summary of first day in Oaxaca city

As I write this Penny and Ali are half way through an afternoon of well deserved pampering. Why well deserved? well they will probably read this that's why.They will spend a couple of hours in a temazcal (meaning in nahuatl , the Aztec language, ..bath house) experiencing therapeutic herbs hanging in a mist of steam created on hot rocks. This is not to be confused with Mezcal treatment which is entirely similar in as much as you can have it on the rocks and it WILL go to your head. Ed is off to explore some galleries to add to the culture he has already consumed in some quantity.
Our first day in Oaxaca involved exploring the centre of the town within walking distance. The nearest church, Snt Domingo where St. Dominic founded the Dominican order, is magnificent and currently undergoing restoration of the interior.
Next to Snt Domingo's is The Museum of Oaxacan cultures where we enjoyed a great exhibition by Lola Cueto .A party of school children were being shown round by their, very patient teacher who started up a polite conversation with Penny obviously not realising that she was retired! There were many exhibits of ancient findings and the building itself was worth a visit. It is surrounded by gardens containing at least all Oaxacan species of cactus. There is also a library where as you can see Ali and Pen did a little light reading.
In the surrounding streets we found some chap doing needlework ..from a distance it looked just like a painting ..impressive. We also found a market . teeming with people and packed to the gunnels with all sorts of goodies and other stuff as well! We were continually approached by "traders" who were under the mistaken impression that we were the slightest bit interested in their wears. But we did buy a table cloth and eight serviettes from one of the stalls. And Pen and Ali got accosted by a clown ..why not.
I was going to write the summary of the three days so far .. no way Jose! I've got some holidaying to do and Pen and Ali have just arrived back looking all shiny HEE .. very healthy I mean. The next post will most likely be from Puerto some time over the weekend or early next week .. we return there tomorrow on an overnight bus.