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Hola todos
I arrived in Oaxaca, Mexico yesterday (1st Nov) with Megan and Michelle from Hostel Amigo in Mexico City.
The journey was approximately 6 hours by bus, but the scenery along the way was pretty cool. It was what you would envisage the Mexico country side to look like, quite arid, hilly and full of cacti.
We arrived for the day of the dead celebrations, which are particularly famous in this area of Mexico. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died (straight out of Wikipedia baby).
We were meeting some of the others from Hostel Amigo here too, like Paul who is currently learning Spanish with a home stay, Collin, Andy and Megha. We were all pretty much staying in different hostels as it just gets so busy around this period, with tourists and Mexicans alike. Myself and Andy are staying at a place called Mezkelito Hostel, which is pretty nice and pretty central to everything.
After arriving myself, Megan and Michelle went to meet everyone in the Zocalo (town square). The celebrations were going on everywhere, they really do go to town with it. There are huge decorated skulls in the streets, bands playing music, everyone is dressed up in all kinds of crazy outfits (some pretty scary ones), there's loads of dancing, and the whole area is decorated, it is a real spectacle.
After grabbing some food we all headed to the local cemetery where the locals go to pay their respects and where loads of the celebrations occur. It is a crazy site to see people messing around in fancy dress, playing jokes on one another and drinking alcohol, in what is a grave yard. However it is really great, instead of the place being super morbid (the usual association) it is vibrant with extravagant graves, that in some cases resemble small houses, loads of people enjoying themselves and decorations everywhere...........its a great celebration.
After strolling through the cemetery we explored the vast markets, selling all kinds of nik nacks and awesome local food. It really is a carnival atmosphere here, there are fair ground rides, the lot.
After exploring the area we settled in to a bar and drank the local spirit, which I can't for the life of me remember the name of, but it was super strong, like tequila on steroids :) All in all it was a pretty cool first nights experience in Oaxaca.
The following day all of us bar Paul, as he has Spanish school went to visit the local ruins called Monte Alban. The site was pretty impressive, set over quite a large area and on numerous levels. The structures here resemble pyramids but are called platforms.
It was a cool day just strolling leisurely around the site with everyone, before hitting day 2 (the last day) of the celebration. The atmosphere again in the Zocalo was great, I am not sure whether it was as intense as yesterdays celebrations, nonetheless it was still buzzing. We all just had food, soaked up the atmosphere and went clubbing with the locals, it was pretty sweet.
Today is probably going to be fairly chilled, there are a few more sites to be seen around the area, such as Hierve el Agua, a calcified formation that resembles a bubbling waterfall, which is meant to be pretty cool and the largest tree (in circumference) in the world. The trees circumference is said to be 11 meters, so that could be a site.
Myself, Andy and Megha are all heading to San Cristobel de las Casas tonight. It is meant to be kinda like Oaxaca but a little less touristy. It is a natural stopping point before we all head to Palenque, which is one of the most famous set of ruins in Mexico.
After this we will all head our separate ways and I will begin my treck down to Antigua, Guatemala, where I will begin Spanish school which I am really looking forward to.
I think that's it for now folks. I'll speak to you all soon.
Lots if love x
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