Oaxaca

Thism morning, we're off to the beach...a 6-hour bus ride across the mountains (we have been warned that frequent puking-stops will be necessary...sounds like fun! Thank God I've got my Dramamine packed :)). We are both excited about the beach, so hopefully it will turn out to be all the relaxation we are hoping for. Though the last two weeks have been vacation, too, we have been on the road and on the move constantly. The last two days in Oaxaca have also not been the most relaxing days ever - the city is quite packed with people (likely for another demonstartion, for which Oaxaca is famous?) and LOUD, oh boy! Maybe it's not so much the city itself as the room we ended up with. The hostel (Hostel Paulina) is very nice & clean, it has a beautiful green yard and rooftop terrace and all, but their rooms happen to be out to the street, in the middle of the city center.... hence, you feel you are sleeping on the street. For two days, there has been constant (!) street noise of cars and people walking by, cars honking, buses accelerating, cars honking some more...and the guy across the street who is advertising his business by repeteatedly (by that I mean every 10-20 seconds, from 7 am to 11 pm) screaming something that to us sounds like "gecko". Fun.
Also, I (Lydia) have gotten my first round of anticipated digestive issues (TMI?)...we ahve been warned about it, but I think in my case it has a lot do to with eating irregularly and small portions (try to find something without meat here, especially if your Spanish is barely good enough to say hello and goodbye!). Thankfully, Oaxaca sees lots of tourists and their restaurants seem to cater more to gringo preferences - here you can get pasta, pizza, sandwiches with organic (and disinfected) lettuce, veggie soup (really, without meat!), etc.. Oaxaca is also famous for its chocolate, arts (which, chocolate here jsut might be), and crafts. We enjoyed some of all and will hopefully bring some of each home to share.
I've got to leave you now...it's time for breakfast (a nice, big breakfast with juice and fruit and all :)) and then the bus. Wish us luck for the ride. We shall report from the beach...given that we can find internet access there (we're going to some really tiny places...Mazunte & Zipolite should be on the map).

So then... Adios, once again...