After a rather depressing multi-week dry spell of feeling uninspired, unmotivated, and questioning my life’s direction, I feel as though I’m finally on the up and up. Things turned around in the most surprising way. It started with an Inner Voice session by my friend Em Strong. What came through during the session, mainly about thinking of my life as my home, inspired me to step out of my house, something I wasn’t doing much of during the dry spell, and into a cafe (Sorbo Cafe y Textiles to be exact) to buy a cute little hand-stitched piece of art I had seen advertised on Instagram. A serendipitous sequence of events if there ever was one.

This is the piece I bought. It was made with love by Amuleto, a local Oaxacan artist. I’m so in love with it!

On my walk to the cafe, I started realizing just how rich Oaxaca’s streets are with interesting shops, restaurants, and cafes that you don’t realize are there until you have a reason to walk by them. This stroll to Sorbo Cafe to buy my little piece of art planted a seed in my mind to start walking every single street of Oaxaca and documenting its gems on this blog, devoting a full week to each street. Almost as soon as the idea came to me, my spirits lifted. I had a mission and I couldn’t wait to begin.

This was Saturday. By Sunday, I had picked a street to begin on and dragged my boyfriend along with me to get a lay of the land and to figure out what I’d be revisiting during the week. On that one stroll, so many “new” discoveries came into my awareness, places that had always been there, but that I had never noticed. We walked Macedonia Alcala all the way down to where it meets with the Zocalo and then further still to where it becomes Bustamante. I was re-awakened by all things new in a place that was starting to feel old. This is what re-invigoration feels like I guess.

I kid you not, I spent the entire week on Macedonia Alcala (and Bustamante). It kept me entertained with its rooftop bars, coffee shops, art galleries, bookshops, and restaurants. I truly never realized how much this one street packs in until I started looking at every detail and walking through every open door. This mostly pedestrian-only thoroughfare is one of the most popular streets in Oaxaca and though many of its shops, restaurants, and attractions mostly cater to tourists, there are still quite a few gems hiding within its hustle and bustle that still pull in a local crowd. Here’s a few that especially caught my eye:

**La Proveedora Libreria y Cafe**

I stumbled across this hiding-in-plain-sight bookshop/cafe/bar trifecta by accident. The skies had opened up on my way home and my umbrella just wasn’t doing the job. So, I ducked inside the nearest overhang to wait it out. It happened to be the entrance of this cute little bookshop called La Proveedora. Once inside, I discovered a treasure trove of books all about Oaxaca and Mexico and, behind it all, the bookshop’s cafe and cocktail bar.

Tizne Oaxaca — **Tizne**

On my initial wander down Macedonia Alcala to scope out my street for the week, I came across Tizne and made a special note to be sure and return. This gorgeous eatery is tucked inside of an art gallery featuring the work of Jacobo and Maria Angeles, some of the most famous *alebrije* artists in Oaxaca. The setting is spectacular and I was well-pleased to use it as my “coffice” (coffee shop office) for a few hours. I ordered the *cafe de olla*, coffee brewed over the stovetop with cinnamon, vanilla, and sweetened with cane sugar.

**Los Danzantes**

Though I haven’t eaten here yet, its stunning backdrop caught my eye while I was dining at its upstairs neighbor, Berlina. The music (spun by a live DJ I believe) and this incredible statement wall were audible and visible from my seat on Berlina’s rooftop. I’m all about ambiance and Los Danzantes has it. I don’t even care what’s on their menu if it means dining in an environment like this one. …Though I have heard their food is exceptional.

I’ll be populating all of my discoveries in my Oaxaca City Guide, as well as sharing as I go over on Instagram. Take a peek at the guide as I’ve already added a few new treats in there that really lay the groundwork for this mission I’m now happily on. You’ll see buttons for “Eat,” “Drink,” and “Shop.”

Eventually each of those pages will be teaming with restaurant recommendations, shops you can’t miss, and all the drinks you have to try and where to find them in Oaxaca. I’ll also be adding a “Things to Do” page that will house the museums, churches, art galleries, and experiences I come across on my one-street wanders, things like the alebrije painting workshop I discovered in Voces de Copal and the cocktail workshop I spotted at La Tlayuda.

ALSO, I’m thinking of piecing together do-it-yourself walking tours that pull upon all of the gems I’m finding. What do you think? Would you use one of those while visiting Oaxaca? Send me a message and let me know your thoughts!

I’m excited just writing this out. I have a mission again! A purpose that makes me want to jump out of bed and keep going. I’m back world. And I hope you have as much fun following along as I’m having doing and creating it. Stay tuned. I’ll be updating you on the mission (and my life) each week right here. I’m aiming for regular Monday updates. If you’d prefer to receive these via your inbox, fill out the form below and I’ll be sure to add you to the list.

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This Week

With Macedonia Alcala behind me, this week is all about exploring the treasures hiding on Valentin Gomez Farias, the street that actually connects with the place I’m currently living and the place I’ll be moving to this Wednesday. Seemed like a natural next step. I’ve already started checking it out, hence the mid-afternoon slice of chocolate ganache cake and a coffee to-go from Cafe El Volador. I also found a 70 peso menu lunch at Ayuk and a pretty neat ceramics collective called Colectivo 1050 grados. Today was just about dipping my toe into the possibilities. I’ll dive deeper this week. Remember, you can come along for the ride over on Instagram. Find me at @ambergoesnative.