Getting lost in Oaxaca's markets

Mole, chocolate and the best tortillas of my life.

I came to Mexico with a loose plan and a long list. By the end, the list mattered less than the small moments in between — a conversation at a train station, a meal I didn't expect, a view I almost skipped.

Markets were my classroom here. I asked what was in season, pointed a lot, and ate far too well. The food around ancient pyramid sites is worth the trip alone.

If you are planning your own trip, my advice is simple: give each place more time than you think you need. Mexico is best in november to april for most regions, but every season has its own reasons to visit.

Pack light, carry a reusable water bottle, and leave space in the day for things you can't plan. That's where most of my favorite memories came from.