John and Christine's Adventures: July 23rd through July 28th:

July 23^rd through July 28^th: Sorry this is a really long post with all the pictures and videos I have added, but I thought you would get a better sense of what we have been doing by adding them. You have to click on the words that say Video of________. Wednesday, we didn’t do much but go shopping at two different grocery stores to get stocked up for the next 2 weeks of fun in Oaxaca. Sam and Ginny and the girls are right next door to us in the apartment that the Sorcias were in. They left the Saturday before Sam and Ginny arrived. It is nice to have them so close and the girls can come over whenever they want. We had a pretty lazy day of just hanging out and playing on the playground equipment that is right across the street in a neighbor’s back yard. They are not around, I think they are out of town with their children, and they left the gate unlocked, so I hope they won’t mind. Thursday, President Atkinson let us take the car to Monte Alban and Tule. We left around 9:00am and were some of the first tourists at the site. We got a guide, a 79 year old Zapotec Indian. Monte Alban is one of the first cities in Mexico, dating back to around 500BC. Some Mormon scholars believe that it could have been one of the Mulekite cites. It was very interesting to listen to some of the theories about the carvings in the stone.

We are all ready for our walk around Monte Alban.

Our 79 year old Zapotec guide.

Video of Monte Alban


The ball court.

Our guide explaining that the building would have had plaster on them and would have been painted. This was found in one of the tombs.

The smooth section in the middle of this pictures is some of the original stucco that would have been painted.

These are original rocks with carvings the guide thought represented African facial expressions.

This guy had a beard. The guide said he must have been European because the Indians did not have beards.

This is a sample of their writing.

Xela resting with dad.

The climb up.

Willa enjoyed the climb up.

Resting after the climb up the stairs.

Looking North.

Looking west.

Looking east. Oaxaca in the valley in the distance.

This building in the fore-ground is an observatory. They knew the summer and winter solstices.

Mom is happy that she has climbed down from all the stairs.

Who is that fat old man?

We had a picnic lunch in a park just below the entrance and then made our way home for naps, Grandpa included. We went to Tule in the evening to see the “Tree”, one of the largest and oldest trees in the world. It is a type of Cyprus tree.

Video of the "Tree"


Sam and Gin at the "Tree"

Can you see the face?

Xela would not join the group, this is in Tule at the park in front of the municipal building.

The church in Tule is right next to the "Tree"

Friday, we again took the car and went to Ocotlan. It was market day and Ginny found the girls embroidered blouses. We ate squash blossom tlayudas and grilled chicken from the market.

Sam and I enjoying lunch in Ocotlan.

We were worn out by the time we got home and everyone had to take their naps. I could get used to a nap every afternoon. We played sets and runs in the evening. Mom won. Saturday, we hung out at the apartments until late afternoon and then we went downtown. Sam and Ginny went to a museum of pre-Hispanic artifacts and we watched the girls.

Xela slept while Sam and Gin walked through the Museum. Mom chased Willa.

Then we went and waited for the parade of the delegations of the Guelaguetza. This was crazy--with huge crowds on narrow streets, loads of music, and fireworks.


Looking down the street during the parade.