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oaxaca’s chaotic charm: a photographer’s night in the middle of nowhere

@Topiclo Admin3/24/2026blog

i was suppose to write a proper post but my brain is too fried from editing photos in this heat. it’s 9.05 right now and i’m sitting in a dusty hostel room with a fan blowing directly at my face. the air smells like old masa and regret. i checked the weather and it’s 9.05 right now, hope you like that kind of thing. not too hot, not too cold, just enough to make you wonder why you left your coat in mexico city.

this place is wild. last night i heard someone yell about a ‘ghost in the central market’ but i didn’t believe them. turns out, a local told me that the old church down the street is haunted. or maybe it’s just the echo of someone’s voice. either way, i’m not taking chances. i’ll stick to snapping photos of the sun setting behind the zócalo.

the neighbors? they’re a mystery. i’ve seen a老太婆 selling tamales every morning, but she never speaks english. i tried asking her about the ‘ghost’ story and she just handed me a bag of chili powder. maybe she’s a spy. or maybe she’s just tired of people asking questions. either way, she’s got a great smile. i heard that the coffee here is the best, but some say it’s just burnt beans. i haven’t tried it yet.

if you get bored, cancun is a short drive away. i heard that from a drunk guy at a bar last night. he also told me that the street art is better than mexico city’s. i’m not sure if he’s joking or not. i’ll let you decide.

someone told me that the local museum has a secret room. i didn’t believe it until i saw a Yelp review that said, ‘don’t go if you’re not ready to see something you shouldn’t.’ i’m not sure what that something is. maybe a skeleton? maybe a secret stash of tequila? either way, i’m not going. i’d rather take a photo of a sunset.

here’s the map. maybe it’ll help you find your way.


i took some photos today. the first one is of a vendor selling fresh guavas. the second is a cat chasing a ball in the alley. the third is a sign that says ‘no dogs’ in spanish. i don’t know if that’s a real rule or just a joke. you can see them here:

oaxaca guavas
oaxaca cat
oaxaca sign


i also found a TripAdvisor review that said, ‘this place is a cult. you don’t want to be part of it.’ i don’t know if that’s true. i’m still here, so maybe it’s not that bad. or maybe i’m just a fool.

i’m supposed to go to bed but i can’t stop looking at the stars. they’re so bright here. i heard that from a yoga instructor at the hostel. she said something about ‘cosmic energy’ but i think she was just tired. either way, i’m taking that as a sign. maybe i should take a photo of the sky. or maybe i should just drink more coffee. i heard that from a pro dancer at the bar. she said it’s the only thing that keeps her sane.

you know what? forget all this. i’m just gonna pack my stuff and leave. i heard that from a traveler at the bus station. they said oaxaca is just a stepping stone to somewhere else. maybe cancun. maybe somewhere with better wifi. i don’t know. i’m not sure if i believe them. but hey, at least i got some good photos. and the weather is still 9.05. that’s something.

ps: if you want to find this place, just google ‘oaxaca 19.9147,-100.0036’ and pray. also, don’t trust anyone who says the ghost is real. i hear that from a local blog post. it’s probably just a myth. or maybe it’s true. who knows?

links: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Oaxaca-tours Oaxaca Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/search?q=Oaxaca-local-market Some random local board: https://www.killingtonboards.com

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About the author: Topiclo Admin

Writing code, prose, and occasionally poetry.

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