Sorry!! I know I told you I'd continue the story like ages ago, but I have been buried in work, so now that is sunday I'll continue my roadtrip story (If you don't know what I'm talking about check my last blog entrance)
So... third day in Oaxaca we went to magical Hierve el Agua. There we met Don Rufino, a 23451 year old guy deaf as his cane, who gave tours through the jungle to go see the big petrified waterfall. He charged 10 pesos per person - less than 1 american dollar- for the whole tour. On the way down he was super fast and agile, very impressive, but on the way back he had to stop every 2 minutes and I was very sure that he would have a heart attack right there. He told us stories about him growing up there, how they turned the place into a clean touristic place, how they built stairs to make easier the road to the stone waterfalls, how the town grew after that (from 20 inhabitants to 50 I guess, it was very small) about his wife and kids... We gave him 100 pesos instead of 20 and he almost cried of gratitude...
Don Rufino and me
That night we went to the fanciest hotel in Oaxaca de Juarez to see La Guelaguetza, a traditional dance representing the 8 indigenous groups that still live in Oaxaca state.
Next day we woke up very early and heades to San Jose del Pacfico, a small town at the top of the mountains buried in the middle of La Sierra Madre. I suffered the whole way cause the road looked a bit like this SSSSSSSS and I was dizzy all the time. But is was totally worth it, we arrived to our cabin in the middle of the woods, and after a very late lunch or very early dinner, we got to see from our cabin porch how the forrest below us turned into a cloud ocean. A few hours later all we could see were zillions of stars. We got a bottle of wine and spent a very romantic evening in front of a great fire.
The forrest in San Jose being swallowed by clouds
Next day we woke up early again and after a few hours of horrible SSSS roads he arrived to Mazunte, a small town in the coast full of magic, sun and nice people. Our hotel was right in front of the ocean, very fancy and confortable. Here's the view from our room terrace
First day we stayed at the beach swimming in the warm ocean, and then went to have a great dinner at El Alquimista, a restaurant and hotel in Zipolite, a town very close to Mazunte, like 15 a minutes drive through the jungly coastline. Next day we went to Ventanilla, my favorite experience from the whole trip.
Ventanilla is a very small community very close to Mazunte, where the inhabitants have formed a group that works to protect their environment. That beach is a sanctuary where turtles go to lay their eggs, right in front of a mangle swamp. We were too late to see the turtles, but we payed 50 pesos each for a boat tour in the swamp, where we saw crocodiles, gigant iguanas, colorful frogs and all kinds of birds. The tour includes a stop at an island in the swamp where the community has built a small museum explaining the kinds of animals you can find there, a crocodile nursery to help repopulate the swamp, a veterinary office, and a small zoo where they keep animals that have been rescued from illegal animal traffic and don't know how to live in the wild.
This raccoon used to have a cage, but a hurricane destroyed most of the facilities, including her little house. They were rebuilding it when they realized that she didn't escaped or attacked people, so she's out running around. If someone besides the lady that feeds her tries to pet her she will bite, but she is adorable anyway.
This cute couple of mexican badgers where taken from an illegal animal trader trying to take them to Belize. They used to be in the same cage but the female almost killed the male once so they got separated. They still play together as you can see.
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This eagle was found on a highway, it had a broken wing and it's healing. After it is completely recovered they'll set it free.
This guys are not really in the zoo, they live free on the island but they come very close to the zoo area cause there are bean plantations and they like eating it's leaves. They are also safe from the crocodiles in this area, and they've learned that humans won't harm them here.
This guy is my newest friend. He is Yupi, a spider monkey saved from illegal animal traffic. He originally was sent to a zoo with 2 other spider monkeys but somehow one of them got killed, so they separated the other two to avoid more killings. He loves being petted, he is very playful and likes girls more than guys, so we spent a lot of time playing. They didn't let me get in the cage
but he had a lot of fun.
They had an utter saved from a river that is being tubbed but I don't have any pictures from it. It made the cutest noises I've heard.
Next day we booked a tour to go snorkeling and diving, but it rained all day so it got cancelled. We spent the morning in the hotel swimming, cuddling and enjoying the view, and wen the rain stopped a little we went to Punta Cometa. It is the rocky point that closes the west side of Mazunte bay, and it is considered a sacred place by the Zapotecas. If you go there you'lll see why, but I can't really explain it with words, so I'll just show you some pics.
That night we went back to El Alquimista for a romantic dinner, and next morning we headed back home.
As you can see, I had a blast, and I'm very happy to share it with you.
Love you all
So... third day in Oaxaca we went to magical Hierve el Agua. There we met Don Rufino, a 23451 year old guy deaf as his cane, who gave tours through the jungle to go see the big petrified waterfall. He charged 10 pesos per person - less than 1 american dollar- for the whole tour. On the way down he was super fast and agile, very impressive, but on the way back he had to stop every 2 minutes and I was very sure that he would have a heart attack right there. He told us stories about him growing up there, how they turned the place into a clean touristic place, how they built stairs to make easier the road to the stone waterfalls, how the town grew after that (from 20 inhabitants to 50 I guess, it was very small) about his wife and kids... We gave him 100 pesos instead of 20 and he almost cried of gratitude...
Don Rufino and me
That night we went to the fanciest hotel in Oaxaca de Juarez to see La Guelaguetza, a traditional dance representing the 8 indigenous groups that still live in Oaxaca state.
Next day we woke up very early and heades to San Jose del Pacfico, a small town at the top of the mountains buried in the middle of La Sierra Madre. I suffered the whole way cause the road looked a bit like this SSSSSSSS and I was dizzy all the time. But is was totally worth it, we arrived to our cabin in the middle of the woods, and after a very late lunch or very early dinner, we got to see from our cabin porch how the forrest below us turned into a cloud ocean. A few hours later all we could see were zillions of stars. We got a bottle of wine and spent a very romantic evening in front of a great fire.
The forrest in San Jose being swallowed by clouds
Next day we woke up early again and after a few hours of horrible SSSS roads he arrived to Mazunte, a small town in the coast full of magic, sun and nice people. Our hotel was right in front of the ocean, very fancy and confortable. Here's the view from our room terrace
First day we stayed at the beach swimming in the warm ocean, and then went to have a great dinner at El Alquimista, a restaurant and hotel in Zipolite, a town very close to Mazunte, like 15 a minutes drive through the jungly coastline. Next day we went to Ventanilla, my favorite experience from the whole trip.
Ventanilla is a very small community very close to Mazunte, where the inhabitants have formed a group that works to protect their environment. That beach is a sanctuary where turtles go to lay their eggs, right in front of a mangle swamp. We were too late to see the turtles, but we payed 50 pesos each for a boat tour in the swamp, where we saw crocodiles, gigant iguanas, colorful frogs and all kinds of birds. The tour includes a stop at an island in the swamp where the community has built a small museum explaining the kinds of animals you can find there, a crocodile nursery to help repopulate the swamp, a veterinary office, and a small zoo where they keep animals that have been rescued from illegal animal traffic and don't know how to live in the wild.
This raccoon used to have a cage, but a hurricane destroyed most of the facilities, including her little house. They were rebuilding it when they realized that she didn't escaped or attacked people, so she's out running around. If someone besides the lady that feeds her tries to pet her she will bite, but she is adorable anyway.
This cute couple of mexican badgers where taken from an illegal animal trader trying to take them to Belize. They used to be in the same cage but the female almost killed the male once so they got separated. They still play together as you can see.
This eagle was found on a highway, it had a broken wing and it's healing. After it is completely recovered they'll set it free.
This guys are not really in the zoo, they live free on the island but they come very close to the zoo area cause there are bean plantations and they like eating it's leaves. They are also safe from the crocodiles in this area, and they've learned that humans won't harm them here.
This guy is my newest friend. He is Yupi, a spider monkey saved from illegal animal traffic. He originally was sent to a zoo with 2 other spider monkeys but somehow one of them got killed, so they separated the other two to avoid more killings. He loves being petted, he is very playful and likes girls more than guys, so we spent a lot of time playing. They didn't let me get in the cage
but he had a lot of fun.
They had an utter saved from a river that is being tubbed but I don't have any pictures from it. It made the cutest noises I've heard.
Next day we booked a tour to go snorkeling and diving, but it rained all day so it got cancelled. We spent the morning in the hotel swimming, cuddling and enjoying the view, and wen the rain stopped a little we went to Punta Cometa. It is the rocky point that closes the west side of Mazunte bay, and it is considered a sacred place by the Zapotecas. If you go there you'lll see why, but I can't really explain it with words, so I'll just show you some pics.
That night we went back to El Alquimista for a romantic dinner, and next morning we headed back home.
As you can see, I had a blast, and I'm very happy to share it with you.
Love you all
littlejohn22:
such a beautiful journey you are on... this place must be on my bucket list