In cooperation with Eric Mindling of Oaxaca I traveled with a group of friends to explore the indiginous pottery of the highland region. Our experiences ranged from climing a small mountain to visit a seldom seen ancient ruin, eating fabulous food made just for us by potters and weavers in their homes, exploring the exotic open markets, and of course sampling many varieties of Mescal! Our guide and driver assembled a fantastic 10 day tour for us, full of surprise and discovery. Anyone wishing to learn more about the tour services of Eric Mindling can visit www.traditionsmexico.com Every member of our group would highly recomend traveling with Eric.
Date(s): December 20, 2004. Album by Marvin Bjurlin. 1 - 24 of 144 Total. 294 Visits.
1 The Mexican kitchen wall at 25 Maple Avenue, Fredonia NY.
2 A wedding parade as seen from the balcony of the Casa de la Abuela on the Zocalo in Oaxaca.
3 Food was simple but delicious: tortillas, beans, guacamole, a little meat, and always lime.
4 Traveling from Oaxaca to Puebla, a goat at a mountain rest stop.
5 In the market in Puebla, we saw goats from a different perspective. Eric said, don't eat goat meat in Mexico. I can't imagine why...
6 Every home and busines has an elaborate creche, this one features Jesus as triplets!
7 Tina in our first mountain village hotel in Cuicatlan.
8 Across the street from the hotel, the village women brought their corn to be ground into masa for the day's tortillas.
9 Cuicatlan housewife at the corn mill.
10 Even in the country where the yard is nothing but dirt, pride of place requires a daily sweeping.
11 Our destination for the day, the top of mount Quiotepec to see the ancient ruins.
12 Rosie, the van, stuck in the mud at the edge of the river we forded. It took Eric and 5 village volunteers to get Rosie on the way again.
13 The trail up the mountain was steep and dusty.
14 The region has one of the densist cactus forests in Mexico.
15 The only shade available was provided by massive cactus.
16 Admiring the stuning vistas.
17 At the top of the mountain: climing unrestored steps at the ancient religious center of the Cuicateco people. We may have been the largest contingent of gringos to visit this site.
18 At our feet, baby cactus abound.
19 In the distance, the beautiful valley.
20 Later, back at down at the river, we all went swiming in the river to cool off.
21 Cactus bones.
22 In Apoala, "Osama" the rock chasing dog spent an entire day following the group in hopes someone would throw a rock for him to fetch. We obliged!
23 Sometimes Osama's tumbles in his rush to get the rock were hilarious!
