Mitla, Tlacolula, and El Tule
From Oaxaca we went by shared taxi to Mitla, a village and archaeological site about 25
miles (40km) southwest of Oaxaca.  As is the custom with shared taxis ("peseros") in Mexico,
we agreed with our taxi driver on a fare to Mitla and he remained free to add (and collect
fares from) any additional passengers he picks up along the way.  He picked up several.
The ruins we visited in Mitla were in better condition than those we had seen in Monte
Alban. Although the Mitla site was much smaller it included standing walls and columns,
interesting bas reliefs, as well as mosaics.
After completing our visit to the Mitla ruins we walked through the village to the bus station.  
Along on that walk we met a funeral procession on its way to the cemetery, led by men
carrying the coffin followed by a parade of mourners.
The main "palace" in Mitla, near Oaxaca.
One of several similar Mitla structures.
Bas relief wall corner decorations, Mitla, Oaxaca.
Mitla wall decorations.
After ending our archaeological tour of the ancient ruins in Mitla we visited the village
church.
Exterior of Mitla's village church.
Interior of Mitla's village church.
Mitla churchgoers.
Case in Mitla's church displaying a
religious relic.  Many Mexican
churches have such a case containing
a fragment of the Saint's body
(usually a small part of bone) and a
representation of the Saint's full
body.  This Saint is unusual in that
he is shown lying on his stomach.
The tail of a funeral procession in Mitla, Oaxaca, Mexico.
From Mitla we went on ashort busride to the village of Tlacolula, famous for its large
Sunday  market.  We walked through the Tlacolula market on a Sunday afternoon, but it was
late and some of the stands were closing.  The market was devoted primarily to non-food
items.  After seeing the market we visited Tlacolula's Santo Cristo chapel with many
intricate gold and silver decorations and statues of suffering martyrs.   Then by bus back to
Oaxaca.
At the Tlacolula bus station, waiting
for the bus.   The men with the large
bags probably closed their market
stands for the day and are returning
home with unsold goods.  The women and
children look as if they have been
shopping and are now going home with
their purchases.
We had planned to stop in El Tule on our way back from Mitla and Tlacolula but we had
stayed in those two towns longer than expected and therefore delayed our visit to El Tule
until the following morning.
The following day we took a bus to the village of El Tule, about eight miles (13km) from
Oaxaca.   The village is named for its famous tree, a giant cypress whose trunk has a 45ft
(14 meter) diameter, a height of 135 ft (42m), and is said to be more than two thousand
years old.  It is Mexico's oldest and most famous tree.  We were impressed!
Our bus to El Tule, near Oaxaca, Mexico
Plaque with the Tule tree's statistics.
El Tule.  The trunk appears to consist of several trunks fused together,
but it is said that DNA evidence proves that it is a single trunk.
After admiring the tree and visiting the adjoining  
church we took a walk around the village.
In El Tule we had lunch in an open-air
restaurant, where we saw the above still.