January 15, Off to Oaxaca

January 15, Sunday

Travel from San Francisco to Mexico City and on to Oaxaca after a three hour layover. Left SFO at 1:00 in the morning. First time I've taken a red eye. Might be the last. In airport at Mexico City I managed to get 500 pesos fro an ATM. All I could get but enough to eat on for several days. Arrived in Oaxa at 1:00 Sunday afternoon. Took Collectivo to Las Mariposas. Slept until 6:00 am nexteredt day. My room is sweet but Spartan. Bye for now.

January 16, Monday

—Showered and began Skip;s rule of washing clothes in shower each day. Think he learned that in the navy. Registered at the Institute at 8:30. Assigned to my class after doing placement test. Advanced beginner is where I'm at. Maybe too high?I signed up for a cooking workshop but didn't get back across town in time. Had lunch at a so so little restaurant beyond Mariposas. Good salad and tortilla soup. Very friendly woman owner. Dinner in my room — Nuts, crunch bar, kale chips. I asked for a little table, chair and lamp to do my homework at. All arrived by 7:30. Gorgeous evening clouds out on terrace while waiting for the furniture. I think I'll spend a lot of time out there. Fountain with sever small fish just outside my door. Sky couldn't be more beautiful. Time to do my exercises and crash.

January 17, Tuesday

— The class is getting more difficult. We're just bombing along. One pilot from Washington already complaining a little about not understanding. Bet there'll be a bit of that. It was definitely more tiring for all of us I think. Yesterday I din't have success with any of the ATMs. A class member ( a journalst from New York went with me after the conversation hour at the end. She showed me a bank (no sign) one block away from Las Mariposas. Right under my nose and it's machine had the most straight forward operating instructions of all tried so far. Whew! Never think much about money until I don't have any.

There are three rooms up on this terrace pals patio and the before mentioned very pleasant fountain on the wall just opposite my room. They turn the fountain off at about 8:00. Perfect.

January 18, Wednesday — Pictures begin —Next posting —