Day 4: The morning started with an early (7:30 am) walk up

to the observatory with Jackie and John Hastings. At the top, we somehow made friends with a group of happy Mexican walkers-runners, who were posing for photos. It didn't take long for them to invite us into one of their shots. Jackie is upper left, and John lower right.

After the hike, we had breakfast at Las Mariposas (the buttlerflies), J & J's hotel. Several
indigenous women from a hill town came to Las Mariposas to prepare steaming cups of Mexican hot chocolate, whipped to a froth before serving with some wooden whisk-like implement.

We also had quesadillas with beans, cheese, and
squash flowers. Hot off the griddle, they were yummy.

Breakfast

We had dinner at Las Quinze Letras (The Fifteen Letters, count em), another very nice place. Amby is starting to buck for a hole-in-the-wall joint, and John insists we can start doing that soon. He'd like to begin tomorrow with Taco Roy, which doesn't exactly qualify, since it has a neon sign outside. But it doesn't attract gringos, so at least it's a step in the right direction. We're also going to attempt having dinner at a different restaurant every night. Should be a fun challenge.

A Oaxacan family enjoys dinner at Las Quinze Letras