Puebla to Oaxaca by bus

We sleep-in, which is a welcome change after all the early starts since leaving home. Actually, the alarm didn't go off because the battery on the i-phone inexplicably discharged. It was lucky we weren't being picked up until 9:45 a.m. although our driver arrived about half an hour early ... 

Anyway, off to the bus station - a lot of traffic (mucho traffico) and the time passed quickly as I did a few Spanish lessons on the free wi-fi. 

The bus to Oaxaca (pronounced wah-ha-ka) is very modern. We have about a 4.5-hour drive. 

It takes some time - like half an hour - to get out to an autopista (toll road) through the suburbia of Puebla. The country turns then to agricultural land dotted with signs: Es posible el cambio Moreno Valle. Moreno Valle it turns out is the Governor of Puebla and he says: Se necesita un cambio que defienda a México y a los mexicanos, incluso, de Donald Trump, subrayó - all of which means, basically, that he believes that a change is necessary to defend Mexico and Mexicans, including from Donald Trump. 

The road rises through the mountains, the bus making steady progress on the long steep climb. It is very dry. The mountain plateau is quite spectacular. 

 

It is certainly the land of the cactus here! 

There was another shorter climb, then we descended. At 2:15 p.m. (our expected arrival time in Oaxaca), we passed through one of the many toll gates  and I saw a sign 102 kms to go. Clearly we were behind time. 

There was a 3rd climb - very wooded - no cacti. But Oaxaca is at 1555 m so we have been descending overall since the first mountain pass. 

We descend further and eucalypts line the road into Oaxaca, arriving well after 3:30 p.m.  Not a particularly remarkable journey I would have to say, apart from the climb through the first mountain section. 

After checking into our hotel, we set off to make the most of what was left of the day. The temperature was very pleasant as we walked into the zócala (main square), along the way stopping for a yummy icecream which we shared sitting in the delightful Plaza de Santo Domingo. 

The church itself was very nice inside too - lots of gold.

On we went, the sun fast disappearing. The city has a pedestrian car-free zone in parts which makes a wander quite relaxing. Oaxaca is a beautiful old colonial town with lots of arcades and markets where the usual junk is sold but there are some nice shawls, blankets, embroidered blouses as well. Lots of galleries, cafés, restaurants, coffee shops ...

At the zócalo we buy a grilled corn - smothered in Mexican crema (like sour cream but more tangy), salt, squeeze of lime (and we declined the chilli) and finally, rolled in cheese (queso fresco) - from one of the street vendors. Yummy!! (I learn later, this is called an elote).

We wandered some more - I suspect we ended up in the Mercado 20 de noviembre (market) which we will visit again tomorrow on our formal city tour with a guide. 

We had dinner at a cheap place not far from the hotel and just had guacamole and spaghetti carbonara (yes, I know - not very Mexican or adventurous!) and a beer - 350 pesos incl. tip (la propina) or about $US17!!