Oaxaca Trailer Park

 Wednesday

Over all it had been an uneventful and beautiful drive, the only slightly stressful part was on entering Oaxaca was when we suddenly found ourselves on a highway we thought was prohibited to heavy vehicles! However when a tow truck operated by "Transito" (traffic police) appeared in the lane next to us at a traffic light Art opened the window and asked if we were permitted on this road. His response was in very rapid Spanish, Art thought he said something like "no, but...., smiled and waved us on saying "pasele, pasely" (Go ahead, go ahead). So we did. It saved us a long busy way round on the periferico.

Most of what follows below in italics is of primary interest to RVers planning to visit Oaxaca.

Entering Oaxaca we used a combination of the GPS, the Guia Roji 2011, and Churchs' directions.

Coming from the north, (Puebla) the GPS took us up and around the Mirador on highway 190 rather than south and around on the periferico. We found ourselves alongside a Transito (police) tow truck and asked if we were permitted on this part of the road. (We think that heavy traffic is supposed to use the periferico) We didn't completely understand his rapid reply (I think it was essentially “not really but...”) In any case, he smiled and waved us forward, saying “pasele, pasely”, or go ahead, go ahead.

The highway around the mirador was wider and in better shape than the first time here  in a vehicle, 7 years ago, in the Chevy Tracker. Once on the Mirador and onto the 190 through town we were essentially following Churchs. Note that the lanes switch sides of the highway for a couple of blocks then back again just before the left turn. It looks a bit complex and strange  I think it makes it easier for the left turns onto the one way streets. 


The GPS wanted us to turn a block sooner than Churchs but we stayed with Churchs directions until after we made the turn off the 190. After a few blocks we realised that this was a divided road so we went back to the GPS route rather than Church', thinking a right turn into the RV park would be better than trying to cross the divided street.




Small mistake, but no harm done. First a left onto Naval Militar then right in a block then right again then a right back onto Violeta. Except we were unable to make the last turn for all the cars parked right up to and into the intersection on both sides of the street!

Art dropped Gillian off to check out the park entrance and carried on strait and was able to turn right at the next block and found a room to park opposite the back entrance of the Chedraui (Supermarket) to un-hook.

Art phoned Gillian to tell her where she was. When she returned to the rig we unhooked the Jeep and drove around the block again as we had done the first time and this time, without the jeep attached, Art was able to make the right turn onto Violeta and with a bit of tooing and frowing was able to make the right turn into the park, not delaying traffic for more than a minute or so.

Looking at it later we probably could have made the left turn into the park (following Churchs' directions, driving north on Violeta) but only if parked cars weren't obstructing the turn lane as they are most of the time. In the photo there is a motorbike on the corner but the day we arrived there was a large car there and another in around the corner!



 Oaxaca Trailer Park is pretty run down. There is still room for some big rigs if you can get through the traffic and the cars parked on both sides of the street and in the turning lane! Buses often park here for the night.

To leave the park we would have to leave quite early if on a week day, but we hope Sunday things will be a little less crowded.  (They were. Early Saturday morning would be an option too.)

About the park itself; Electric power is to 15 Amp outlets and although they use the standard U-ground sockets there is no ground wire attached. The outlets are 2 wire only, running about 129 volts when I checked with the multimeter.

The mature trees provide lots of shade so the solar panels are bit handicapped. We have been using a standalone charger, and once or twice the generator, to get the bulk charge to the batteries then leave the topping up to the solar array later in the morning when the sun gets past the trees for a few hours.

Water pressure is adequate to push a trickle through a two stage filter; one paper sediment filter and one charcoal filter. There would be no point of adding the 1 micron ceramic filter, I doubt there would be much pressure left! The water is very murky, especially if it has been standing in the pipes for long. You should use a particulate or sediment filter.

Most of the threads on the water taps are in terrible shape, I doubt I could get a metal connector to thread on but fortunately, our long hose has plastic threads which with a little care, I managed to make work.

The sewer drain worked fine, though at our site (and many) the run is up hill, but not too far or too steep.

The laundry room mentioned by the Churchs is now storage for mostly junk and is kept locked. There seems to be a couple of machines still there though, under and behind the clutter.

We did manage to get warm water from the showers to check them out, but we didn't use it—the rig is much cleaner!

Price was 250 pesos per day.

On the third day we found a free wireless cafe one block down. From the RV park, walk towards town, cross Naval Militar and walk right on Naval Militar a few doors to the cafe (who's name escapes me!) It also serves great coffees!


Having  arrived in Oaxaca without incident, that is not to say it was easy, and eventually having entered the RV park (details above) we finally chose a site; relatively level, no trees between the satellite and the dish  and not too shaded for the solar panels. Solar panels? Yup! Once again, electric power that the rig won't accept--no ground! So far we are batting 1000, and will likely maintain this record until we arrive in Pie de la Cuesta, just to the north of Acapulco.

A young American couple arrived some hours after us, on their way to Guatemala for language school before touring South America and ending in Uruguay. Their young dog was a great playmate for Trekker.