La Primera Fin de Semana en Oaxaca

Large temple complex in main square of Monte Alban

!Hola Chicos! ¿Como estan? Sunday we went up to Monte Alban a large ancient city inhabited from about 500BC by Zapotecs (the local iwi) until about 700AD.  They were a pretty successful people controlling trade and agriculture in the the valleys below.  Below is a stone carving of a Danzate - a male dancer who performed before the locals after he had his genitalia removed and offered to the god of fertility.  They were normally pretty fat and ruled in competing tribes.

Tonight I wandered down to the Zocalo (the main square) for  a bit of a turn before bed.  It's Valentines Day and the place is jumping; like New Years Eve in Auckland without the drunks. Army trucks carrying armed soldiers driving around the city and machine gun toting men in doorways seem a little over the top.  Good to keep those emotions under control.  In 2006 the state govt had massive riots with the teachers over conditions.  The people protested for 6 months and lots of people died - not sure about joining the teachers union here.  

3 out of 4 looking cool in Monte Alban

Un Danzate

Ngä mihi ki a koutou katoa.