Welcome to Oaxaca - a prelude episode of Air B'n'Feast where I try to expand my culinary knowledge of food and beverages in Mexico with a bevvy of bugs, tacos, moles and more!

It was an interesting trip. Landing first in Mexico City, we had decided that starting in the city wasn't the best idea, and so took a connecting flight into Oaxaca, and that's where the rollercoaster began. We travelled by shuttle van to the city from the airport, checked into the airbnb and hit the streets, despite being severely sleep deprived. We arrived to what we thought to be an enormous fiesta: streets brimming with traffic and bustling with people. Markets selling local crafts and food were humming with the sound of trade, and the smell of corn tortillas and moles drifted through the air. Straight off the plane, this was a lot to take in, our senses were popping.

Oaxaca feels like a taste of "real" mexico - parts are definitely geared towards tourists, however, in tandem, it does feel like people are just getting on with it - under the observant eyes of the tourists.

Inese had a contact already in Oaxaca, and through him, we went on an impromptu Mezcal tour, decided in 30 minutes, leaving us no time to eat. And so, eating did not happen as we traveled through Oaxacan desert countryside sampling agave products like pulque, and and at a couple of spots, delicious, smokey Mezcal. Needless to say, it took its toll.

SPECIAL THANKS:
Eric, for the Mezcal Education
Grant, for the burgers and drink sesh - EVERYBODY please visit his instagram, @agave_ambassador and @elcapitanflag - he owns a Mexican restaurant in Flagstaff, Arizona. Your patronage in these times would be much appreciated!
Jon Fjeldsrud - Thanks so much for teeing the Mezcal journey up!
Inese - endless organizational skills
Liliana Colombo - WANNA DIE! Thanks for getting that tracking shot. Everyone please visit Liliana Colombo's youtube channel for some seriously avant garde videos.

Places in Oaxaca we visited:
Oaxaca Ethnobotanical Museum - 50 peso entry, take a guided walking tour in Spanish, and explore all manner of desert plants, from cacti to succulents, with some really excellent photo opportunities.
La Mezcalerita - Fantastic Rooftop with Delicious food! Calle Macedonio Alcalá 706, RUTA INDEPENDENCIA, Centro, 68000 Oaxaca de Juárez, Oax., Mexico
Mezquite - Where we ate bugs for the first time. Delicious food, excellent service, great view. Pity we couldn't get focus with the camera! Calle de Manuel García Vigil 601-A, RUTA INDEPENDENCIA, Centro, 68000 Oaxaca de Juárez, Oax., Mexico
El Escapulario - Second bug taco spot, but also amazing mole - this is the one where I stuff myself after breakfast - Calle de Manuel García Vigil 617, RUTA INDEPENDENCIA, Centro, 68000 Oaxaca de Juárez, Oax., Mexico
Mercado Benito Juarez - Madness, centralized. An absolutely mad spot. If you decide to Air B'n'Feast in Oaxaca - go here for all your stuff. Try the offal. I dare you. Las Casas S/N, OAX_RE_BENITO JUAREZ, Centro, 68000 Oaxaca de Juárez, Oax., Mexico

A few more details on the taxi situation - the guy we had (back and forth) were super friendly, and apparently, very punctual. We arrived five minutes early from Monte Alban, and saw A taxi driver waving at us - we assumed it was him waiting (having mildly forgotten what he looked like). The conversation we had in the car was about him getting home for his daughter's birthday, I felt it strange he didn't mention it on the way to the mountain. Either way, my stupidity meant we ended up paying one driver for the trip to and from the mountain. So to that guy, I hope your daughter got an awesome birthday present!

A few more details on Montezuma's Revenge - it kicked in after we heard the taxi driver was bringing the bags to us. From there - it stayed. And we can't be sure where we picked it up from. But it was agony. Turns out pressurizing and depressurizing the plane is incredibly stressing on a stressed digestive system.

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