What is the First Thing Tourists Do in the City of Oaxaca?

 



Most tourist activities launch from Macedonio Alcalá which is the main tourist street in the City of Oaxaca.

The Alcala is where you can book your tours, buy local crafts from street vendors, visit museums and art galleries, eat, drink and be merry.

Referred to as The Alcala, this is a typical tourist street like you will see in tourist cities around the world with the added benefit of art, music and dancing which permeate everything in Oaxaca.

Your stroll along The Alcala is accompanied by tourists from all parts of the world. Oaxaca is truly an international tourist destination. Artisans line the street displaying their craft.

If you are like us, you'll have a hard time resisting the alebrijis.

Alebrijis are small hand carved and colorfully painted wooden animals. They are so pretty and cute that we try to not look at them in fear of purchasing every one!

Alebrijis are very inexpensive and make great souvenir gifts. Artisans will make custom animals for you or your friends and relatives at home-just ask!

Have you seen the Mexican shirts embroidered with flowers? Did you know that all the embroidery is by hand? Cruise The Alcala and watch how it's done.

You may even see an impromptu art show set up in the middle of the of this street, or musicians or singers or dancers.

This street is where you will book your tours to historical sites and craft villages in and around the city of Oaxaca

The Alcala is also the center of free entertainment.

Here is a list of activities I encountered during a recent walk along just two blocks of The Alcala. 

  • First, there was a wedding at Santa Domingo which is the fanciest church in Oaxaca.  Weddings at Santa Domingo come complete with all members of the wedding party and the wedding guests processing in a parade featuring  20 foot tall replicas of the bride and groom with ten foot arms swinging to the music.  This is also accompanied by a band and dancing. 
  • As I continued along the street I encountered a violin and accordion duo playing for the tourists.
  • Next, I encounter 5 men serenading a maiden in her window. 
  • Hey what's that sound I hear. Yep I thought so it's a calenda. A calenda is a type of parade with dancers and musicians, and often accompanied by Mezcal. The performers are handing out little bamboo vessels tied onto long strings. What are these for? Of course I already know. Mezcal! Soon parade revelers will be filling our cups with Oaxaca’s famous brew. And don´t forget about the clowns, they are everywhere!

The second place you want to go in the city of Oaxaca is the Town Square which in Mexico is called the Zocalo. You will find the Zocalo at the West End of the Alcala.

The Zocolo functions as a gathering place for the citizens of Oaxaca as well as being a high tourist area. The Zocolo is chock full of craft booths and food booths. Here, dozens of families make their living selling their crafts and treats to tourists as well as local people.

Click here to visit the Zocolo

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