I made it into Cataviña today. It sits deep in the Sonoran Desert, almost halfway between the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez. The town is small and remote, surrounded by massive granite boulders and forests of cardón cacti, the tallest cactus species in the world.
Today I crossed the border at Tecate. The process was easy, with no wait at all, though I did have to park and walk into the immigration office to obtain my FMM (similar to a Mexican visa). That meant filling out a short form, paying the fee, and getting it stamped before heading on the road. It was straightforward but it took some time.
It’s our last day in Oaxaca! This morning, we enjoyed breakfast at the mercado. We ordered another hot cocoa and bread, a favorite of ours now. As we were leaving, we also bumped into the chef who served us at Yu Ne Nisa (our favorite restaurant in Oaxaca)! She recognized us. It turns out her daughter was there too (in the background working). She wasn’t as interested in saying hello though.
This morning, we rented a car to explore towns just outside of Oaxaca City. I had hoped to get a stick shift, as it’s been years since we switched from manual to automatic. Unfortunately, the rental shop only had automatics available. I was so sad.
Today, we did an 18-mile bike ride to Presa Rosita, a reservoir near the small town of Santo Domingo Tomaltepec. This area is quite rural, and the reservoir is located deep in the hills. Despite its remote location, it was exciting to explore these lesser-known parts of Mexico.
This morning, our host introduced us to his birds. He had several of them, but the nicest one was named Carlito (featured here). So far, this old man may challenge me for our love of animals. Besides these birds and the spider monkey he’s babysitting, he also has two dogs that he rescued from the streets.
We discovered this morning that my Airbnb host is taking care of a monkey while the owner is away. Generally, I don’t handle wildlife, but I couldn’t resist this opportunity. I’ve never been this close to a monkey before! She’s a spider monkey named Bonita.
Today, we took a cooking class with friends! This might surprise some, but I’m not an awesome cook. That’s why I desperately needed this. Prepare for a fine dining experience.
Today, we moved from a small hotel room in the city center to a larger Airbnb at the top of the hill overlooking the city. We spent the day admiring our view and exploring the new neighborhood and restaurants.
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