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geri

Apr 15, 2010, 6:14 AM

Post #1 of 12 (7808 views)

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Photos of Oaxaca

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Five albums here, including one of recent visit to eco-tourism pueblo, Benito Juarez.

Well for some reason using the link key above didn't work.

http://www.picasaweb.com/andegeri

(This post was edited by Rolly on Apr 15, 2010, 7:13 AM)

Hound Dog

Apr 15, 2010, 5:44 PM

Post #2 of 12 (7759 views)

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Re: [geri] Photos of Oaxaca

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Five albums here, including one of recent visit to eco-tourism pueblo, Benito Juarez.

The pueblo of Benito Juarez and/or its antecedents, was here a thousand years before the term "eco-tourism" was ever thought up to attempt to spare the surrounding forestlands.

A nice town and not deprived as some might posit.

geri

Apr 16, 2010, 3:46 AM

Post #3 of 12 (7728 views)

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Re: [Hound Dog] Photos of Oaxaca

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Nope. Benito Juarez was founded only 50 years ago by folks fleeing from somewhere, not sure from where or why. No colonial churches or pyramid ruins. They pretty much like to be left alone and screen newcomers carefully. Eco-tourism is their attempt to keep the young from moving away. Dunno if it's working. I think central heating might be more effective!!! It sure is cold. Beautiful and cold, like my home state of N.H.

Hound Dog

Apr 16, 2010, 4:47 AM

Post #4 of 12 (7727 views)

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Re: [geri] Photos of Oaxaca

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Touche, geri. Good research. Dawg is wrong constantly as his Jefa reminds him daily. You are speaking of a place we both love and I commend you for it. If we had not bought a home in Chiapas, that area around Oaxaca City would have been our choice as a place to live. We stay in Teotitlan del Valle every year for at least a few days or longer and, in fact, one of us will be attending a wedding there in a few weeks. All kinds of celebrations go on there seemingly forever and local folks both work and play hard. If you don´t like mescal and beer, stay away or schedule extra AA meetings for the next week. You must know that there is a very well maintained dirt road from Teotitlan to Benito Juarez that goes straight up the mountain a distance of about 12 kilometers. If you haven´t driven it, try it sometime. The view is spectacular.

(This post was edited by Hound Dog on Apr 16, 2010, 4:50 AM)

geri

Apr 16, 2010, 6:06 AM

Post #5 of 12 (7719 views)

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Re: [Hound Dog] Photos of Oaxaca

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Hard to believe, even for me, but about 7 years ago I walked that road! A friend was visiting from Colorado. She was in training for the 100 mile Leadville race (10,000 feet), so she ran up the road for a few minutes then back down to me, etc. etc. I sure was beat when I reached the restaurant in Benito Juarez! By the way, she didn't finish the Leadville race in spite of her excellent "training" in Oaxaca.

No bus was going to the city that day, but lucky for us a couple of men at the next table heard us talking and gave us a ride back to Teotitlan in the back of their truck. For this recent trip, we hired a taxi from Teo (180 pesos). It's easy to get to the valley pueblos by bus, colectivo, etc. but the higher up you go, the dicier public transportation becomes.

Hound Dog

Apr 16, 2010, 6:37 AM

Post #6 of 12 (7716 views)

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Re: [geri] Photos of Oaxaca

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It's easy to get to the valley pueblos by bus, colectivo, etc. but the higher up you go, the dicier public transportation becomes

Ah, yes. a good thing for those inexperienced in high mountain or isolated rural coastal areas to keep in mind. This becomes even more complex in the Chiapas Highlands where some villages may be Zapatista villages and some may be traditional villages and some may be protestant evangelical villages and indigenous folks in these various places may actually dislike each other somewhat intensely wishing upon one another the working end of a machete so one may find that the fortuitous arrival of a small pickup truck that will give one a ride back down the hill in that packed-with-humans pickup is the only way one is not going to be spending the night freezing at 11,000 feet in a place that is dicy enough during the day. To make matters even more complex, that taxi that gave you a ride from, say, Larrainza to Aldama may not and probably will not fetch you when you wish to leave because he will not be welcome to solicit business there. If this happens to you please remember that "indian law" prevails honky interloper.

(This post was edited by Hound Dog on Apr 16, 2010, 6:41 AM)

alex .

Jul 9, 2010, 10:06 AM

Post #7 of 12 (6904 views)

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Re: [geri] no dragon pix?

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That creature isn't still on the loose , is it ?
alex (formerly alex in TJ)

brecky

Jul 10, 2010, 9:54 AM

Post #8 of 12 (6827 views)

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Re: [geri] Photos of Oaxaca

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Great pix!! I hope to visit the area someday ;o)

My travel photography home page:
http://www.worldisround.com/home/brecky/index.html

geri

Jul 10, 2010, 12:04 PM

Post #9 of 12 (6804 views)

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Re: [brecky] Photos of Oaxaca

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Brecky, be sure to look me up when you do! I LOVE to show people around -- to places that tour buses don't go. Nothing wrong with the tours. There are great ones from Oaxaca City, almost free, but then you don't need me...even though I'm free.

geri

geri

Jul 10, 2010, 12:07 PM

Post #10 of 12 (6803 views)

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Re: [alex .] no dragon pix?

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Alex....have been puzzled by this for days. Do you mean Chupacabras that I wrote about a decade ago? No dragons in the mountains of Oaxaca. I'm afraid the climate is too cold, even for fire spitting dragons. But that gives me an idea....if anyone spots a dragon, I'll knit a hat to keep him warm! That's a promise!

(This post was edited by geri on Jul 10, 2010, 12:13 PM)

brecky

Jul 10, 2010, 1:10 PM

Post #11 of 12 (6793 views)

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Re: [geri] Photos of Oaxaca

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Geri - will do. I hope to get there someday, working my way south LOL This winter Morelia, next winter likely Guanajuato or Queretaro. Do you live there full time or just seasonal?

My travel photography home page:
http://www.worldisround.com/home/brecky/index.html

(This post was edited by brecky on Jul 10, 2010, 1:10 PM)

geri

Jul 10, 2010, 3:12 PM

Post #12 of 12 (6775 views)

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Re: [brecky] Photos of Oaxaca

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I live here full time. I found Oaxaca as a travel writer in the mid 1990s. Came here for 3 days, as travel writers are wont to do, stayed 13, went back to Colorado to tie up loose ends, and the rest is history. So, my advice: Save Oaxaca for the last, as you are doing, or else you might just get trapped here!

I still travel the world. Recently: Spain (twice), Peru/Galapagos, Greek Isles, River cruise on the Danube and planned for this September, Turkey. Of course, I weave in one or two yearly visits to family in New England. But Oaxaca is home.