🇲🇽 Oaxaca: A Poem Written by Sunshine and Stone 🌞

On the 4️⃣th day of my backpacking adventure through Latin America, I arrived in Oaxaca, a major city in central Mexico! In 1987, Oaxaca's old town, with its Spanish colonial architecture and the Zapotec ancient civilization ruins of Monte Albán, was designated as a UNESCO Heritage Cultural Site. 🏛️🏆 Compared to nearby Puebla, Oaxaca attracts more international tourists and offers a wider variety of restaurants and bars. Here are three must-try local specialties: Hot chocolate made with cornstarch - absolutely delicious! 🌽 Tlayuda, Mexico's version of a giant pizza, with endless topping options! Quesillo, a local specialty cheese that's simply irresistible! 🧀 Additionally, the local market in the southwest of the city features Ok Lady, recommended by Netflix! 🎥👩‍🍳 It's definitely worth a visit. Google says it closes at 12 PM, but that's not accurate - I had lunch there at 1 PM! Oaxaca is not just about vibrant colors and mouthwatering cuisine; it's also a perfect blend of Zapotec and Spanish colonial cultures. 🌈🏰 The Baroque-style Santo Domingo Church stands solemnly on the outside and shines brilliantly on the inside, serving both religious and military purposes. It now houses a museum and a botanical garden. 🏛️🌿 Monte Albán, located just 8 km southwest of the city, is easily accessible by public bus (120 pesos round-trip) from the Hotel Rivera. No need for a guided tour! 🚌💨 The entrance fee has increased to 100 pesos with no additional charges.💱 This flat hilltop served as the capital of the Zapotec people as early as the 5th century BC (around the Spring and Autumn period in Chinese history). The civilization thrived for over 1,000 years, with a peak population of over 25,000, making it one of the most important cities in the Americas. 🏙️ I highly recommend visiting early in the morning (bus at 8 AM) to experience the empty, vast plaza with towering pyramids - it feels like stepping into a video game scene! 🏰 The insignificance of an individual in the face of time and space is truly unforgettable. The most amazing part is that in the 15th century, this city, forgotten by history for 1,000 years, flourished once again! The Mixtec civilization settled on Monte Albán, continuing its timeless legacy. 🕰️🌄 #Oaxaca #Mexico #UNESCO