Ciudad de Oaxaca: Monte Alban, Hierve el Agua

I didn't do all that much in Ciudad de Oaxaca. Tried to find a camera shop that could repair my camera. Failed. Thought about going to various gardens and museums. Didn't. Intended to try the local specialties: chocolate with chile powder (a drink) and deep fried ants (a tasty snack!). Forgot.

It's much prettier green. I saw nuthin' but brown. Photo credit: flickr.

I did manage to drag myself up to Monte Alban, the local ruins. It's like a smaller version of Teotihuacán but on top of a mountain, so with better views. I didn't have all that great of a time and left after an hour and a half or so. Looking at that picture I wonder if maybe I was just in a pissy mood because of the heat and walk. It was at least 85 degrees and painfully sunny and, because I'm cheap, I decided to walk 3km straight uphill from the bus terminus rather than pay for a taxi. Oh well.

It's more than a little bit freaky (Photo credit: flickr).

Semana Santa, the week long celebration of Easter, ended while I was in Ciudad de Oaxaca. It was observed by the Procesion de Silencio, in which dozens of young men dress like Christ and recreate his walk to Golgotha bearing mock crucifixes. For some reason they are accompanied by a bunch of other guys in purple KKK outfits. And this somehow celebrates.. Mary's suffering? Sure, boss, whatever you say.

The celebrations weren't limited to the Procesion de Silencio. There were random fireworks at all hours of the night, parades and bands. My absolute favorite parade wound it's way right by the hostel, lead and trailed by bands while someone set off massive fireworks. It was the ever closer explosions, loud enough to make you jump out of your chair, that led me out into the street to see what the hell was going on. What I saw was absolutely hilarious.

A palanquin with a good sized statue of the Risen Christ, borne on the shoulders of the faithful. Nothing particularly unusual about that. But this was an oddly well lit Risen Christ, given the late hour. And what's that noise? Ah, yes, of course, a mobile diesel generator. To power J.C.'s klieg lights, of course. Obviously, it is critical that our Lord and Savior be highly visible to his adorers, day or night.

Silly parades aside, the clear highlight of Ciudad de Oaxaca was Hierve el Agua, a set of springs about 70km outside of town. The water is over saturated with calcium carbonate, so has created a series of limestone formations as it trickles over the cliffs.

At the top are a series of pools, very popular with local families.


But what's a pool without a view?


We got there early enough to score some pretty choice real estate.


After a couple of hours we decided to check out the other formation.


Looking back on our original perch.


It was a good place to stop for a comtemplative snack.


Quick! Nobody look at the camera!


After our snack, Iza and Aga (more on them in a bit) decreed that we should hike down below the cliffs. Some of us were reluctant to do so due to the heat and our inappropriately flippy floppy footwear.


Iza and Aga were right.


The cliffs were even more impressive from below.


Really, just, wow.


We hiked all the way down below both sets of cliffs, eventually clambering back up almost exactly where we'd started.


Iza, Alanna, Aga and I, triumphant after our hike. This whole thing, Hierve el Agua, checking out the second formation, hiking all the way down and around, all Iza and Aga's ideas. Clearly, the Polish girls are to be followed without question. If they say jump..


..right, well, you know.


Seriously, look where it takes you.

Unless otherwise noted, all photos courtesy of The Polish Girls.