OAXACA CITY FAVORITES

WELCOME TO WONDERFUL OAXACA CITY!!!

Welcome to Oaxaca City! My husband and I are currently living “La Vida Buena” in Oaxaca City which is the capital of the state of Oaxaca. Oaxaca is a vibrant and exciting city which combines beautiful and historical Spanish colonial buildings with traditional residential and commercial areas. This blog is NOT a professional tourist guidebook nor does it contain any hidden agenda. It is simple my personal take on this amazing city and some of my favorite things it has to offer. My focus is on the city’s rich art and cultural offerings, its restaurants, shops, and a few of its special hotels. I make no claim to being comprehensive or neutral. My list is not exhaustive, but it does include the places that I most enjoy. These are my personal recommendations which I would share with my very best friends when they come to visit. I hope they will be valuable to you when you come to Oaxaca and say hello!

Oaxaca is an easy city to navigate. Its historical center is small and almost everything you might want to see is within walking distance. The heart of the city is the shady zocalo which is the main .plaza. It is outlined with sidewalk cafes and the Cathedral which is on the north side. It is a great place to people watch and to have a meal or light refreshment So let’s get started!

THE MUST- SEE HISTORIAL AND CULTURAL ATRACTIONS:

• The Cathedral (on the zocalo)
• The Santo Domingo Church and the attached Museum of Oaxacan Cultures (on the Alcala pedestrian walkway)
• The Basilica de Nuestra Senora de la Soledad (on Calle Independencia)
• The Rufino Tamayo Museum – Prehispanic Art collection (on Calle Morelos) - A LAURA FAV!
  
• The Museum of Oaxacan Painters (Calle Independencia at corner of Garcia Vigil) - A LAURA FAV!
  
• The Textile Museum of Oaxaca (Calle Hidalgo at corner of Fiallo) - A LAURA FAV!
  
• The Belber Jimenez Museum – private collection (Calle Matamoros)
• Henestrosa Library and Casa de la Ciudad – Calle Morelos)

I THINK IT’S TIME FOR A BREAK!!! YOU DESERVE A COLD AGUA FRESCO (FRESH FRUIT DRINK), CERVEZA, OR SHAVED ICE. RELAX AND ENJOY!

WHERE TO SHOP UNTIL YOU DROP:

• Benito Juarez Mercado (very colorful and traditional/my favorite for ambiance!), A LAURA FAV!
  
• Abastos Mercado (the “grand-daddy” of them all! It’s huge and a great place to get lost!
• Mercado de las Artesanias (handicrafts and traditional clothing) Don’t forget to bargain!
• Outdoor Mercado at Labastida Park – near Santo Domingo Church – great local venue with typical clothing and jewelry.
• MARO – a cooperative of women artisans with a large selection of arts and crafts. Calle Cinco de Mayo
• La Mano Magica (on Macedonia Alcala), La Catrina Chimalli (on Garcia Vigil), and Hecmafer Bazar Artesanal (on Cinco de Mayo) – very special shops

ART GALLERIES GALORE!!

Oaxaca has become one of Mexico’s main art centers and there are dozens of art galleries showing and selling art work in all media. Although Oaxaca is especially known for its graphic art - painting, sculpture, ceramics and photography are all well represented. Here are just some of the many fine galleries in Oaxaca. Check them out!

• Galeria Quetzalli, Constitucion #104-1
• Galeria 910, 2nd floor of Alcala 305
• Sonrya Galeria, Alcala 102
• Arte de Oaxaca, Murguia 105
• Galeria Indigo, Allende 104 - A LAURA FAV!
  
• Galeria Linda Fernandez, Gurrion, between Alcala and 5 de Mayo
• Galeria La Mano Magica
  

ARE YOU HUNGRY YET???

Oaxaca is one of the primary cuisine centers of Mexico. The variety of regional dishes is extensive and unique. Oaxaca is internationally known for its moles (sauces of many ingredients) and its chocolate (both of which are great souvenirs to take home). But you haven’t been to Oaxaca until you at least try the chipulines (fried and seasoned grasshoppers!). The variety of restaurants and culinary delights will keep the lucky visitor busy and happy for many, many meals. The following are just a few of my personal favorites:

• La Biznaga (Calle Garcia Vigil #512) – both comida (“lunch”) and cena (“dinner”) nice covered patio with daily specials of “nueva cocina Mexicana) - A LAURA FAV!
  
• Casa Oaxaca – (Calle Constitucion #104) very expensive and reservations recommended!
• Como Agua pa’Chocolate (Hidalgo #612) second floor around corner of zocalo with extensive menu of creative cuisine
• Marco Polo (Pino Suarez #808 across from Llano Park) – GREAT SEAFOOD - especially the outdoor oven-baked dishes! Serves comida until 6 PM in garden setting. Go hungry and enjoy! - A LAURA FAV!
  

• There are dozens of other wonderful eating venues including the small and usually family-run restaurants that serve “comida corrida”, a simple fixed price lunch of several courses at very reasonable cost. Try them!!!

• There are dozens of local street stands/stalls preparing wonderful and fresh ready-to go food. A majority of the offerings are prepared with freshly made tortillas which you watch being made. Whenever and wherever you see a group of locals standing and waiting to be served you can bet the food is great, safe, and cheap. My favorite street stand is in on Garcia Vigil across the street from the Juarez House Museum. You have to be patient since everything is made to order and the locals love it! Enjoy!! A LAURA FAV!
  

ARE YOU READY TO SLEEP???

Oaxaca has an incredible variety of accommodations from deluxe five star hotels to backpacker cheapl. I frequently use tripadviser.com to start a search of possible places to sleep and stay when we are going to a new area. In addition, we have stayed at the following when arriving in Oaxaca before we settle into our rental property. We prefer staying in smaller and moderate priced Bed and Breakfasts and Inns. We enjoy the personal attention of the owners and the opportunity of meeting fellow travelers and guests that you customarily meet in such venues. Here are our favorites:

• HOTEL LAS MARIPOSAS (Pino Suarez #5l7) next door to OAXACA LENDING LIBRARY (where I volunteer weekly as the “greeter”). The very friendly owner, Teresa Villareal, is very helpful and well-informed. Great gardens and a continental breakfast which is included. www.lasmariposas.com.mx

• CASA ARNEL (Aldama 404, Colonial Jalatlaco) in the quiet and charming residential area of Jalatlaco (5 minute walk to Parque Llano/Oaxaca Lending Library) is an economical and friendly two-story inn surrounding a jungle-like garden and with a large roof-top terrace. Different types of rooms with appropriate pricing. Good breakfast offered at additional cost. The husband and wife owners are very pleasant and helpful. www.casaarnel.com.mx

• HOTEL AZUCENAS (Prof. M. Aranda 203 at Matamoros) – a restored colonial home with ten rooms and an incredible roof-top terrace with amazing views. One block from Basilica Soledad and five blocks from zocalo Recommended by my California travel agent- owner friend. www.hotelazucenas.com.

• ALSO CHECK OUT THIS SITE FOR GREAT PLACES TO SLEEP AND STAY: oaxacabedandbreakfast.org

UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN, I HOPE YOU HAVE FOUND THIS INFORMATION USEFUL. MY NEXT BLOG WILL BE MORE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OTHER ACTIVITIES WHILE VISITING OAXACA. SEE YOU SOON! "MOTHER" LAURA