June 17
This past weekend we visited Capulalpam de Mendez and today specifically we hiked for about an hour on an already high place in Oaxaca. The ride to Capulalpam was long and the elevation made me sick at times, but in general I was fine. I kept telling myself that my ancestors lived in the mountains so I would be fine, and it worked out pretty well. The first part of the hike was the most difficult because the slope was very steep even though it was a street, I really don’t know how people drive here or have cars.
After we got over the “hard” part, we were given a tour of the water treatment unit, though the town’s water source is so clean that you can directly drink from the well. We also were shown the town’s farming area where they responsibly grow native corn, beans, and other seasonal crops. We moved on to their park where they had a memorial for mothers and different exercise platforms that were designed to keep the town in shape. Once we passed that area, we got to visit the source of the town’s water and got to taste it, it was super cold and fresh. We moved on and observed the traditional medicine hospital that has finished construction, but currently looking to staff people.
After walking in the sun for awhile I noticed something move in the gravel, it was a tiny lizard! It camouflaged with the sandy stones and it looked like a tiny bearded dragon. I found an even tinier one, and the urge to pet it came over me and with my my index finger I gave it a few pets. Someone moving their foot scared the little guy and it ran off. We made a stop at a lookout where there was also a huge cross monument, and rested there until we started our path again. After our trail we packed up to go back to Oaxaca city, but before that we stopped for lunch. The trout is a specialty in this area so I ordered it enchilado, it had cheese and a spicy tomato-ey sauce. Sounds weird but it was delicious. We did a lot this weekend so sayin I’m exhausted is an understatement.
Song Me gustas tu – Manu Chao
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