The random blessings of Oaxaca

September 11, 2023

When coming to Oaxaca, it’s easy to drop the frenetic necessity of planning an interesting day. Just walk out the door and keep your eyes and heart open.

I awoke with sounds of roosters and buses today after a wonderful night’s sleep. David’s apartment is tucked back away from a busy street just enough to give some peace and quiet. After having the last of the yoghurt and a banana, I was still hungry for breakfast, so I walked down Porfirio Diaz to the Sanchez fresh market. There I got a wonderful shake with a variety of fruits advertised as a digestive. It tasted great and I felt energized for the day.

After doing a little work, I headed out for a shopping trip to the big market downtown where you can buy anything. It’s calle the 25th of November market. There I ran into Diana, who I had seen in Zoquitlán, and is a resident of Odessa, Michigan. She has many relatives there. I tried to comfort her regarding the rude behavior of one of the church staff and the disappontment she experienced. We both bought some things for gifts and I thanked her husband for letting her dance with me in Zoquitlán . As I left the market, I saw a poor woman and a child begging on a street corner, which is not unusual here. But she looked South American. I asked her where she was from. She was refugee from Venezuela who had walked 6 weeks and spend 5 days crossing the dangerous jungle area of the Darien. She was traveling with two small children and her husband. I gave her some money and did a little interview for a future program.

I found a nice shop run by an association of indigenous weavers and clothing makers that had some nice gifts. I was impressed with how the organization was helping otherwise unrepresented people from the Lower Mixtec communities.

After shopping I headed to one of my favorite restaurants, Cabuche. It was very quiet as I entered and chose a table off to one side. I chose an arugula salad , a seafood and a squash flower taco. They were all beautiful and delicious. The tacos might have been the best tacos I’ve ever had.

I started to walk back up to my guest apartment when I saw a bookstore in the Macedonian theater that had some beautiful books on the natural history of the area. After buying a couple of things I headed up 5 de Mayo north. As I walked I noticed a very stylish young woman with beautifully decorated nylons. After a few moments I asked her politely if she would mind modeling her outfit to me. To my surprise she agreed.

In the afternoon there as time to rest and read. David agreed to go out for supper with me and try out some local craft beers. As we walked down to the restaurant we ran into a quenceañera waiting to have her professional photos. I managed to get a quick shot.

David is a chef who ran a successful restaurant in Phoenix for many years and now is a permanent resident of Mexico.. Check out his blog here: While eating a singer arrived with his guitar. His voice was so unpleasant and penetrating , we decided to leave. I tipped him a little anyway.

It was a good day with gratitude for all the people I met today.