Youngest Snowbirds in Oaxaca

So...it turns out that you get a free case of beer with the entry fee to Oaxaca's midnight Drag Ball. We took a chance on Valentines day to dance the night away with some of Mexico's prettiest er..ladies and had a killer time. Cross dressing is celebrated in several small towns on the isthmus in Oaxaca and no place was livelier than on the dance floor last night. This article is an interesting read about the history of these festivals and the people that participate- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/09/third-gender-muxes_n_1949638.html.

Thats right, a case of beer free with your entry.

The finalists

The Oaxaca Lending Library has been a great resource for us after we decided to rent a place and stick around for a few months. Aside from great lectures, events and classes, they are affiliated with a hiking/mountain biking group (hoofingitinoaxaca.com). Its been a great way to get out into the mountains around the city and a fun way to meet the locals and other folks 'wintering' down here. Several of the hikes have been around the Pueblos Mancomunados, eight remote villages in the highlands above Valle de Tlacolula. Isolated single track, crisp mountain air, and a real look at the life of the indigenous Mixteca culture around every turn. 

It seems that half the people of Canada spend a part of their winters here and we've met some pretty wonderful Canucks, eh, heck, darn etc. :) You know who you are! Its been fun (and difficult at times, but fun) transitioning from driving every other day to spending more time learning about a particular place, making friends and discovering the hidden gems that most all cities have. Its cause to celebrate for example, when you find the perfect bagel shop hidden in a plaza or a tiny organic food mart thats got fish sauce so you can finally bust out the pad thai noodles you've been lugging around with you for months.

We rode 13km of (steep) downhill from Benito Juarez to Latuvi, then thumbed it back.

Refueling. This spread was small compared to most others nearby!

 

eat your heart out Pistils! air plants everywhere!!

everywhere.

The apartment we leased is part of a building thats got about 20 casas. The woman that built the place was the daughter of the U.S. Consulate to Mexico half a century ago. She was very loved by the locals and 'snowbirds' alike and ran a very successful textile business here in Oaxaca for many years. There are several residents in the building that have been living here for 15 years or more and the atmosphere around the building and its courtyards is very good. Sunsets and Mezcal abound!!!

mezcal, mezcal, mezcal....amazing happy hours

The rooftop view

Neighbors Dave and Marilyn are Mezcal Aficionados and make a helluva cocktail weenie!

thats Lindsay having second thoughts about the rickety ladder to the lookout tower near Benito Juarez....she eventually made it.

just a terrible way to spend the afternoon after a hike. if you don't already own an Eno hammock, go buy one now.

the view at approx 10,000ft looking out over the village of Benito Juarez in the foreground, and the town of Teotitlan del Valle on the valley floor about 4000ft below 

Lindsay at the futbol game last week! Alebrijes win!!!

and of course, delicious crickets!