WOW – my first week in Oaxaca – bit of a blur as each day was filled with tasks, errands, school, wandering, finding my way about and figuring it out. Using English, Spanish and Spanglish I enrolled in la escuela de Espanol (Spanish Majic), 4 days/wk, 3 hrs/day and jumped in immediately on Tuesday. 

Upon searching the apartmento, hotel, hostel and bed and breakfast market I opted to stay at Hostel Yabanhi where I originally booked and negotiated a better price.

I have a private room and bath, includes a modest breakfast, is located 4 blocks from El Centro and the best aspect is the lovely rooftop terrace that overlooks Oaxaca, where the outdoor communal kitchen is located. It is owned and run by a lovely Mexican family whom I have developed a good relationship and I think want to adopt me. Hostels are a fascinating space for meeting the travelers of the world. This week I shared conversations and mezcal with a couple from France, a young women from Iceland and a lesbian couple, one from New Zealand and the other from South Africa (now that was an interesting back story).

Besides wandering the many barrios, finding a few fabulous, local restaurants, locating the bus station, I signed up for a class about mezcal, a Oaxcan cooking class, a walking tour of the city and registered at the English-speaking library (they offer lectures, tours, hikes, Spanish conversation get-togethers, books, CDs and more). I have also scoped out the gyms, yoga classes y la una piscina in la ciudad.

I’ve located the primary mercados, small mini mercados for basic groceries and perused the overwhelming street vendors, tiendas and mercados selling beautiful tapestries, clothing, pottery, art, y mas.

A productive week – No wonder I was tired when I woke up this morning!