Our second day of adventures in Oaxaca was packed with a lot more sights than just the Monte Albán ruins.
Getting picked up early in the morning by a driver who ran red lights and laughed at our insistence on wearing seatbelts, our first stop was El Árbol del Tule – one of the biggest and oldest trees in the world.
The pictures I took did little to capture it’s incredible size.
A few days into Oaxaca and I was ready to leave. The incident on my first night had soured the way I was seeing the city and, as I wandered the streets alone, I was becoming less and less convinced that I’d find anything that would hold my interest anymore.
I made plans to cut my trip short and head to the bus station as soon as possible to buy my ticket to D.F.
But then I met a group of girls who changed everything; A group of girls who helped make up the wandering circus that I would be part of for the rest of the week.
We all came together from completely different backgrounds, with completely different missions, but held fast to each other, willing to spill our secrets and share experiences within minutes of meeting.
These girls helped me explore more of the beauty Oaxaca had to offer with added fun, laughter and ultimate fierceness.
Why were we the circus?
It’s pretty accurate to say we didn’t blend in well.
I, the paler than pale Brit with green eyes and a 5’8″ frame, had got quite accustomed to being stared at while walking down the street in this country. The mind still boggles why people who look like gringas still receive so much staring when a lot of these cities are packed with tourists during the high season.
Then there was Killy, a tall, slender Taiwanese girl full of giggles and positivity; Arielle, a tiny, kickass New Zealander who was born in Malaysia; And, last but not least, Karine, a stunning 6’0″ African American girl from New York who rocked her shaved head and sass like it was nobody’s business.
Everywhere we went, heads would turn.
Oaxaca was the first place I was truly alone in.
Up until then I’d been surrounded by friends who were studying alongside me or joining me for the ride.
At San Cristóbal de las Casas, however, I faced the prospect of carrying on my adventures as a solo traveller. Daniel left early to catch a flight from Mexico City to South America; Frankie returned to the Caribbean.
I arrived in Oaxaca feeling excited and eager to explore this city.
I initially hadn’t even thought about making a stop here – After all, I was eager to see D.F. and find a place to get settled in. But after dozens of recommendations from friends and fellow travellers over the last two months, Oaxaca sounded like a state I couldn’t just drift through.
And, sure enough, it was lovely.
I arrived at my hostel around midday and was pleased to find probably one of the best shared dorms I’ve ever come across – Very spacious and clean; Curtains surrounding each bed for your own privacy; A little lamp next to it too so you could stay awake reading at night without disturbing the other guests. Lovely.
The hostel was practically empty too so there was a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere among those hanging out in the living area and the staff.
After taking the obligatory post-11 hour bus ride nap, I decided to venture out to explore some of the city and grab some food.
