visited by President Jimmy Carter and a whole list of famous people.

Here is Brooks looking for a bargain. The pictures in the background are of notable people that have visited this shop. We bought some pieces, and the prices were unbelievably cheap.

The patio at the hotel where we stayed in Oaxaca.

We met up with Ozwaldo and his wife again, they sell drinks at a smaller market in Oaxaca on Sat. and Sun.

Likely the best meal we had in Oaxaca, and of all places it was in the city market. It was delicious.

These machines are used for making mole. Oaxaca is famous for their mole.

This is a view from our 2nd hotel just outside of  Oaxaca. We were her for just one day.

Another view from the hotel upstairs patio.

This was the day of the dulce (sweets) After the mass, candy was thrown out to the crowd in front of the church.

This was a really nice hotel, it is Brooks and Mary's timeshare.

And here we go. We left Oaxaca for a 185 mile drive to Puerto Escondido on the beach. Seems like not too far don't it. Well eight hours later we got there. The road was a real treat. Lots!!!! of big mountains to go over and around. Crooked twisty road, but what a view. It was totally worth it!

We were wondering what was going on, turns out that it was a auction for cattle, sheep, goats Etc.

Getting higher up in the mountains. What a great view of the valley below.

This was some really rugged country.

They had a big rainstorm recently, we had to cross this wash out in the road. It was about 4 ft. deep. Mary says "everybody out" lighten the load. No problem, the little Toyota did it.

It looked worse than it was.

Nice waterfall in the mountains.

This was in a small village at the top of the mountains. It was kind of cool there, we were told it gets cold.

The village took on a European look. Maybe like the alps. Rumor has it that they grow magic mushrooms near this village and it attracts lots of tourists. We dis see some people there that were still living in the 60's

This drive gave us new meaning to the middle of nowhere.

Lots of bridges and rivers running out of the mountains.

Out of the big mountains. It was time to stop for a beer. These two girls were running a little store alongside of the road. Wow were they talkative, especially the small one. She wanted to know all about us. We really enjoyed their conversation and it was a great opportunity to practice spanish.

We made it!!!! This is the beach at Puerto Escondido. It is famous for surfing, surfers come from all over the world. The surf never lets up.

More pictures of Puerto Escondido in the next blog.

This crazy statue was made out of burlap and palm leaves. It's on the beach.

Here we are back in Mexico. This picture is of Brooks and Mary and us on our way to Oaxaca. We will be gone from home for a little over 2 weeks. We stopped for lunch just outside of Mexico City. This trip will be Oaxaca, Puerto Escondido, Acapulco, Zihuatenejo, Morelia, and then home.
More pictures soon, we have been on the move every day.

This was in Tula De Allende where we spent overnight. The town is located on the North bypass of Mexico/City. Wow! what a nice road, and you don't have to even go close to Mexico City. It's called Arco Norte.

Couldn't resist taking this picture while walking around Tula De Allende.

n

White capped mountai

In a restaurant on our way to Oaxaca.

This is a huge tree in Tule, a small village near Oaxaca. It measures 90 meters around.

I thought I was a tree hugger but this takes the cake.

They have to pump 10,000 liters of water into the ground every day for it to survive. It is 2,000 years old. Also on the grounds was a  1,000 year old tree and another smaller one that is only 200 years old. It looks like several trees, but it is only one. It is in the cypeiss family.

The Government building in the town square.

They had a beautiful garden in the town square. Sculptured trees Etc.

This was another town (Tlacochahuaya) with beautiful church.

All of the walls and ceilings were hand panted. The church was full of fresh flowers.

This was from the organ room at the back of the church. The organ is a working pipe organ. More pictures of the organ later. It is played by one person and another works the bellows. Very old but restored in the 90's

Dome ceiling, hand painted.

Next we visited a indigenous rug shop. Here we are watching a demonstration of how the wool is dyed. All is done with natural dies, a process that was passed down from generation to generation.

Here is a rug weaver at work.

These two ladies were learning the trade.

Lunch time, this was a restaurant at a Mescal factory.

Yes, those are worms from the Agave plant. You will find them in most bottles of Mescal. I did eat one or two.

Moving on to the next day. This the family of Osvaldo Gonzalez. We hosted Osvaldo and his mother for three nights at our home when they were in Chapala for an artisan show. They weave Oaxacan wool rugs. They treated us to a nice lunch. They are wonderful people. Osvaldo was out of town, but his mother greeted us like we were friends for many years. That is Osvaldo's dad in the yellow shirt and Mom in the corner of the table and wife in the other table corner. This was a real treat to visit them. Of course the meal would not have been complete unless Mom brought out a bottle of  mescal. Everyone except the kids had a shot. We will see Osvaldo on Sat. when he is in Oaxaca.

This family is a real gem.

These taxi's can be seen everywhere around Oaxaca in the small villages.

This is in the Zocolo in Oaxaca centro.

Lots of restaurants in Oaxaca Central Square. 

This is the Opera House in Oaxaca.

This is another day of tours. This is Monte Alban. A very important ruins that were discovered and restored. Very interesting. It was occupied from 300 BC to 700 AD. Please don't hold me to these dates. Wow, it is looooong time ago.

They are still restoring as well as discovering more and more. They claim that only 10 percent has been uncovered.

The place was huge. Lots of exercise. It is on the top of a mountain.

This was a very important church. It is where many indigenous were baptized. Our tour guide explains how the indigenous were baptized in large groups. There were just too many to do one at a time.

Lots of history here. Oaxaca is a beautiful city to visit, with lots of history.

This was taken from a balcony inside of the university museum in downtown Oaxaca.

The Zocolo in downtown Oaxaca.

Cathedral, downtown Oaxaca.

Lots of  action downtown, protests seem to be a way of life.