Tuesday, April 28, 2020
San José del Pacífico a magical place in Oaxaca
https://www.mexicodesconocido.com.mx/san-jose-del-pacifico.html
San José del Pacífico a magical place in Oaxaca
In San José del Pacífico you will be face to face with the clouds, magic and nature.
Have you ever dreamed of touching the clouds? Well, the place where that is possible exists and is called San José del Pacífico , a destination among the mountains full of magic. Located in the southern highlands of Oaxaca , this town at 2,5000 meters above sea level is a must-see for travelers heading to Zipolite and Mazunte .
In San José del Pacífico you will find impressive panoramic images , as it is surrounded by clouds and trees. However, one of the reasons for its fame is the mushrooms that grow in the immediate vicinity of the forest. The consumption of mushrooms in the region dates back to ancient times: they were already used by the Zapotecs for rituals of self-knowledge and religious revelation.
In contemporary times, numerous Mexican and foreign travelers have set about rediscovering this healing tool. During the 1960s its consumption became popular thanks to the shaman María Sabina.
What to do in San José del Pacífico?
To have a true experience, you can start by bundling up in one of the ponchos and sweaters knitted by the artisans of the region. As in almost every point of Oaxaca, in this magical place you can also taste a delicious mezcal accompanied by dishes of regional cuisine. If you are a lover of Italian food, we recommend you visit La Taberna de los Duendes, a place with a unique flavor.
You can take advantage and perform a complete ritual, starting with a purification in the temazcal . To have a greater contact with nature you can take a walk or take a mountain bike tour. Among the lodging options are comfortable cabins from which you can contemplate the journey of the clouds through the hills.
Monday, April 27, 2020
Artisans turn to making face masks from palm leaves The coronavirus has put a dent in sales of hats, fans, baskets and other goods
An artisan in Oaxaca wears one of the new masks.
Artisans turn to making face masks from palm leaves
The coronavirus has put a dent in sales of hats, fans, baskets and other goods
Indigenous artisans in Oaxaca are making face masks out of palm fronds in order to make a living during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The native Mixtecs from the town of San Miguel Huautla normally use palm leaves to create hats, fans, cords, earrings, baskets and other handmade products, but demand for such items has dropped during the health crisis.
While conventional face masks are either impossible to find or severely overpriced — selling for 50-100 pesos (US $2-$4) a piece — Juana López and her fellow artisans are selling theirs for only 5 pesos (US $0.20) each. They appear to fit loosely, but are washable, reusable and easy to disinfect.
Such informal workers depend on tourism, mobility and lively public spaces in order to make a living, but the coronavirus pandemic has drastically diminished these activities over the last 45 days.
Selling palm products is the only source of income for these artisans who work daily to cut, dry, mature and form the leaves into various items.
With a little help from the government’s mandate to wear face masks in public, their initiative has taken off regionally, and López and her fellow artisans have found customers in nearby Asunción Nochixtlán, Huajuapan de León and other neighboring communities.
But she and friends aren’t the only innovative Oaxacans to have contributed beneficial products to the fight to mitigate the spread of Covid-19. Zapotec artisans in Juchitán de Zaragoza are making face masks adorned with the embroidered designs from the traditional blouses called huipiles worn in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec region.
And earlier this month, 12-year-old Jorge Martínez of Oaxaca city designed and produced plastic face shields with a 3D printer to support health workers treating patients infected with the virus.
Meanwhile, Governor Alejandro Murat posted a video to Facebook in which he and his wife demonstrate how to make a homemade face mask out of a scarf and rubber bands.
Source: Milenio (sp)
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