Up at 8 am and today took me 30 minutes to pack etc. Must get that time down.

Breakfast at a side walk cafe facing the Zocalo only cost 70 peso / NZ$6.50 / US$5.40 for a fruit juice, mushroom omelette and a cup of coffee. 

As we had a 10 am departure had enough time for a quick walk around Puebla plus took the opportunity to get some more money out of the bank. In hindsight should have gone to a money changer to get a slightly better rate.
 
Then all aboard the van to start the 4 hour drive to Oaxaca (pronounced wa-ha-ka) which was broken with a pit stop and a taste of tamale. Made from maize with filling of chicken, tomato sauce and wrapped in a banana leaf it only cost 13 pesos / NZ$ 1.20 / US$1.

The countryside was mainly arid with some corn, flowers and vegetables being grown. Vast areas of different types of cactus - loved the "forest" of tall ones pointing skywards.

Soon Oaxaca came and a 5 minute stop which became more like 20 minute wait to pick up tomorrow's night bus tickets at the ADO terminal then into the centre of town to Hotel Meson del Rey for our overnight stay.

Yes, it is a beautiful city bordered by mountains and thick forests. The pleasant Plaza de la Constitución where you can eat, drink and watch the world go by if one had time on ones hand which we unfortunately did not. Our hotel was not right on the Zocola like last night but a short 2 blocks away.

Oaxaca is located in Southwestern Mexico is best known for its indigenous peoples and cultures. The most numerous and best known are the Zapotecs and the Mixtecs, but there are sixteen that are officially recognized. These cultures have survived better than most others in Mexico due to the state’s rugged and isolating terrain. Most live in the Central Valleys region, which is also an important area for tourism, attracting people for its archeological sites such as Monte Albán, native culture and crafts. Another important tourist area is the coast, which has the major resort of Huatulco. Oaxaca is also one of the most biologically diverse states in Mexico, ranking in the top three, along with Chiapas and Veracruz, for numbers of reptiles, amphibians, mammals and plants. Thanks Mr Wikipedia.