day 9

february 3, 2014

2 pm:

so, we were in such a rush to get here to oaxaca to get spanish lessons underway, that we totally forgot that WE'RE ON VACATION. derp. so anyway, as of last night we decided to take a day or two off. we can always figure out spanish lessons. it will work out. etc. 

as such, we slept until 9 today (not even that late, but we didn't set an alarm), then got up and had coffee and smoothies. i did some yoga and mike caulked a bunch of stuff (broken side view mirror, improperly sealed camper bits, etc). we cleaned and organized the camper. i skyped with my mom. i've been uploading pictures to the blog like a madwoman, and i'm now officially all caught up. 

we had sandwiches with avocado and hummus and goat cheese and onion, roasted red peppers, tomato and garlic for lunch. now mike's having a siesta, and i'm debating more yoga. in a bit, we'll go for a wander, then i'm making sushi for dinner. 

it's a really hard life you guys. i hope you can appreciate how much we are suffering. 

also, i want to tell you about the place we're staying - the overlander oasis. 

the front gate

the defiant in our camp spot

 

calvin and leanne's bus and living space

this place is amazing. really perfect. it's small - i'd guess they could fit 3 rigs like ours, but it would be tight. it's run by a canadian couple, calvin and leanne, and their dog morena (who has a gloriously adorable underbite).

morena

the view from the defiant

calvin and leanne's place is just breathtaking. they have an old bus they have converted into a camper, and they have taken parts of buildings that were here when they bought the place, and created an outdoor kitchen and living room (basically L-shaped walls, with their bus creating the third wall, and the fourth wall totally open to the patio). there is a little grassy yard, and a fire pit. they also have a little guesthouse that they rent out. there is a bathroom for overlanders as well, a very pretty little structure with a toilet and (HOT!!) shower.
there are lots of big trees, and a parking area for overlanders and their thing. 

the bathroom

back yard

 

calvin and leanne's patio

i really couldn't recommend this place more highly. the people are very nice, and the spot is perfect (lots of shade, plenty of sun, did i mention HOT SHOWERS?!?) and it was only $200 pesos a night, $250 if you want power, and i think they said $500 for the guesthouse. 

the guesthouse

in other news, my tablet has figured out i'm in mexico, and is defaulting everything to spanish now, which is kind of annoying. i can't figure out how to change it back. guess i just have to learn spanish.  

11 pm update:

a really nice couple arrived at the overland oasis today. they are toby and chloe (and you can find them at carpe viem on facebook, though i don't think they blog much) and their adorable dog tia, and we spent most of the afternoon chatting with them and exchanging stories and information. they have been on the road a couple of months, i believe, and are headed to argentina. it's awesome and inspiring to meet people who are on these adventures too. they gave us so much good information and it was a lovely way to spend our evening!

tomorrow we're going to give them a lift into town, and go look at spanish schools. there is another campground here, oaxaca trailer park (which we had heard had closed, but which toby and chloe's friends "skyhorse" are staying at, so it would seem it's still open) - it's about a 20 minute walk from downtown, so would be a good place to stay while we take classes, if none of the schools have a space for us. 

i took some pictures of the overland oasis today, and i'll try to upload them in the morning. this day of rest has been much-needed and amazing. we're so happy.