Voyage Express

The day stay lured with Monte Albán, which was 2 hours total. 1 hour of guided tour and another hour unhinged free to roam as we wish. This place is so big we were kinda rushing at the end, we though we were gonna left behind! I recommend bringing lunch or snacks and your own water as you will pay a premium at the entrance. Btw for the drone operators out there no drones are permitted.

We then went see some Alebrijes, is only the animal that has more than one form, which where amazing carved from a specific wood. They showed us the process, from choosing the wood, until the drying process. Once you arrive actually get to see artisans working and interacting with the hem is limited and if feels like a tourist trap to buy wears.

We then stopped for lunch which again was another tourist trap costing 150 pesos for lunch buffet style. And because this time we were not so isolated, we ventured 4 minutes away and the 2 of us ate at the cost of 72 pesos having three chicken tlayudas with a soda. The lovely lady at the little restaurant told us we werent the only tourist who have eaten there from the tours, so we felt happy some people try to look out of their bubble too.

When rushed off to spend 20 minutes at a church “La Casa de Cortes” which was build in Oaxaca in the early colonial days by the Dominicans. We stumbled around ruins for 20 minutes and seen a spot where Pope John Paul the 2nd had given mass, it was enough to to make Melissa smile. It was quite and peaceful.

Then we where rushed off to the Doña Rosa ceramics workshop.  We seen a quick cast of a clay water pitcher, learned how long it takes and the use of the wares as well as the competition with plastic for household wares.
It for me was the most pleasant of all seeing the artists and being in personal environment with her. Learning how she did it start to finish. But again it roped you into a tourist trap. If I had a house I would have donated Rosa artisan guild pieces in my house but as we are nomadic there is no place to accumulate anything other than essential.

The cost was 25 dollars CAD each and in pesos around 350. For the cost I would say it was worth it. You also had to pay admission of 75 pesos to Monte Albán.

Just be reminded that this is orchestrated to get you to spend money. And although the very nice me as an artist I wanted to see and hear the artists story more than buy wears they make for tourists to buy. That being said we bought Melissa’s auntie a clay cat. It is beautiful. Tours are nice for off days but I can’t see Melissa and I doing much of this more as it eats into the budget and it doesn’t give us the freedom to interact like we like to.

We end being heaped into a pool of tourists and packed like sardines shuffled from stop to stop and ejected at the end of the day like a used diaper. They are relieved to have us gone. If you are just along for a ride it’s heaps of fun, I didn’t find a friend today but I found a couple of obnoxious tourists, or people in general they where polite but needy and whine over trivialities beyond the guide me and the weather. If an exciting day full of characters from all walks of life speeding all sorts of languages, this tour is for you. Otherwise find a local pay a bit more and get a personal eclxoerince, today we where just a number and without a crowd to fund the fun filled day if was just good but nothing exceptional.

We beaten our tour at 9 Am arriving at the Zocalo at 9:30 as we where directed, then waited until 10:30 before leaving on our day of adventure and arrived home at 6:30 or 7 Pm do a jam packed day full of transit and mediocre company. This tour with each people from the last one excluding the guide driver and can would have made this trip the best thing since sliced bread.