In 1529, Dominican monks arrived in what is today the state of Oaxaca. Here they found large populations of indigenous peoples with a wealth of natural resources which they used to construct massive temples and convents to aid in the conversion of the local populations. Their goal was to establish a convent at intervals of… Continue reading La Ruta Dominica–The Dominican Route
It’s the hottest time of year.
April is the hottest time of year in Oaxaca. The sun has not yet made it to it’s northern most point, so it’s right over heard. Burning down. Not a good time to visit Oaxaca’s hottest region, or it is?
Most of what make the Central Valles Region of Oaxaca hot is the sun, at 1,555 meters above sea level (5,102 ft.) that sun really beats down on you. The Papaloapan region in northern Oaxaca is where the gulf coast plane meets the montains. The trip from Oaxaca City to Valle Nacional first takes you up over 2000 meters before dropping down to a mear 60 meters above sea level (196 ft.) in Valle Nacional. Be sure to travel during the day and get a window seat as the views are spectacular.
The stretch between Valle Nacional and Tuxtepec is lush and green and its rivers are full of cold water coming down the mountains in the form of beautiful water falls and natural swimming holes.
The most famous of which is Zuzul, where a large pool has been made before the water joins the main river. While the air temperatures are in the upper 30s (over 100) this time of year, the water is around 22 degrees (about 70).
Monte flor is also well known as it’s right off the highway, and easy to get to. The swimming area is smaller, but built with the water flowing through it and it’s safe to continue floating on down stream.
Harder to get to, but very worth it is El Naranjal. This is a series of waterfalls with pools of a variety of depths set back in the trees so you can completely forget about the heat.
Guelaguetzafication
Round about when I was a senior in high school or maybe a freshman in college I set a life goal for myself of coining a phrase. I knew you couldn’t force a term in to existence and hope it will stick so I knew I had to just wait. I think now, in the… Continue reading Guelaguetzafication
Guadalupe Cuatepec
Guadalupe Cuatepec, Oaxaca. If you’re looking to get off the beaten track, this is the place for you. This town with a population of little more than one hundred people, is located near Suchitepec, which is near Miltepec, which is near Huajuapan, in the far north-west corner of the state of Oaxaca. There are a… Continue reading Guadalupe Cuatepec
September 19, 2018
I’m not ready. Tomorrow there will be a city wide drill, and I’m not ready. I thought I was. I wrote about the September 7th quake and it helped to remember, lay it out in words so I can send it off and no longer hold it in. Over the past year I’ve talked about… Continue reading September 19, 2018
¿Viva?
I’m just not that into patriotism. Never have been, I’m really more of the “citizen of the world” type. But there are two countries I’m particularly not patriotic about, the two I know best. The one I lived the first half of my life in and the one I’ve lived the second half of my… Continue reading ¿Viva?
