I have a problem.

I have discovered I am a slow traveler but I am more than just slow. I am snail slow.

The problem is I never get to travel as slow as I really want to. There is always something else to see, somewhere else to go, other mountains to climb and other sunlight to frolic in. I was thinking about some of our past travels and I realized that even though we had about 5 weeks in Italy alone it didn’t even come close to being enough time. I was trying to think of how long it would really take for me to get enough of it and I ended up with the idea that it would take me at least a year. That would give me enough time to see all the museums, eat all the food, meet all the people and take enough photos to make me feel that I had really seen Italy. I think.

As I was thinking about this my mind started drifting off to another one of my favorite countries – Mexico.

Mexico gets a bad rap and it’s too bad because Mexico is freaking amazing. I have long considered it my second home and Randy and I spent the early times of our dating days in the shadiest of Mexico border towns. Our second date was in Mexcio. I even worked in Mexico for quite some time and spent my weekends going back and forth. When I was in Italy I felt like I was back traveling in Mexico. It’s silly even how similar they are.

Besides my plentiful days in Baja, one place on the mainland that really captured my heart was Oaxaca.

It was almost 2 years ago now that we made the trip to Oaxaca for Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). It was a transformative trip for me, Mexico at it’s best – minus the beaches and margaritas. If you ever have the chance to go to Oaxaca I highly RECOMMEND it, especially if you can go for the Dia de los Muertos festivals. The entire city comes alive and the atmosphere with dancing in the streets is contagious. The graveyard festivities will entertain you and make you think about death on an entirely different level.

We should all be lucky enough to be buried in a Oaxacan cemetery.

I have to go back because I was only there for 5 days and I had an old camera. Like Italy, Oaxaca is a place I need to travel slowly in. I really need to go back and spend at least a few months exploring all the nooks and taking part in some of the activities in Oaxaca that I never got to experience when I was there the first time.

If you’re headed to Oaxaca soon here are a couple of activities that you shouldn’t miss.

1. Graveyards in & around Oaxaca – if you’re going around Dia de los Muertos you HAVE to go to as many graveyards as possible. This is a MUST.

2. The Food- Can you say chocolate? Can you say Michelada? Can you say Mole? Oaxaca has some of the best Mexican food I have come across in all my travels. They even make their own chocolate and as you walk around the city your nose will guide you to the chocolate district. Yum!

3. The Markets  – Mexico is by far one of my places to shop but the shopping in Oaxaca is out of this world. Not only do they have crazy, out of this world stands with everything from dried crickets to their world famous hot chocolate but you can also get anything and everything else you might – spices, wallets, flowers, batteries, etc. The 20th de Noviembre Market was my favorite by far.

4. The Zocolo – The Zocolo is the town square in Oaxaca. This is pretty much the IT place. Grab a cafe chair, some peanuts and a Michelada – this IS the place to unwind, take it all in, people watch, take photos and check emails. Balloon sellers and children roam the streets while young lovers make the most of their alone time under the trees.

5. The Churches – Oaxaca has it’s roots deep in the depths of Catholicism and it does it’s part by having numerous churches throughout the city. The churches are huge, detailed, beautiful and most of them are still in use today. Walking around the churches is a great way to see another side of the city and it’s important to visit at least a couple of them to get a rounded idea of Oaxaca.

6. Activities – There are touts selling every type of tour in Oaxaca and with good reason – there is a lot to do! From touring Mt. Alban to hiking waterfalls, playing golf, taking tours of villages and cooking classes and horseback riding there is not shortage of activities in Oaxaca to keep you busy. If you have a little extra time you could also consider heading to the coast for a few days of seaside entertainment.

These are just the six quick things that came to mind when I was writing this post. There is so much to do in Oaxaca you definitely won’t be sorry if you head there on vacation or plan to stay for several weeks. There is also a great bar/nightlight scene and a great homemade arts scene in Oaxaca. It’s truly a great Mexican city.

(If you are reading this and happen to be in southern California keep in mind you can fly from Tijuana into Oaxaca and skip the international air taxes!)

*Please remember all photos on this website, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted and property of BeersandBeans.com, NarikosNest.com & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you want to use one of them please contact me first because I do love to share and I would be flattered. Thanks!

Like Our Post? Subscribe by email and get new posts delivered straight to your inbox!

Or add us to your favorite feed reader by clicking the orange icon!

Somewhere In Time is a weekly travel photo from around the world. Enjoy!

Ave Maria | Oaxaca Street Photos – Oaxaca, Mexico

There is no shortage of affection in Mexico, which is probably one of the reasons I love it so much.

If you’ve been following Beers and Beans for a while, you might have seen this photo before. It’s from our trip in 2009 to Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) in Oaxaca, Mexico. I was going through some photo files last week and saw it. I realized I never highlighted it the way it deserves to be highlighted, so I pulled it out for inclusion in the Somewhere In Time series. I almost got angry with myself for not including it earlier because this is Somewhere in Time – this is THE moment.

It was only a year and a half ago but I remember it like it was yesterday. In fact this entire trip had a very profound effect on me. In the short 5 days we spent in Oaxaca, I went through all the travel roller coaster emotions – from having a huge emotional reaction (read: crying my eyes out) to the festivities in the cemeteries to drinking tequila and becoming friends with our hostel mate, Jasmine. (BTW, check out her blog, Wander With Purpose – she’s awesome). I was also asked in the cemetery by some local women to photograph the graves of their loved ones – which was a huge honor. If you ever have the chance to visit Oaxaca for Dia de los Muertos you should go. Oaxaca is a stunning city, with a bustling town square (called the Zocolo) and the festival is beautiful in so many ways. Go! Go! You’ll love it, I swear.

This photo was taken during the week of the festival right along the Zocolo. Catedral Metropolitana de Oaxaca (Oaxaca Cathedral) is in the background and it is a very old & beautiful church. It is well known for it’s facade which has an ornate relief of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. The original church was built in the 1500′s, I believe the one we see today was built in the 1700′s and at that time it was re-dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. It is rumored that the bell rings on its own. I’m not sure how true this is but I love the idea of it anyway.

During the festival week all sorts of things go down at the Zocolo – there are altars, parades, dances, musicians and sand paintings. The sand paintings are vast (a lot larger than what you see in this photo) and they are all done in front of the church. With the balloon vendors, giggling girls and strolling lovers – people watching in the Zocolo is out of control. You could spend days doing it. I know because we did.

This spot was hopping. I was walking around the area just watching events unfold around me and taking it all in. I saw people stopping over and over again looking at the sand paintings, just like Randy and I had done moments before. To top it off, there was the Mexican love oozing out of every crevice in the square. If you have spent any amount of time in Mexico you can see this love all around you. The people of Mexico are very amorous and since Dia de los Muertos is a huge festival in Oaxaca (I was told even bigger than Christmas) it seems to bring out all the love in everyone.

I took a lot of street photos in this area just walking around shooting discretely, hoping for a moment like this. Although to be honest, I never thought I would get one this good. I spotted this couple and it was like the seas parted just as they were about to kiss. It was a perfect, clear shot – no one in front of them and I had the added bonus in the movement of the people walking nearby. Then there was the pink & red hue flowing from each woman to the next throughout the photo – what luck that all the colors were so similar! To top it off there was a lot of passion in this kiss, much more than I expected.

In this brief second the anticipation of something amazing about to happen was almost too great.

I think I gasped aloud when I looked at this photo after I took it and that doesn’t happen very often. It was a quick shot and there were so many ways it could have been ruined but it wasn’t. It was just perfect. It was almost as if this moment was determined to have its photo taken and have its story told – all under Mary’s watchful eye.

*Please remember all photos on this website are copyrighted and property of BeersandBeans.com, NarikosNest.com & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you want to use one of them please contact me first because I do love to share and I would be flattered. Thanks!

Like Our Post? Subscribe by email and get new posts delivered straight to your inbox!

Or add us to your favorite feed reader by clicking the orange icon!

assumption

Please be sure to read the post below the gallery. Click on the arrows on the bottom of the gallery to view the photos larger (it’s worth it!) or you can view them as you read the post below.

If you want to travel to Oaxaca, Mexico, this winter for the city’s Christmas festivities, which run from Dec. 16 to Jan. 6, a cheap way to see the surrounding valley is a day trip to Monte Alban.

Five hundred years before Christ, the Zapotecs—of Mexico’s Oaxaca Valley—began their creation of Monte Alban by constructing pyramids, dams and terraces directly from the mountain itself.

Set on an artificially flattened ridge 1,300 feet above the Oaxaca Valley, Monte Alban, once the holy city of the Zapotec people, thrived for more than 1,500 years until its demise in the 15^th century after the Aztecs invaded the valley.  Monte Alban is now one of Mexico’s most revered archaeological sites.

Archaeologists have broken Monte Alban’s vibrant history into five periods, all of which are represented by the multitude of stone buildings, including an observatory and ball courts, which dot the expansive mountaintop ruins.

If you are looking to escape the bustle of Oaxaca City (check out our photo essay: Street Photos–Oaxaca, Mexico), Mount Alban, located six miles from Oaxaca’s city center, is a great budget travel option for visitors to the colonial city. Tour shuttles run regularly from Oaxaca City and cost $38 pesos (appx $3) for a round trip; the journey is approximately 30 minutes each way.  Expect to spend at least two hours exploring the ruins.

An entrance fee of $55 pesos (Appx. $4.40 USD) is also charged at the site. Monte Alban, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

If you are heading to Oaxaca for the holiday or just interested in finding out more about the city, check out these previous posts: A Visit to the 20 Noviembre Market; The Wonderful, Beautiful Food of Oaxaca; Pretty Places–Oaxaca; Review of Hostal Del Mercado.

Subscribe to our feed & share the love!

Did you like this article? If so, consider retweeting or stumbling it. Better yet sign up for our RSS feed OR get the goodies delivered directly to your inbox! Consider yourself hugged.

*Please remember all photos on this website are copyrighted and property of BeersandBeans.com, NarikosNest.com & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you want to use one of them please contact me to ask first because I do love to share and I would be flattered. Thanks!

From the food to the people, the architecture to the wafting smells of chocolate & baking bread, Oaxaca is a beautiful city that is a feast for the senses. I absolutely loved Oaxaca and I would recommend it to anyone. The photos below are some that I took just walking around town. While some of them are not the most exciting, they give you a great taste of some of the beauty that the city holds. If you get a chance – go to Oaxaca. You won’t regret it.

If you’re curious to learn more about Oaxaca you can view some of my previous posts:

Street Photos – Oaxaca, Mexico

Inside Oaxaca’s Hidden Market

Oaxaca City Blues

The Wonderful, Beautiful Food of Oaxaca

Hostal Del Mercado, Oaxaca – A Hostel Review

Move over Margarita! Michelada has come to town.

Somewhere in Time Photo 1

Somewhere in Time Photo 2

Somewhere in Time Photo 3

Subscribe to our feed & share the love!

Did you like this article? If so, consider retweeting below or stumbling it. Better yet sign up for our RSS feed OR get the goodies delivered directly to your inbox! Consider yourself hugged.

*Please remember all photos on this website are copyrighted and property of BeersandBeans.com, NarikosNest.com & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you want to use one of them please contact me to ask first because I do love to share and I would be flattered. Thanks!

One of my favorite ways to shoot is from the hip. Oaxaca was a great place to walk around and do this all day. The city is full of great colors, amazing faces and beautiful buildings. I also have some more typical pictures from around the town that I will put in another post but for now I leave you with the street photos. These are some of my favorite from the trip.  I didn’t notice this until I was editing the photos but apparently the lady below was not too happy with me, which I think is pretty funny.
<

Did you like this article? If so, consider retweeting below or stumbling it. Better yet sign up for our RSS feed OR get the goodies delivered directly to your inbox! Consider yourself hugged.

*Please remember all photos on this website are copyrighted and property of BeersandBeans.com, NarikosNest.com & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you want to use one of them please contact me to ask first because I do love to share and I would be flattered. Thanks!

We booked our trip to Oaxaca for Day of the Dead completely last minute. We got a super cheap flight out of Tijuana just two days before we left, we made room reservations with Hostal Del Mercado online (yes, they spell hostel with an A instead of an E) and we just hoped for the best.

We were happily surprised when we got there. It was clean, quiet and the location was perfect! The people running Hostal Del Mercado were also very nice and one guy in particular was really helpful. However, there is a bit of a language barrier – it helps if you can speak a little bit of Spanish.

The reception and breakfast area.

The quaint Oaxaca hostel provided breakfast every morning and it was fantastic! I was totally shocked. Two women came in every morning and served up hot & cold breakfast everyday. When we were there we saw: fresh fruit (every day), juice, bacon, eggs, pancakes, sausage, toast and then there was always an interesting local breakfast item as well. One day it was tortillas baked with a sauce on them – yum! The Mexican hostel also provided free WiFi and free, filtered drinking water. The free water was huge because as a traveler you can spend a lot of money every day on bottled water. On top of that it was only $11/per person a night for the 6 person dorm room.

The location couldn’t be beat! It was just a couple blocks from the Zocalo. The Zocalo is the main square in Oaxaca where a lot of the festivities take place. Any time of year you visit Oaxaca, you should definitely try to stay near the Zocalo. It’s a happening place with cafe’s, bars, restaurants and a nice green space & church right in the center. It’s also very safe. We never felt uncomfortable at all during our stay, even when walking around at night.

The other great thing about Hostal Del Mercado is that it is located right across the street from a major indoor market that we stumbled up one day – the 20 de Noviembre Market. It is named for the street it is on and you can see some more pictures from that market on another post I wrote about it. I LOVED that market and consider it a MUST SEE for any trip to Oaxaca. This is where we ate a lot of our meals during the day and most things were only a couple dollars.

So not only was the hostel right across the street from the awesome market and two blocks to the Zocalo, it was also right near the chocolate district. If you walk just a couple blocks (in the opposite direction of the Zocalo) you will land in the chocolate making area of the city. The smell of chocolate literally wafts down the streets. You can just follow your nose – it’s that potent and yummy! Oaxaca is known for their amazing amazing chocolate. If you want to see some mouth watering photos of the food in Oaxaca please check out the post – The Wonderful, Beautiful Food of Oaxaca.

Here are some more pictures from the hostel.

Their bathroom situation was interesting because all of the toilets were actually in the showers. They had plenty of shower/toilet rooms so there was never a line but it was interesting. It was always fairly clean but it was still a little odd trying to avoid the toilet while taking a shower. This wouldn’t prevent me from staying here again though. At least you know the toilets are getting cleaned several times a day by the shower!

Another thing worth noting is that we stayed in the 6 person dorm room, which really is more like a 10 person dorm room. If you book the 4 person dorm room (which at the time was more expensive) please be aware that it isn’t really a “room”. Basically they took  a large room and divided it up with 6 beds on one side and 4 on the other. They used closets and a room divider to make the two separate “rooms”. Again, not really a big deal but if you were booking the 4 person dorm room for you and 3 friends, you won’t truly be alone.

The six person dorm.

They had a couple of bonuses as well – a large balcony overlooking the street below, a large tv/pool room and a roof deck. The stairs going up to the deck were a little iffy but otherwise it was a nice change of pace to sit up there and chill out. Also every bed gets a huge locker with a key. We felt completely safe leaving our things there.

I loved the windows in the pool room!

Street scene from the balcony.

The roof deck.

We really enjoyed our stay at Hostal Del Mercado and would recommend it to everyone.

Contact Info:

Did you like this article? If so, consider retweeting below or stumbling it. Better yet sign up for our RSS feed OR get the goodies delivered directly to your inbox! Consider yourself hugged.
*Please remember all photos on this website are copyrighted and property of BeersandBeans.com, NarikosNest.com & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you want to use one of them please contact me to ask first because I do love to share. Thanks!

Have you ever wanted to free yourself from the cubicle and live a new, exciting kind of life? Well if you haven’t stopped by AlmostFearless.com you need to do it today. Christine is pretty much a guru in big life changes and she has tons of tips to take the big, scary step out of the 9-5 comfort zone and into an exciting life plan. She left a fortune 500 job for the great unknown and has been traveling ever since. On top of that she just had a baby a couple months ago and is currently working on a travel documentary. You can get involved by being interviewed or sponsoring part of the project.

I’ve been following her for a while now because not only is her blog interesting, it’s also very well written. If you take a gander over there you will become addicted to her blog quickly – I guarantee it!

I was flattered when she agreed to use one of my articles as a guest post on her blog. The post is all about travel photography and it details 5 tips for unique and interesting travel photos. Take a look and check it out – I’m sure you’ll find something that you haven’t thought of before. Hopefully it will spark a change in the way you take travel photos and get you excited about your next trip!

Here’s a quick screen shot of the top of the article. To read the rest of it and all the tips please visit AlmostFearless.com or read below.

(Oaxaca Street Photos – Oaxaca, Mx)

If photography is the study of light, then what exactly is a photograph? A photograph itself is much more specific. A photograph is a moment in time – amoment that has passed and is unique and perfect on its very own. It’s a moment that will never and can never be duplicated. You can’t hold it in your hand, you can’t rewind time and make it happen again– all you can try to do is capture it.  That moment is where the beauty and magic of photography lives. It’s up to you, the photographer, to feel and find that moment and translate it into film or pixels.

Sometimes it is easy to take beautiful photos. We are drawn to areas of abundant natural beauty and usually those places photograph easily. But what if you are looking for a different take on the region you are vising? Maybe you want to push your boundaries and take travel photos that are a bit more unique but you aren’t sure where to start. Perhaps you want to scratch the surface a bit more and photograph not what is directly in front of you but  instead how you feel about it?

I realize that idea might sound foreign to many of you reading this and it can be daunting to try and think about photographing feelings & emotions, especially in terms of travel photography.

Travel photography is no different than any other type of photography. A good travel photo isn’t necessarily about the person or the place in the camera’s frame but instead it is about how the subject existed in that specific moment in time. It doesn’t matter if you are in your own backyard or in Timbuktu it simply comes down to a moment in time and how you choose to reveal it.

Today I’m going to share some of my best tips for getting unique travel photos that will make you glow with pride and set you apart from the crowd. Putting these tips into use will help you walk away with excellent photos that will not only give you great memories but will also wow the folks back home. I promise it’s not really as hard as you think as long as you just try shooting things a little differently.

These tips can be used with a film or a digital camera, an SLR or a point and shoot. Better equipment doesn’t make for a better photographer so get out there and work with what you have and don’t worry about spending a ton of money.

Hopefully one of these tips will warm a little fire within you that will grow into your own technique and/or travel portfolio.

Travel Photography Tip #1: Shoot from the hip.Yes, I mean this literally.

(Oaxaca Street Photos – Oaxaca, Mx)

I LOVE shooting from the hip. I cannot state that enough. It is one of my favorite ways to shoot and with digital cameras there is no excuse not to try it yourself. Shooting from the hip is great for a lot of reasons.

1. You can shoot anything, anywhere and not feel like a total tourist.

2. You can shoot when you are not allowed to take photos (as long as your camera is quiet and you aren’t using a flash). We all love that idea right?!

3. Many people do not like to be randomly photographed and if you’re like most people you probably feel weird about asking permission (plus a language barrier may make an explanation really tough). When you are shooting from the hip people have no idea they are being photographed so they stay in their natural state instead of tightening up.

4. Maybe you’re in a sketchy area and you want to take photos but you don’t want to show off your favorite piece of gear. If you have an over the shoulder bag, you can line it up over your camera strap and keep the bag over the camera on your hip. You can discreetly move your shoulder bag a few inches to the side and snap off a few frames and no one will know the difference.

5. You never know what kind of cool image you are going to get! This is exactly what I am talking about in terms of photographing emotion. A  lot of times when you shoot from the hip you will be amazed at what you get. You may just surprise yourself with a great photo that not only shows emotion but also reminds you of how you feel. From the sights, the sounds, the smells and the people–your emotions are fully charged when you travel to a new place. Those feelings deserve to be and should be photographed. Give them a fighting chance by shooting from the hip and see what you get.

Technically Speaking: My advice here is get a big memory card, shoot a lot amd shoot continually. Shoot while in a group, shoot while eating, shoot while walking – all from the hip and see what you get!  Warning: There will be a lot of crappy shots that you need to delete, it’s the nature of the beast and that is okay, because the ones that make the cut will leave you beaming like the sun.

Travel Photography Tip #2: Try a new perspective.

(The Road To Angel’s Landing – Zion National Park, Utah USA)

This is similar to tip #1 but it’s different because this involves putting yourself into interesting positions. Sometimes eye level is boring and switching things up can help dramatically– get high, get low or get sideways.  Try actually lying on the ground and taking some photos. The world looks really different from down there doesn’t it? The good news is that your photos will be completely different too.  Can’t believe how crazy that bus terminal is? Jump up on a chair and shoot down over the scene. No chair? Get your arms up high over your head and shoot away. Really intrigued by a crazy looking bug crawling around? Get down on the floor and shoot from the bug’s level. Going high and low is a really easy and fun way to photograph any scene. Yes, you may get some strange looks but who cares–you’re the one with the cool photo right?

Technically Speaking: While in Utah at Zion National Park I was amazed at the juxtaposition between the red roads, yellow lines and blue sky. We were just getting ready to hike Angel’s Landing, which is the mountain in the back of this photo, and I wanted to take a photo at the start of the journey. I took a few pictures standing at normal height until I decided that the colors of the street and the sky were exactly what I needed to make this photo pop. The lines in the street also help direct the viewer’s eye to the mountain.

Travel Photography Tip #3: Shoot a famous place but shoot something that it isn’t necessarily famous for.

(From Arizona With Love – Sedona, Arizona)

OK, this photo isn’t typical Sedona but that’s why I’m featuring it here. Often times when taking photos in a well known location you can end up with the same pictures everyone else. Sedona is a magical town known for its healing powers and beautiful red rocks that surround the city. Everyone on earth can agree that the red rocks are amazing and that’s why everyone that visits Sedona takes pictures of them. I’m not saying you shouldn’t take photos of the tourist attractions and the beautiful landscapes in the area, but while you’re there I recommend trying to find something else that is unique–something that other people are simply missing. When I was last in Sedona, I did take  pictures of the red rocks but it was this image that really stuck with me because I knew no one else would have this exact photo. This building was old, beautiful, different and pure Sedona. It quickly became one of my favorite from that trip.

Technically Speaking: I decided to enhance the old look of the building by fogging up the lens with my breath. Simple, huh? Fogging up the lens created a vintage, old fashioned feel, which I thought was reminiscent of the old west and Sedona. Try this technique out if you want something different in a matter of seconds. It’s pretty cool because every time you fog up your lens you will get a slightly different image. The dark vignetting on the corners was created by my polarizing filter. I created this whole look in the camera, not in Photoshop, and it’s something you can easily try yourself anywhere you are.

Travel Photography Tip #4: Try a new technique.

(Out The Window Series/Chicken Bus – Guatemala City, Guatemala)

You can put anything in front of your camera to create a different feel for your photos. There are a variety of household items you can try out: Saran Wrap, Vaseline (only put this on the UV filter – DO NOT put it directly on lens), a glass cup, a Ziploc bag, nylons sunglasses, fog up your lens with your breath (see tip #3), etc. Your imagination is really the limit here. Anything that could work as a filter over your camera will do. You can also try some different in camera techniques. Try using the self timer when you take a photo but without you in it. It will take a photo at a different time than you would normally and you might like what you get. I use this technique a lot when I’m sitting at a cafe people watching. Try low light or night time photography. Don’t be intimidated by blur – if you don’t have a tripod a seat bench, fence post or even a rock will work as your base. Set the camera down, put on the self timer (so you won’t get any camera shake from pushing the button) and see what unfolds. Another easy option is to simply switch your camera to a black and white setting and shoot that way. Sometimes that is all you need to see your surroundings in a different light.

Technically Speaking: I took the photo of the chicken bus while I was riding on a different chicken bus. It is part of my Out The Window series, which is a collection of photos taken out the window of a bus, car, boat, plane, etc while traveling from one place to another.  It was an overcast day and I underexposed the shot a bit which is what created the b/w type effect. The red bus pops because it was bright enough to create enough contrast in the frame. Shooting through the window is what gives this photo the grainy look. You can even see part of the window reflection on the right side of the bus. Sometimes reflections can ruin a photo but in this case it works and actually adds a sense of speed to the image. Even something as simple as shooting through a piece of window glass can give you a different look instantaneously. The next time you settle in for a 8 hour bus ride give it a try.

Travel Photography Tip #5: Capture the details.

(Orange Crush – Panajachel, Guatemala)

Don’t forget all the little details that made your trip memorable. Whether it’s the bread, the fabrics, the food, the mint on your pillow, the architecture, the souveniers or even the raindrops–make sure to shoot all the small details that make that location unique. These things are important and easily overlooked when taking photos. When you’re back at home you will be happy that you took those pictures because they will not only complete your album but they’ll also help bring back specific memories of your journey.

Technically Speaking: When I first saw this scene there was an older couple in full traditional dress sitting at this table eating. The scene caught my eye because the soda bottles seemed so modern compared to the Indian farmers who were drinking out of them. I took a couple shots but nothing really looked right. When they got up and left, the light dramatically improved and that’s when this picture came to life. Instead of being a people picture, it became a beautiful detail. Now every time I look at this photo I can see them sitting next to us having breakfast. Sometimes it pays to wait out a scene for a while to get something that really clicks.

Full Screen Shot:

Did you like this article? If so, consider retweeting below or stumbling it. Better yet sign up for our RSS feed and get the goodies delivered directly to your inbox! Consider yourself hugged.

*Please remember all photos on this website are copyrighted and property of BeersandBeans.com, NarikosNest.com & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you want to use one of them please contact me to ask first because I love to share. Thanks!

Somewhere In Time is a weekly post featuring a photo from around the world. Enjoy!

A young boy wipes away tears at the grave of a loved one on Day of the Dead in Oaxaca, Mx while the rest of the women in his family watch over him. I wasn’t able to find out who they were mourning but it was clear in their faces that this person was very well loved. I had the unfortunate feeling that this might have been the grave of the boy’s mother. This scene caught my eye because the boy was very emotional but he was flanked by the love of the other women in his family who watched over him in the background.

Click to see the rest of the Somewhere In Time photos.

Did you like this article? If so, consider retweeting below or stumbling it. Better yet sign up for our RSS feed here and get the goodies delivered directly to your inbox! Consider yourself hugged.

*Please remember all photos on this website are copyrighted and property of BeersandBeans.com, NarikosNest.com & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you want to use one of them please contact me to ask first because I love to share. Thanks!

Somewhere In Time is a weekly post featuring a photo from around the world. Enjoy!

Walking around the Mexican cemeteries during El Día de los Muertos is a mind boggling experience. The cemeteries in Mexico are beautiful and lush – filled with trees and flowers. The sights, the sounds and the smells are almost overwhelming as you wander around from grave to grave watching the families tending to the loved ones eternal resting spots.  While the tone is somber at some graves for the most part it is a happy, joyous time filled with food, music and alcohol. There were quite a few bands in the graveyard but this one was one of the most dedicated and emotional that we stumbled upon. It was quite apparent as more players & singers joined the group that this person was loved deeply and missed even more.

Photographers Tip:

If you visit Day of the Dead do yourself a favor and BRING A TRIPOD. I did not think of this and ended up buying a cheap one after the first night. I like to use a lot of blur in my shots anyway but without a tripod a lot of the shots from the first night were a total wash and it was frustrating.  Although the cemeteries are very crowded and it is hard to set one up without it being tripped on you still need it to capture the excitement in the dark cemeteries. If you forget to bring one like I did there are a couple camera shops around town that you can buy one at.

To see the rest of the Somewhere In Time pictures click here.

Did you like this article? If so, consider retweeting below or stumbling it. Better yet sign up for our RSS feed here and get the goodies delivered directly to your inbox! Consider yourself hugged.

*Please remember all photos on this website are copyrighted and property of BeersandBeans.com, NarikosNest.com & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you want to use one of them please contact me  to ask first because I love to share. Thanks!

As if you needed yet another reason to visit the magical city of Oaxaca, Mexico – I’m going to give you one.

Chocolate.

Oaxacan chocolate is well known around the world. The most popular chocolate staples in Oaxaca are hot chocolate & chocolate mole but it seems common to throw a little chocolate in almost everything. Because really what doesn’t taste better without chocolate?

Salsa? Nope they got that covered and it was quite tasty.

Chicken? That’s covered too and Randy said it was “yummy”.

Chicken in Chocolate Mole

Chocolate tastes different here and it tastes good. Real good.

In the chocolate making section of town the entire block smells like chocolate. You might wonder – what is it like to walk out of your hostel and be hit with noisy traffic, Mexican music blaring and the unexpected, overwhelming smell of chocolate? Well my friends it really is like a traveler’s dream.

One of the chocolate shops right around the corner from our hostel was Mayordomo and the wafting smell of chocolate came directly from their shop because they made their own chocolate right there. We found this place after following our noses and popped in just in time to see them making a fresh batch.

Cocoa beans about to become chocolate.

Scooping out the chocolate sauce.

It took less than 5 minutes for the beans to be ground up into the sticky sauce. The aroma was outstanding. It was easy to see that the process of making chocolate was the smell that brought us into the store in the first place. It is definitely worth a peek in if you are in the area. You can also load up on all types of chocolate while you are there. However there was one thing missing – freshly made chocolates to order. I expected a glass counter where I could pick out the most amazing delectable bits but there wasn’t one. All of their chocolate was pre-boxed and not available in individual pieces. I can’t help but think they must be missing out on a ton of tourism dollars by not having a chocolate counter in the shop. I pondered this thought for a long time and really couldn’t come up with a reason why they didn’t do this since there were already a ton of people working in there. Oh well, I would have to find my individual chocolates and cake slices elsewhere. And I did. At a restaurant in the Zocolo.

Chocolate Crepes

To be honest we had some excellent chocolate in the local markets but the most outstanding deserts we had were from the restaurant Como Agua Pa’ Chocolate (Like Water For Chocolate – yes, it was named after the movie.) The restaurant was right on the main square which is also called the Zocolo.

It was a bit gringo-ed out with the menu being in both English & Spanish.  As a result it was also a bit more expensive than the market and street food. However it was really worth it. The hot chocolate was amazing and we couldn’t stop ourselves from returning and trying their different chocolate specialties and salads.

A grape and walnut salad.

We normally don’t like to hit up such touristy eateries but when it comes to food, good is good and their food was very, very good.  All of the chocolate deserts (and the salad) photos in this post were taken at this restaurant. The open air balcony also provides incredible views of daily life in the Zocolo.

A view of daily life in the Zocolo.

It became quite addictive to just relax, eat chocolate and people watch from above.  I would highly recommend grabbing a bite to eat here during your visit. Another benefit of the bilingual menu was that it stated all of their salads  and veggies were washed with purified water. I was dying for a salad and I was very excited about this fact. We found out later that Oaxaca has a city law that mandates all ice cubes and salads need to be made with purified water. I don’t know how many vendors adhere to that law but it is nice to know  that in the restaurants you should be fine to order whatever your heart desires.

Randy in the restaurant.

Another pretty view.

Another popular thing we noticed is that most hot chocolate comes with a large sweet roll. In the roll there is often a little head baked in.  It’s edible but not quite made out of candy or sugar, I’m not sure what it is made of exactly. As we looked at the Day of the Dead altars throughout the city we noticed that these breads were used to symbolize the

(Hot chocolate & bread from a market stall.)                                   (Close up of a bread head. )

relatives that had passed away. We saw many of the breads baked into shapes of people – male & female. This seemed to be a common element when the altar was made for grandparents that had passed on. Randy liked the taste of the bread but much to my surprise I didn’t care for it.

The French creperie restaurant.

We also found a French creperie a few blocks away. We ate there because we wanted something a little different than Mexican and it was cheap. The food there was surprisingly good as well. I forgot to take a picture of the sign so I cannot remember the name but if you are there and you run into a French crepe restaurant with a bookstore below there is a good chance that is the place. Here are some pictures of their food.

What a Caprese salad looks like in a French restaurant in Mexico.

A squash flower crepe.

All in all, Oaxaca is a foodies dream come true. From fried crickets to chocolate salsa, micheladas to Mexican mochas you cannot go wrong here. Another amazing treat I had was from the market and was less than $2. Unfortunately I forgot to take a picture of it but it was a large tortilla covered with black beans, tomotos, salsa & avocado. Then it was baked with cheese on top like a pizza. Absolutely amazing! We loved everything we ate in Oaxaca and there is no end to the gastronomic delights to satisfy the backpacker’s budget or the luxury traveler’s wallet.

Want to know more? – You can read our post about the Mexican Michelada here and shortly we will have video footage of Julia and her small Oaxaca restaurant. After meeting her at a cemetery she invited us for some food the next day and entertained us with her stories while making us one of her specialty dishes.

Did you like this article? If so, consider retweeting below or stumbling it. Better yet sign up for our RSS feed here and get the goodies delivered directly to your inbox! Consider yourself hugged.