Oaxaca

In honour of us both having vacations at the same time, Oliver and I decided to take on a whirlwind trip around Oaxaca, visiting his family, birthplace, high school, and of course the beaches. Somehow we managed to accomplish in 11 days what we could have taken a month to do, and we had a blast the whole time! The itinerary went a little something like this:

We started our trip in Oaxaca city, home to colonial-era architecture, delicious food, and a bustling downtown. From there, we headed over the twisting roads of the Sierra Madre del Sur in a small truck (not a great idea for people prone to queasiness) to arrive at Mazunte beach, where we were graced with two wave-free days, a town carnival, and a never-ending supply of seafood and guacamole.

And then it was off the the Tehuantepec Isthmus, where I met Oliver's grand-parents, aunts, uncles, cousins and old friends for the first time. The landscape in the south made us think we might be in Colombia or Costa Rica - lush with green fields, palm trees and hills in the distance.

The women of the region traditionally wear a huipil and enaguas (hand-woven blouse and long skirt), particularly when they go to dances and other parties.

The day we visited with Oliver's father's family in "Barrio de la Soledad" was also coincidently the day the town annually washes the clothes of their patron Virgen Mary and then procedes to host a party. My "huipil-less-ness" for the party was quickly solved when Oliver's cousin lent me one of hers - don't we make a cute couple!?

It was such a beautiful trip, filled with laughter, great stories, and incredible food. I felt so fortunate that people opened their doors and hearts to me, and so glad to be able to get a glimpse into Oliver's family and childhood.