Tlayacapan, Mexico

Tlayacapan, a Pueblo Magico (Magic City), in central Mexico is noted for it’s dancing Chinelos, 26 small chapels, and pottery made from the red clay in the hills.

I traveled by four buses to Tlayacapan from where I live, in Tepoztlan, which is half and hour from Cuernavaca and an hour from Mexico City. The trip from my place took an hour and a half, but it was well worth it.

Ixchel met and guided me around the town. I’ve known her for many years. She’s lived in Tlayacapan for three years.

We met in the market place. Saturday is it’s main day.

Then we headed for the pottery studios. Ixchel told me there are three major crafts in town—pottery, glass, and metal. Each one is located in a different section. Since the pottery predominates, I thought it good to visit a pottery studio.

The main cathedral and all of the 26 chapels along with several other buildings were affected by the large earthquake about a year and a half ago. Most of these structures are under repair. Here is one chapel that’s restored.

After looking at pottery, we walked along exploring some of the main streets.

Before I left, Ixchel lent me a booklet about the landscape with excellent photos showing faces in the rocks. The booklet featured the different gods and goddesses embodied there. Other features include a pyramid not fully excavated, caves, and petroglyphs. There is a lot to explore, but that will have to await a future blog article.

A pottery studio in Tlayacapan, Mexico. Photo by Don Karp.

There are different ways of getting around town, along with a special tour bus.

At the end the of last article, I mentioned that I was considering discontinuing this blog. The response was overwhelmingly in favor of its continuance. One person suggested I branch out to cover other areas in this state. That is my intention. Next time I will cover another Pueblo Magico, Taxco. Thanks for letting me know how you appreciate this.