Oaxaca Zocalo
Mexico Pictures

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Oaxaca's central plaza, or Zócalo. This is tourist ground zero so find a hotel or guest house as close as possible to this spot then start walking in circles, especially after chilling with a few Sangritas!

Oaxaca cathedral in the Zocalo. Photo © Bobak Ha'Eri.

A café just off Oaxaca's Zocalo.

The start of the Day of the Dead kid's parade in the Zocalo.

Zocalo: Traditional Mexican towns embrace ancient central plazas, otherwise known as zocalo, where locals have always gathered in the shady colonnades or under the trees and kids escape from their mothers; if there is a civic event that's where it will probably start and consequently that's where any savvy traveller should stay if affordable or head for the first evening if not.

Sangrita por favor! A sangrita is actually a shot glass of mainly tomato juice but also the way locals in Mexico's states of Oaxaca and Jalisco order and drink their tequilas. i.e. "Hombre! Sangrita por favor!"
Sangrita contains tomato juice but also - depending on the barman's inclination - lime juice, pureed onion, salt, and tabasco or chili sauce. The sangrita and tequila will come in separate shot glasses, perhaps with lime slices and should be sipped alternately, without hurry. First the tequila, then the chilled sangrita.