[Debconf-discuss] OAXACA
Title: OAXACA
Hello,
sorry for sending this information late. I'll be sending mail by
suggested areas (states). I bought a couple of books (just found them
in spanish) and i'm suggesting in base of what they recommend more.
For this state and some others, I'm taking the english text from
''Travel survival kit' of lonely planet and from web pages, I
link to some of them, from others I just take the text ;)
http://www.planeta.com/oaxaca.html - This is a
great web page. Ron Mader (who lives in Oaxaca) hosts this website,
and is the Latin
America correspondent for Transitions Abroad.
http://www.mexperience.com/guide/colonial/oaxaca.htm - An excellent and well organized site, it is an independent
website, not owned or operated by any government or travel
company.
http://www.oaxaca-travel.com/guide/index.php?lang=us
Also interesting. Juan Antonio Ruiz
We have a couple of 'official' sites but very bad ones, some of
them are not in english, if you want to take a look:
http://www.gobiernodeoaxaca.gob.mx/web/index.php?option=com_content&task=section&id=6&Itemid=76 -
http://www.aoaxaca.com/oaini.php
http://www.visitmexico.com/wb2/
More questions? need information about some place?, be free to
ask.
Greetings!
-gabriela
======================================================================
OAXACA
('waHA-ka')
City and surroundings
average temp.: 18 C-64.40 F (Rains tend to start during the months of April
thru November, but as with most monsoon areas, rains tend to be fierce
and brief in the late afternoon, leaving the evenings dry and cooled
off.)
transportation from Mexico City:
buses from Terminal de Autobuses de Oriente (TAPO) $350 -
$550 pesos (6 to 6:30 hrs) - ADO, ADO GL and UNO
airplains: 1,535.00 - 2,500.00 (1 hr.) - líneas azteca,
aviacsa, mexicana de aviacion, aeromexico www.despegar.com.mx
1 peso = 10.62 dollars
The rugged sothern state of Oaxaca reaches to within just 250 km
of Mexico City but, divided from central Mexico by ranks of
hard-to-penetrate mountains, remains a whole world away in
atsmosphere. It enjoys a slower, sunnier existence and somehow magical
quality that has something to do with the rocky dry landscape, the
remoteness, the bright southern light, the sparse population, and the
high proportion of Indians, who are the driving force behind Oaxaca
state's especialy fine handicrafts.
Oaxaca City has become a big travel destination, but remains
beautiful, lively, artistic and colonial. Around the city, in the
Central Valleys of Oaxaca, are thriving village markest ans
spectacular ruins ofr pre-Hispanic Indians towns like Monte Alban and
Yagul. On the Oaxaca coast, Mexico's newest megaresort is growing up
on the lovely Bahias de Huatulco. Puerto Escondido and Puerto Angel
are older beach spots which will probably always remain small-scale
and more laid-back.
There's also enough Indian-inhabited back country, as far from
Oaxaca city in culture and traveling time as Oaxaca is from Mexico
City, to offer a lifetime's exploring- though initially you may get a
cautious reception since the people have been driven to these retreats
by centuries of conflict.
Interesting facts:
16 indigenous groups living in this state (there is not
another state with such diversity), Zapotecos y Mixtecos (about
500,000 each), Mazatecos y Mixes.
This area
was given to Hernan Cortes after the Spanish Conquest, in return for
his services to the Spanish Crown.
Benito
Juarez (called the Oaxaca's Lincoln), an indigenois zapoteca, the
first liberal president of Mexico was born here, also Porfirio Diaz
was born here, and he also was president (considered a dictator) from
1877 until the Mexican Revolution in 1910.
Oaxaca and Monte Alban were declared a world heritage site.
In Mitla you will find 'El Tule' , a 2,000-year-old living tree
(58 metre
circumference; 14 metre diameter; 42 metres high)
http://www.planeta.com/ecotravel/mexico/oaxaca/tule.html
Recomended places:
Arqueological sites:
* Monte Alban: was the capital city of the Zapotec nation, and one
of the first and most populated Meso-American cities during its peak.
It was founded in approximately 500 BC, flourishing until 750 AD.
Located in the centre of the Oaxacan Valley, Monte Albán exercised
political, economical and ideological control over other communities
in the valley and surrounding mountains.
* Mitla: The word Mitla or "Mictlan" comes from
Náhuatl, which means "World of the Dead" or
"Underworld". In Zapotec, it is called "Lyobaa",
which means "Burial Ground". Aztecs named it "Mitlan"
[World of the Dead] until it finally evolved to the Spanish version:
Mitla. It was the second most important ceremonial centre after Monte
Albán.
was inhabited in the Classic period (100 to 650 AD), reaching its peak
during the Post- Classic period (750 to 1521 AD).
* Yagul: "Ya-gule" means "Dry Tree or
Stick". It is the most important ballgame court of the Oaxacan
region, and the second most important in Mesoamerica. It flourished as
an urban centre after the fall of Monte Albán (800 AD). After a
short period of abandonment, Yagul flourished again and became a
city-state in the Valley of Oaxaca, which prevailed until shortly
before the arrival of the Spanish.
Lambityeco: it was occupied between 600 BC and 800 AD., reaching
its peak from 700 to 750 AD, which coincides with the eventual
desertion of Monte Albán.
* Dainzú: "hill of the cactus" in
zapotec".
Evidence of occupation from 750 BC until 1,000 AD. The most
interesting point is a stone bas-relief gallery portraying ball
players dressed in Pre-Hispanic garments, involved in violent
activity. Four figures that are probably the Gods of Fire are another
sight worth seeing.
Oaxaca City
Zocalo y alameda. Zocalo is the geographical and social heart of
Oaxaca. Shady, traffic-free and lined with cafes and restaurantes,
it's the perfect place to relax and watch the city go by. The adjacent
Alameda, also traffic free but without cafes, is another popular
localgathering place.
http://www.mexperience.com/guide/colonial/oaxaca.htm#KeyAtt
Accomodation in Oaxaca city
* Bottom end most places in this range are in the noisy,
crowded streets south and west zocalo, but several of the better deals
are to be found in the other sides of town.
I'm puting this links to give you some idea about prices, but in
th elonely planet guide they recomend others hotels, if you are
interested just ask me to give you more details.
http://www.hostalpochon.com/ 75 pesos per night per
person
http://www.geocities.com/luznuyoo/ 70
http://www.paulinahostel.com/ 125 pesos
* Middle - this range has some good value hotels with
prices kept low by competition. for the best, reservations are
advisable.
http://www.oaxaca-mio.com/real.htm Hotel Real
de antequera - $438 pesos
http://www.gala.com.mx/ hotel Gala - since 53
dollars
* Top end
http://www.hotelfortinplaza.com.mx/ since $840
pesos $1040.00 in this web page the mention that you have to add the
tax of 18%
FOOD
Oaxaca is
famous for its slow food ... and slower drink. This region offers
tasty specialties you won't find elsewhere in Mexico.
Eat at restaurants and markets the specialities: Mole, Chocolate,
tejate, mushrooms, grasshoppers and worms!, etc.
Drink Mezcal. - Mezcal (sometimes spelled 'mescal') is a distilled
liquor made from the agave plant. A strong smoky drink that symbolizes
local culture and tradition, what tequila is to Jalisco, mezcal is to
Oaxaca
MEXICO --
Mezcal (sometimes spelled 'mescal') is a distilled liquor made from
the agave plant. A strong smoky drink that symbolizes local culture
and tradition, what tequila is to Jalisco, mezcal is to
Oaxaca.
check the mezcal guide ;)
http://www.planeta.com/ecotravel/mexico/oaxaca/oaxacafood2.html
Note about vegetarian food:
Mexico is
NOT known for great vegetarian dining. Yes, there are exceptional
restaurants and veggie-friendly locals, but meat (carne) is often
served. When asking for comida sin carne, don't be surprised if there
is chicken. "But chicken is not meat," some cooks profess,
suggesting that only beef (res de carne) is really meat.
On the plus side, Oaxaca is known for its famous cheeses. It's easy to
order a terrific quesadilla with cheese and pumpkin flower. Another
local dish pleasing to vegetarians and carnivores alike is the
tlayuda, the "Oaxacan Pizza" -- a large corn tortilla loaded
with beans, cabbage and avocado. It can be topped with
meat.
Beaches
http://www.costachica.net/english/index.html
-
http://www.oaxaca-travel.com/guide/tips.php?section=tips&lang=us&getdoc=true&atractivo=02.02.01.05 - tips about
beaches in Mexico.
* Puerto
Escondido (hiden port): best known by surfers from all over the
world.
http://www.mexperience.com/guide/beaches/puertoescondido.htm
http://www.mexicodesconocido.com/english/deportes/acuaticos/detalle.cfm?idpag=1898&idsub=98&idsec=27
http://www.costachica.net/pt_escondido/english/index.html general
info, prices, accomodation, etc.
* Huatulco -
"The Bays of Huatulco" (Las bahías de Huatulco) - there
are nine in total - and between them they are host to 36 stunningly
attractive beaches - featuring soft sands and crystal clear blue
waters off the Pacific coast in Mexico's State of Oaxaca.
http://www.mexperience.com/guide/beaches/huatulco.htm
*
Mazunte
http://www.costachica.net/mazunte/english/index.html
general info, prices, accomodation, etc.
http://www.mexicodesconocido.com/english/naturaleza/fauna/detalle.cfm?idpag=1693&idsub=42&idsec=11 about a turtle center
here
* Puerto
Ángel - nudist beach
http://www.costachica.net/pt_angel/english/index.html
mmh.. no much information
* Zipolite -
nudist beach
http://www.tomzap.com/zipolite.html - very complete
info about this beach
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