Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico. Night view of the main cathedral. Photo by author Morelia, the capital of the state of Michoacan, is in central Mexico. It's a four hour drive northwest of Mexico City. The population is three quarters of a million. I traveled there to attend a five day conference, but was a tourist for a few extra days. In this...
Read MorePalenque, Chiapas Mexico. Upstream, across from the kitchen. I like the sun's rays. Photo by author During the month of December, the World Rainbow Gathering, an international event, had its camp out at a site near the ruins of Palenque in Chiapas, Mexico. I attended for the two weeks prior to Christmas. Nine years ago, the same site was used...
Read MoreTepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. Abode bricks for sale at a local manufacturing site. The cost listed in USD is fifty cents per brick. Photo by author Adobe is the characteristic and distinctive building material in this region. Where I am from originally, the northeastern part of the US, most homes are made of wood. Why the
Read MoreTepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. Even boys join the family crew when pouring a roof. Photo by author Across the street from me a crew started pouring the cement roof on a house. I grabbed my camera to film the work.
Read MoreTepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. Part of a reconstructed pyramid. Photo by author To continue the hiking theme from the last entry, this documents the two main pyramids in Tepoztlán, focusing on nearby back trails. First is a description of a lesser known reconstructed pyramid near the highway and the trail above it to a mountain view. Then a back...
Read MoreTepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. The midpoint of my hike/retreat. Photo by author On May 31, I packed my backpack and headed for a mountain trail that starts fifteen minutes uphill from my apartment in Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. My aim was to climb the mountain, almost to the top, where there is a rock overhang that forms a cave. I'd spend the night...
Read MoreTepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. A landscape view from the trail beginning near Santa Cruz Church, a 15 minute walk from the town center (Centro). Photo by author Tepoztlán is a "magic town" in the central volcanic region of Mexico where I've lived since 2003. Part of the magic is the very unusual shapes of the mountains, formed by secondary...
Read MoreAmatlán, Morelos, Mexico. This trail features an unusual landscape. Amatlán is an ancient village in the municipality of Tepoztlán. It is the birthplace of the Nahuat god Quetzalcóatl. Its name derives from that of the Amate tree, from which a form of paper was made. I am going to introduce you to one of the trails
Read MoreIt's fun to shop for fresh vegetables and fruit at the outdoor markets. The warm dry climate makes it comfortable. During those few months when it rains, an overhead tarp provides protection. The main market in Tepoztlán is in the center of town. Parts of it are open every day, but it expands on weekends to serve the large tourist influx to this...
Read MoreTepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. Finger Rock. Photo by author On September 22, the day of the fall equinox, I hiked alone into the mountains near where I live, in Tepoztlán, to honor the transition of seasons. I gave the rock protuberance that juts up two stories high from the forest floor the name "Finger Rock," because that's what it looks like to...
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