Marques del Valle

This deserves its own post. This is the hotel that Travis and Meyer keep coming back to in the book. It's almost its own character. In the story it is noted for its frosty Negro Modelo. I'm sad to report: to any future pilgrims in this weird quest, Marques del Valle does not serve Negro Modelo anymore. As a subsitute you can order Sol that comes light or dark. But they do freeze the mugs and it's very good after a day huffing around ruins. They also have the best bathrooms I've ever been to in a public place in Mexico. It's a very beautiful and upscale place. We ate there once--we decided to order Oaxacan food. Alex got a tlayuda and I got a mushroom empanada. Alex liked his, though it was huge. Mine was a little bland. I don't know if it's because of picky tourists who have come before, but it's really hard to find spicy food in the Centro Historico.

Also they don't do chips and salsa. For a snack roasted peanuts with chunks of roasted garlic and yummy sea salt and chilis with a slice of lime are the common offering. I ate a ton of these. They are so freaking tasty. I miss these like crazy.

The Marques Del Valle is the title Cortes gave himself. When he claimed Mexico for Spain, he liked Oaxaca (del Valle=of the valley) so much he gave it all to himself. Nice eh.

MPK