Songs for the Road No. 13: Enchanted Oaxaca

Today was a day of everyday markets. Today was a day of sipping Oaxaca hot chocolate and dipping airy sweet bread in it. Today was a day of city squares where people gather as if it were an extension of their living room. Today was a day of sitting on a crowded bench at a street food stand and enjoying a memela. Today was a day of mezcal that tasted of agave and earth in the best way possible. Today was a day of learning of the Oaxaca state I have yet to see and wondering when I’ll get a chance to explore lesser known Oaxacas. Today was a day of wishing yet again that I had more time. Today was day of thinking, “I’ll stay another day.” Today was a day of reminiscing about a year ago today in Oaxaca when I was consumed by the energy of the potential of state elections and the energy of the fellow travelers I’d met. Today was a day of wishing that those travelers were all back here again. Today was a day of remembering the two influential travelers I met here last year who’ve passed on and I’ll never see again. Today was a day of being thankful for the ones who are now no longer travel friends but simply friends. Today was a day of indulging in chicken drowned in mole negro, stuffed with plantains and served with a side of garlicky rice. Today was a day of indulging in Oaxaca, trying to absorb up every last bit of its enchantedness before my inevitable departure.

Tagged as: blogsherpa, Lila Downs, Mexico, oaxaca, Oaxaca de Juarez