In the evening we had dinner the "Casa de Mi Abuela" (House of my grandmother) restaurant
on the Zocalo square.   The amplified noise in the square was such that we thought it best to
eat inside the restaurant rather than at on of the restaurant's outdoor tables.  Noise was a
real problem for us in central Oaxaca.  The restaurant's food was good and the atmosphere
pleasant.
Oaxaca
7 to 14 July 2004
From the Oaxaca airport we took a taxi to the Hotel Las Rosas, less than a block from the
Zocalo, Oaxaca's main square.
After checking into the hotel we found an ATM where we got Mexican pesos at the rate of
about 11 pesos per US$.  Then for dinner we walked to a restaurant on the Zocalo,   The
Zocalo is a beautiful traditional park with a bandstand in the center and surounded by
attractive colonial buildings, many with ground floor restaurants and bars extending into the
street for outdoor dining and drinking.   The park and surrounding area was filled with
visitors,  strolling mariachis and many kinds of vendors, marimba orchestras, political
demonstrators, singers, etc., most of whom used much electronic amplification.  While dining
on the street in front of our restaurant the scene was beautiful but there was so much
background  noise that it was almost impossible to converse.  The following day, during a
quiet time, Virginia took the following pictures at the Zocalo:
The Zocalo viewed from a restaurant across the street.
Restaurants bordering the Zocalo
Oaxaca's Cathedral, which faces the Zocalo.
The Zocalo scene of political demonstrations
The Hotel Las Rosas had a certain charm.  An traditional two-story colonial building in the
shape of a hollow square with a patio in the center.  Surrounding  the patio was a long
balcony which provided access to the rooms.  Rooms at the front of the hotel had windows
which faced the loud street but rooms (including ours) on the other three sides had only
small windows facing the balcony.  The rate was 400 pesos (US$36) per night.
Courtyard of the Hotel de las Rosas.
Our room was one flight up.
The Hotel de las Rosas was almost next door to the
Cathedral.  Photo was taken from our hotel's roof.
But room in the Hotel Las Rosas was dark and dingy,  The following morning, 8 July, I took a
walk on the neighboring streets to look at some of the other hotels in our price range.   We
then moved to the nearby Hostal Santa Rosa, in a newer building, better than our first hotel,
Hotel Las Rosas.   The nightly rate was the same.  We discovered too late that sounds from
other rooms in the Hostal Santa Rosa echoed down an airshaft into our room throughout the
night.
Above is a view of our room in the Hostal Santa Rosa.
To the right is a man on the street sharpening knives
and scissors.  Sitting on the seat he uses the pedals to
move the chain which turns the wheel which moves the
belt which turns the grinding wheel.
We took a walk to two major markets, the Juarez and the 20th of November Markets.  We
had lunch at a stand in the Juarez Market and then bought some fruit, cheese and bread to
bring back to our room.
Above, our lunch being cooked at a
restaurant stand in the Juarez Market.
To the left, a spice stand in the market.
We visited Oaxaca's municipal building located at the Zocalo.  In Mexico each town and city
generally has a central square with the Cathedral on one side and the most important
government building on another side.   Oaxaca is no exception.  
The walls of many public buildings throughout Mexico are decorated by beautiful murals,
usually depicting historical events.  Most of the murals are executed in the style of Diego
Rivera and David Siqeiros, with strong messages of political protest and revolution.    
Oaxaca is no exception.
Two murals in a stairway of Oaxaca's Municipal Building.