Tamarindo - Liberia, Costa Rica - Oaxaca, Mexico 20 - 23 Nov 2005

Charming colonial Oaxaca

We got up early and flew back to Liberia to do the exit formalities. There was no landing fee to pay in Tamarindo and just 2 dollars in Liberia. Thanks to Mapiex, an FBO at Gelabert Airport, Panama City, we had the overflight permission for Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala. They charged us a reasonable 25 dollars for each country. We don’t have time to visit each of the Central American countries but at least we will be visiting Tikal in Guatemala on our way south again, and we enjoyed views of volcanoes in Nicaragua and El Salvador as we flew past, mainly over the coast. I don’t think I have ever flown over so many countries in any one flight (5 hours, 20 minutes).

Unlike the last time we visited Oaxaca on our world trip, to my relief there was no turbulence from thermals. Like in Colombia and Panama, we were met by a full complement of anti-drug police, customs and immigration officials and agricultural inspectors who spray the cabin. It was hot on the tarmac, but due to the altitude – around 1500 m. - Oaxaca cools down considerably at night.

We had booked a room at a charming b&b “La Casa de mis Recuerdos”, a 17th century house in the old colonial part of town, and it certainly lived up to our expectations. It was tastefully furnished with antiques and many beautiful paintings adorned the walls. The huge bougainvillea in the garden put ours in Geneva to shame. Breakfast was truly delicious, and served to all the house guests at a big table in the dining room.

Oaxaca is our favourite Mexican town and it was a joy to spend our first days in Mexico there. The airport recently turned international so we could fly straight in there and do customs and immigration.
Our friend and fellow Earthrounder CarolAnn Garratt flew in later in the day in her Mooney, together with another Mooney driver friend, Joe. We dined together at excellent Casa Oaxaca restaurant near the Santo Domingo church where, amongst other delights, I tried their speciality of ravioli stuffed with chapulines or fried grasshoppers. Actually, they don´t taste of much but they are nice and crisp.