| Oaxaca is a sub-tropical resort in the | | | | some of the more authentic Mexican food |
| southeastern area of Mexico. It has mountain | | | | recipes. Oaxaca has a very varied cuisine and the |
| peaks more than ten thousand feet high, hidden | | | | place is actually nicknamed "land of the seven |
| jungles, beautiful beaches, deep caverns and | | | | moles." There are many kinds of vegetables and |
| more. Oaxaca is the most diverse state out of all | | | | fruit grown locally in the central valley and fish and |
| the Mexican states and it has sixteen ethnic | | | | seafood is plentiful. Oaxaca cheese is also famous |
| groups residing there, including Mixtecs, Zapotecs, | | | | and this cheese is exported all over the world. |
| and Spaniards. | | | | The staple food of the region would be corn |
| If you are on holiday in this region, you might like | | | | tortillas but there are lots of different foods made |
| to visit the Mercado de Abastos, which is a huge | | | | from corn dough including tamales, empanadas, |
| outdoor market. Saturday is the main market day | | | | and entomatadas. The pasilla chili pepper is widely |
| but it is open every day. The Santo Domingo | | | | used in Oaxaca cuisine and so are black beans. |
| church is very beautiful and you can go to | | | | "Huevos oaxaquenos" is the name of a breakfast |
| Sunday mass. This church is quite plain on the | | | | specialty and this consists of eggs poached in a |
| outside but elaborately decorated inside and it has | | | | tomato and chili soup. Roasted grasshoppers are |
| been there for nearly five hundred years. | | | | also popular there. Mescal comes from this region |
| Health and Beauty | | | | and this is a liquor, which is a bit like tequila. The |
| If you enjoy a relaxing massage, you might like | | | | area is also famed for its chocolate, which can |
| to try a traditional Zapotec massage. This takes | | | | include cinnamon or almonds. |
| place on a low table and the practitioner | | | | Festivals and Crafts |
| manipulates your joints to boost your energy and | | | | Day of the Dead is a major festival and the |
| eliminate any stress. This kind of massage costs | | | | "Guelaguetza," which is a big music and dance |
| about $1 per minute. | | | | festival, is a big attraction for tourists. There are |
| The Temazcal is also enjoyable and believed to | | | | various native crafts in the region including black |
| be purifying for the body, soul, and mind. This is a | | | | clay sculpting, basket making, and weaving. |
| traditional Mexican sweat bath. These little round | | | | The craft-making communities are largely |
| mud or stone structures look a bit like beehives | | | | dependent on tourism and unfortunately, there |
| and they date back to Aztec times. Volcanic | | | | has not been a lot of demand for the local |
| stones are heated and then put in a pit near a | | | | handicrafts in the past decade, so you might like |
| wall or near the middle of the hut. | | | | to buy some attractive souvenirs to help the local |
| Eating and Drinking | | | | economy. |
| No trip to Mexico is complete without tasting | | | | |