Cute pharmacy mascot, Oaxaca street

In all my years of traveling, I've always dismissed Mexico as being "too close" or maybe even "too easy." While a few regions here and there interested me—mainly Oaxaca and Chiapas—whenever some vacation time dropped in my lap, I would always choose somewhere a little more off-the-beaten-track. It took a friend's unfortunate change of circumstances to convince me fate had chosen Oaxaca as my quick summer trip.

Our friend Lindsay was living in Oaxaca studying midwifery, and Rubina was all set to visit her in April. When Lindsay's grandfather got sick, she had to cut her time short. Rubina was debating on whether or not she should still visit Oaxaca alone, but when I started considering the amazing food possibilities, she was all too happy to simply change her ticket to May. Jasmine soon jumped on board.

Together we explored the best of Oaxaca...the best food, that is. With three people we could share food and experiment with more dishes. We rarely saw other foreign travelers due to recent unrest in the region, so having a built-in travel network was great for walking around at night or hitting the local bars.

Oaxacan architecture

Oaxaca's best feature is truly the food. For those who have only ever had mole poblano or mole negro, Oaxaca's variety in these complex sauces simply astonishes. Seven major moles are represented here, and unique versions made with fruits are amazing as well. Even the humblest street taco was so delectable I felt like I were tasting Mexican food for the first time. I really started wondering why this culinary culture had not spread further into Central America, where food tends to be bland and simple.

In addition to its boggling range of savory treats, Oaxaca is justifiably proud of its chocolate. Chocolate con leche (or con agua) is drunk daily and is available in dedicated chocolate shops, market stands, and restaurants. Chocolate is also sold in paste or block form for cooking.

Oaxaca is a shopping wonderland. I've saved souvenir money on many a voyage to countries without a culture of handmade, locally-produced crafts; but in Oaxaca, I wanted to buy everything. From beautifully-designed rugs to delicately-carved pottery, from decorative skeletons to ceramic jewelry, Oaxaca is filled to the brim with gifts any visitor would love to take home.

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