Well it's been a while so there is a bit to talk about. The photography project has continued and is generally going well. Have now photographed about 450 kids - 1800 photos in all. Had a little hiccup early in the week. I was letting some of the kids use my camera and in the process they deleted the photos i had taken that morning. About 10 kids in all. Spent that night trying to work out who. Think I was able to identify most of them and get them to come back in. Lesson learned! Preparations are continuing in the town for the upcoming Guelaguetza festival. Its basically a celebration of the 8 indigenous cultures in the Oaxaca area. Associated with it is the Mezcal Festival. Marquees are popping up everywhere, parks are being transformed into exhibition areas and painters are doing a roaring trade. It seems like every second building is getting a fresh coat of paint. Walking along the footpath is an obstacle course. Ladders, open tins of paint and drop sheets everywhere. The zocalo is still the centre of entertainment. Every night there is something going on. Dance bands, street performers, parades. Thursday night the zocalo had been transformed overnight into a carnival. Rides of all types, shooting galleries, laughing clowns, the works. And people everywhere. Huge teacher protest on Friday. Hundreds marched to the zocalo where they have now set up a "protest camp". The zocalo is covered with tents and tarpaulins. The interesting thing is that the summer vacation started today, so they are actually protesting in their own time. It's basically an annual event now. Along with some of my new American friends we headed to a performance that night at the Plaza de la Danza. Massive crowd and we were relegated to standing room only. It was essentially a performance of dance representing the 8 different regions in Oaxaca, along with singing. The costumes were spectacular and with the backdrop being a beautifully illuminated cathedral it was a sensational setting. We continued in the party theme and with a local to guide us ended up at a very lively club/pub. 2.00am before I crawled into bed. Saturday was the opening for most major exhibitions. The streets and plazas throughout town were dominated by markets of all types. From food and clothing to stalls from outlying villages showcasing their particular crafts. Black pottery, weaving, intricately painted wood carving, embroidery, basket weaving. It was all there and a magnificent display of the age old skills which these people have passed down from generation to generation. Pretty much spent the day wandering from market to market. Late in the afternoon watched a very good indigenous dance performance put on by a troupe of teenagers. It was great to see the crowd was not put off by the rain which virtually started right at the beginning of the show. Sunday was a sort of early start. I had booked another hike in the Sierra Norte mountains. It started in the village of Benito Juarez. With Manuel, my 74 year old guide, we set off on what was a great day weatherwise. The scenery was spectacular. Lush green forest and mountains, with the odd settlement here and there. We also walked through sizable pine plantations and the air was filled with a fragrant pine scent. Farming here is still very primitive. Bullocks and hand ploughs are the norm. Potatoes and maize seemed to be the main crops. About two and half hours later we arrived at the highlight of the hike - a lookout at an altitude of 3100 metres, with great views over the valley. And just as we did the mist rolled up the valley and obliterated the view. Still it had been an enjoyable walk. Sunday night was a first for me. A professional baseball game between the Oaxaca Guerreros and the Monterey Sultans. It was the 6th and final game in 6 days. I think that may have been a reasn for the small crowd. It was a little like being at the footy, except it was beer and tacos. But the best part was they came to you, took your order and then delivered it. So no need to leave your seat and miss any of the action. Not that there is much in baseball. Whilst it was a fun night it hasn't convinced me that I should put baseball on my "must watch" list of sports. And fortunately the local side won, so it was a happy crowd that left the stadium. And today marks the start of my last week in Oaxaca. On Friday night I take a 10 bus hour trip to Puerto Escondido which is a beach/surfing town on the west coast. I've booked an Airbnb for 7 nights and intend to spend it mainly relaxing. I will miss Oaxaca. The spell it cast over me last year is still there, however I am equally looking forward to the next part of the adventure.