Oaxaca te amamos

In our own words, the top 5 things we will miss the most about living in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Addie’s top 5

1. The clackety clack sound of the car tires as they roll over the cobbled streets
2. Drinking Tejate at the street stand, served in traditional red half gourds called Jicarras, consumed standing, $20 pesos
3. Stephanie, our 10 yo neighbor that frequents our home for small adventures
4. Open aired restaurants, large doors and windows with no glass, open to the sounds of the street
5. The cold icy chocolate milk of Mayodormo on calle Moreles

   

   

   

Jackson’s top 5

1. Tacos Roy, tacos de pastor with extra pina, por favor! “We don’t have those in America, right off the spit.”
2. Mayordomo, getting cold Choco Mio in large glass goblets …“Delicous and savory perfect chocolate drink”
3. “My good friends, Stephanie and Ryder, they are really good friends and I not going to see them again”
4. “Friendly people here, I mean Extreme, you know”
5. “Our apartment, it is roomy, great AC, awesome view of the city, and really comfy beds”

   

   

   

   

Cork’s top 5

1. The history, the colonial vibe, architecture, cobblestone streets, living in an old city
2. The smaller markets, Mercado de la Merced
3. Good cheap tasty food on the street made by old women
4. Living in a home with a balcony that has views of the city, especially the view of the green dome of the theater.
5. Street art, the active young inspired graphic art scene.

   

   

   

   

   

Sukey’s top 5

1. Buying the bulk of our necessities from women and small street vendors instead of stores.  I love my interactions with the Senora who sells tamales on the street, the man who sells fresh basil; every transaction at the market is conducted with smiles and kind words, so personal and intentional.
2. The sounds, there is the honking and traffic noises which can be bothersome, however certain sounds are clear communication.  The man who sharpens knives on his bicycle wheel sharpener travels the neighborhood with a whistle. The tamale vendadorer yells out “Tamale, Tamale” and the steam from his cart makes a sound like a train.  The Gas truck plays cow moos and says Oaxaca over and over again. The booms of firecrackers and sounds of parades, horns and drums.
3. Speaking Spanish and discovering this language, daily learning new words and understanding more and more.
4. Walking everywhere, on normal days we walk an hour or two minimal.  We have not driven a car for 12 months.
5. Eating avocado daily with tamales de chepil, a prehispanic herb.  I have not gotten tired of the daily combination of salsa, beans, corn tortillas, quesillo, vinagared carrots…