Shalom DF! Shalom Oaxaca!

Sunday morning early very early I said goodbye to Tia y Abuelo Gallo, two of the warmest nicest most hospitable people I've ever met. They told me I always had a home in DF, that I can turn around on my trip and go back and a bed will be waiting, and that no matter what the most important thing is to do what I want. I miss them already, two days later.

Hopped on an express bus to Oaxaca city, fell asleep before we reached the city limits. It was early. When I woke up I looked out the window. I was rapt. Forests of cacti- Hills of stone red white grey terra-cotta, spaces where nothing grew or could- miniature churches with space only for one, miles from any other building- stunted weird little alien trees- middle of nowhere hotels that looked like they were designed by acid freaks- rivers that produced abundant green life for 50 feet on both sides, desert beyond that. Hours passed as I stared out my window.

I arrived in Oaxaca in a beautiful mood. Walking to the Banana Magic Hostel, my home for the next few days, I was pretty smitten by the town. All the buildings painted warm colors, nice architecture, parks full of families and young lovers old lovers, everything real slow paced, very opposite of DF. I got to my hostel and couldn't get in. I knocked. I waited. I walked away. I wandered around, ate a sandwich, felt my backpack get heavier on my shoulders. It was very hot and getting hotter.

Mood soured intensely. I consulted my guidebook, found another hostel- luz de la luna. Got a bed, smelly, no sheets. Hung out in the common area, played a card game that made no sense with some German folk and an American. The American described it as the card equivalent of calvinball. Everyone there seemed like they were waiting for a bus. I couldn't get a proper conversation going with anybody. I wandered around town feeling extremely bummed out lonely dissapointed, trying to bring back my mood from earlier in the day. Stopping off at an internet cafe I saw that the Warriors had just lost to the Hornets, which, paired with Denver playing Seattle the next day (Denver had previously beat Seattle by 52 points) and only five games left in the season, was crushing for my Golden State playoff hopes. I went to bed early, sleeping with my nose in my armpit. My deodorant smelled infinitely better than that disgusting matress.

Woke up the next day, showered, walked back to the Banana Magic Hostel with low hopes. Yep, the same solid black metal gate, closed and locked, no one answered my knocks. The place was shut down. I banged my fist on the gate real loud, frustrated. Started walking away and the gate opened. Here was the proprietor, nicest guy in the world, rented me a bed, the place was clean and beautiful, couches everywhere. Real happy, I checked out of the Luz de la Luna and brought my shit over. Since then I've walked around Oaxaca much happier, ate some good food, drank a beer in an open air cafe in the main square, AND DENVER LOST TO SEATTLE. The Warriors are tied for the last seed in the playoffs, hope still alive. If you are reading this in the bay, it is your official duty to go to the Oracle and watch Golden State savage Sacramento tomorrow night. Yell loudly. Stay on your feet the whole game. I'll be watching on the computer in the courtyard of the Banana Magic, gracias a dios. Fuck Luz de la Luna, and all the depressing saps that are staying there.