Oaxaca

The bus to Oaxaca was nice, just really really long. It look a little over six hours with only one stop in some town in the middle of nowhere. The scenery was amazing, it was so beautiful. My watch/altimiter came in handy. Mexico City was always around 7000 feet. We climbed to nearly 10000 feet when on the highway out of the valley, which was quite amazing. Oaxaca is about 4800 feet and still chilly at night. The hostel is nice, but disappointing because there´s no wifi and my room sleeps four, with just me in it, it feels lonely. I was so hungry that I walked to a vegetarian restaurant right away and had dinner around five. Strolled around for awhile and found some neat places. Oaxaca is very walkable and very picturesque. I hear English all over and am feeling lonely because Mexico City was big and I never heard anyone speak English. Tons of Americans here. I am staying at Paulina Hostel, with my own room, but I guess they ran out of singles, so I got the one with four beds. It could be worse, at least its really clean and has a free breakfast. There is free internet at the hostel, too, but its always busy, so I found a place around the corner where a dollar gets you an hour. And it has skype! Good thing I brought some protein bars. Ate one yesterday on the bus ride since there weren´t any stops to get lunch. I was reading that they may cause gastrointestinal irritation, which I interpreted as gas, but came out just fine.
The breakfast here is pretty good and they have organic coffee. Yummy. I went to visit Monte Alban, some old old ruins up on the hill outside of Oaxaca. It was pretty amazing and its a UNESCO site, too, so I was happy to see it well taken care of. The French were everywhere on tour to Monte Alban. I missed the return bus, so I spent an extra hour up there, eating my apple and reading.
Last night I couldn´t find much to do until I stumbled upon a nice cafe upstairs that was showing films and serving coffee....plus pecan pie. OMG it was so good. I read a little, then watched the street parade go by and then watched The Corpse Bride. What a great idea and the cafe was so cool. Went to bed around eleven and was up too early. They don´t start breakfast until eight! Lots of stylish people at the hostel. Ate an apple and read some more.
Am going to do some more walking around and try another coffee place.
Good good food here and I tried the local dish of polano chiles with oaxacan mole and salsa, very good, but a little spicy. Most places advertise organic coffee, which is big here. I think its from Chiapas but don't know for sure. Before I leave, I do want to buy a pound of whole beans to go. Planning to fly home Thursday. Taking a bike ride tomorrow with a local guide, which should be really nice. Its very hilly here and picturesque. Lots of celebrations in anticipation of The Day of the Dead. And I don't have a costume to wear for Halloween. I think I could easily spend a month in Oaxaca.
What a long day! Now I can be a little more leisurely and enjoy my last morning in Oaxaca. I really like this new cafe I found with free wifi and lots of electrical outlets to use. Never realized how much I desperately need electricity when I travel.
I was feeling blue last night, so I booked a bike tour for this morning and then everything seemed wonderful again. I spent awhile at the Cafe last night and listened to two expat teachers go on and on about Mexico and how expensive it is in Oaxaca. Had trouble sleeping because I had that americano too late, but it came with good apple pie. And I had a great crepe with pumpkin, gouda cheese, onions and zucchini. Yummy.
The bike ride was amazing and it kicked my ass. We rode a total of 45 kilometers! Holy cow that was a lot. But it was great and I had such a good time. I ate the other protein bar, so my legs should be on their way to rubgy quality soon enough