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A little about Playa Zipolite, The Beach of the Dead . . .

Playa Zipolite, Oaxaca, Southern Mexico, on the Pacific Ocean. A little bit about my favorite little get-away on this small world of ours.

Zipolite, a sweaty 30-minute walk west from Puerto Angel, brings you to Playa Zipolite and another world. The feeling here is 1970's - Led Zep, Marley, and scruffy gringos.

A long, long time ago, Zipolite beach was usually visited by the Zapotecans...who made it a magical place. They came to visit Zipolite to meditate, or just to rest.

Recently, this beach has begun to receive day-trippers from Puerto Angel and Puerto Escondido, giving it a more TOURISTY feel than before.

Most people come here for the novelty of the nude beach, yoga, turtles, seafood, surf, meditation, vegetarians, discos, party, to get burnt by the sun, or to see how long they can stretch their skinny budget.

I post WWW Oaxaca, Mexico, Zipolite and areas nearby information. Also general budget, backpacker, surfer, off the beaten path, Mexico and beyond, information.

REMEMBER: Everyone is welcome at Zipolite.

ivan

Saturday, April 13, 2013

In Oaxaca, a community unchanged 12 April 2013




In the isolated pine- and oak-filled mountains about 60km northwest of Oaxaca City are eight small villages, collectively called Los Pueblos Mancomunados. Most of the inhabitants are Zapotecan and the villages operate under a unique self-ruling co-operative system, where rural life has remained virtually unchanged for hundreds of years.
The land surrounding the villages is also rich in every sense of the word. The forests are abundant with medicinal plants and mushrooms, and the fields produce maize, squash, tomatoes, beans, watercress and potatoes, as well as a large range of fruit. Most crops in the region are sown and harvested by hand, including the small plots that dot the gravity-challenging mountain sides, and farm machinery is a rare sight, with villagers using donkeys, oxen and bulls to plough the crops. Close to the village of Amatlan, a large reserve of gold and silver still sits in a now unused mine.  Ghost-like mounds of powder-like gold can be seen, forever waiting for transportation to the northern Mexican city of San Luis Potosi for refinement.
Unlike many other small villages in Mexico, Los Pueblos Mancomunados is run by a committee that, in 1998, set up an ecotourism program called Expediciones Sierra Norteto showcase and protect six of the villages’ beautiful scenery and nearly forgotten way of life. Today, visitors can independently explore the forested trails that connect the villages of Latuvi, La Neveria, Benito Juarez, Cuajimoloyas, Llano Grande and Amatlan (by foot, bike or horse) – but it is a richer experience to travel with anExpediciones Sierra Norte guide. Each member of the community must do a year of service in the programme, acting as a guide or helping to maintain the traditionally-built adobe cabins where visitors stay. All profits are equally split among the village families, which helps alleviate forced emigration in search of work.
One of the main trails, El Camino – part of a longer trail that went from the Gulf of Mexico through to the Pacific Ocean – dates back to pre-Hispanic times, when the villagers had to walk for at least a day to reach the market in Oaxaca City. Once there, they bartered their maize, vegetables, crafts and fruit for produce not available at home. Locals still make that trip today for the same reasons – but today they travel by bus or truck
Guided treks can start at any of the six villages and vary from a single day excursion to four days or more depending on fitness level and time available. On the longer treks between villages  – the forests filled with seasonal displays of colourful bromeliad flowers and Spanish moss – nights are spent in the adobe cabins, with hot water, a roaring log fire and an authentic Oaxacan meal upon arrival. Dishes might include sopa de calabaza,a clear broth with chunks of squash and fresh garlic; ortortillas con amarillo de hongos, corn tortillas filled with mushrooms in a red sauce made from maize, tomatoes and fresh chillies.
Camping is another option, albeit a chilly one with many of the villages above 2,700m, but the payoff is stunning sunrises and a chance to see mountain ranges span for kilometres, including the Orizaba volcano peak in the neighbouring state of Veracruz – Mexico’s tallest mountain at 5,636m.
The villagers’ traditional cuisine is incredible, thanks in no small part to their local source of organic food. If a crop or plant is having a bad season and needs pesticide, the community will stop growing it and go without. This strict approach leads to an abundance of carefully-grown ingredients that combine to produce epicurean highlights such as atole, a traditional hot drink made from maize and sugar cane, with a rojo (red) version made for weddings and festivals by adding cinnamon and cacao; amarillo con hongos, mushrooms served with a red sauce made from maize, tomatoes and fresh chillis; and truchas (trout), which are native to the mountain rivers. The villagers have established a system of breeding trout via natural water pools, fed by the rivers and streams. 

n addition to the beautiful scenery, great hiking and superb food, visitors come for the annual mushroom festival, La Feria Regional del hongos silvestres, in Cuajimoloyas, which takes place over a weekend either at the end of July or early August, depending on the rains and how the mushroom crop is doing. Of the 3,500 mushroom species in the world, 2,000 of them have been found in the forests around the village. On the Saturday of the festival local guides lead groups into the forest to identify each species, with an award for the group that finds the most; in 2012, 292 species were found. On the Sunday, the collected mushrooms are on display (groups can only pick one of each species to insure their long-term survival) and local experts give talks on fungi varieties. The festival ends with a display of traditional folk dances from Oaxaca’s most famous annual festival, Guelaguetza, which typically takes place in July. Other activities include having a temascal, a pre-Hispanic wood-fired steam bath, which can be a good option at the end of a long hike.
In a unique balance, the villages have found a way to both expose and protect their way of life, sharing profits equally while avoiding mass commercialisation. In giving travellers an opportunity to witness such a traditional way of life up close, the community is ensuring that this very special place will be around for generations, and tourists, to come.
Practicalities
Visitors can book a trip through the Expediciones Sierra Norte website or at their office in Oaxaca City and take a local bus to any of the villages. Expediciones Sierra Norte can also help organise tours of the old mine in Amatlan, including the abandoned processing plant, the living quarters of the workers and a small part of the original tunnels.





"Lets Stay Together"- Al Green (Max Schneider and Megan Nicole Cover)

Zipolite Oaxaca shared Babel Cafe's photo La noche del 11/04/13 en Babel Cafe, DJ Bravo's, 10pm





Kabbalah Restaurante Bar * hOY 22 hrs * Live Music / Musica en Vivo con " lOs Santos Inocentes " Te esperamos # THE BEST MUSIC IN TOWN


Following · 3 hours ago 

* hOY 22 hrs *
Live Music / Musica en Vivo
con " lOs Santos Inocentes "
Te esperamos 

# THE BEST MUSIC IN TOWN .
 — with Peke-One PelaezJesus Mauricio Amezcua BracamontesOmar CastellanosBelén PietraneraMike LopesVlasta Cullen-WellockJesus Chicharron GonzalezMaia FacenLorena PaolaDiego Armando Ramirez Ramirez,Todo Puerto Escondido and Gabriel Parra Dicillo.





I Love It - Icona Pop

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Thursday, April 11, 2013

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Zipolite | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Zipolite, Oaxaca. ... Zipolite. @ Zipolite, Oaxaca. Comments and faves. Want to format your comment? By *helado de nestea* Valentina+ Add Contact. This photo ...
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A Trip to Mexico


TAG ARCHIVES: PIE DE LA CUESTA

Mexicomap

A Trip to Mexico

On March 21st I boarded a plane bound for Mexico City.  I did not return to the states until April 4th.  Two weeks spent in a city, a country which many Americans have a skewed point of view thanks to EVERY media outlet.
did not get robbed, I did not get murdered, I did not witness any terrorizing by the big bad Cartel.  What I came to realize was, just like anywhere else, be aware of your surroundings and a trip to anywhere in the world will be an adventure to never forget.  Maybe even an adventure you’ll want to take again.  I recommend you visit Mexico City and the surrounding area.  My girlfriend, Shannon, is there and has 14 months left on a teaching contract.
Mexico City, nearly twice the elevation of Denver, CO, was beautiful sight upon the plane’s descent.  The sunset was breaking through the clouds and mountains, revealing a masterpiece Picasso couldn’t paint.
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The first weekend I was there we took a luxury bus line to Acapulco.  Our destination, about 5 miles north, Pie de la Cuesta where we stayed at a 21 room Hotel Nirvana.  Our room had ocean and pool views with our own hammock.  At night you could hear the waves pound the shore.  The giant waves were so loud they seemed to vibrate our bed in the middle of the night.
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View from our room
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Pie de la Cuesta sunset
After a few days of hanging out on the beach, by the pool and submerging ourselves in delicious Mexican food it was time to head back.
Before we caught our bus to Mexico City we took in the Acapulco cliff divers.  INCREDIBLE!  Before the 75, 100 foot and higher dives we were in aw of what must have been an eight year old boy.  He would take six to ten foot dives into the rough waters and make the tough swim back all alone.  I guess you must start young if one day you will make the 100 foot dive.
The divers would climb up the side of the cliff to get to their jumping point.  They were very patient upon their acrobatic dives, having to wait for a current to bring the water to the correct depth.  Once they had a read on the current it was go time.  Each and every time they successfully jumped into the water our hearts were in our throats.  It looks as if they are going to hit the rocks!
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Would you jump!?
After the show, which our cabbie stayed to watch with us, it was time for our journey to the bus station.  Five hours later, we were back in Mexico City.
The next day we drove about 60 kilometers from Mexico City to the pyramids ofTeotihuacan.  This city had a population of 125,000 just over 2,000 years ago!!!  The pyramid de sol (sun) & pyramid de luna (moon) are the two biggest pyramids of the city.  What a view you get from them, and what a hike it is.  They get quite steep!
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Shannon sitting on Piramide de Luna (Pyramid of the moon) with Piramde de Sol (sun) in the background.
That night it was game time.  Yes, from the front row we were able to catch the action of a World Cup qualifying soccer match between the United States and Mexico at Aztec Stadium. Mexico is nearly unbeatable (& untieable) in Aztec Stadium due to the elevation and the 100,000 explicative screaming Mexican fans who hate opposing fans and players alike!  (For more on the atmosphere, click here, for ESPN’s Bill Simmons’ experience in ’09)
The fans, splurging obscenities, also threw many beers on us.  It was an experience of a lifetime.  I’ve been to many sporting events, and this was possibly the best atmosphere I’ve witnessed.  Once again, if you haven’t yet, checkout Bill Simmons’ article!!!
The game ended in a 0-0 tie.  I think I watched the fans and took in the atmosphere more than I actually watched the game.
Already it’s Wednesday.  We went with some of Shannon’s friends to Xochimilco where we took a flat-bottomed boat down a series of canals.  We enjoyed some drinks and food along with many mariachi bands.
On Thursday and Friday we took in the sites of Mexico City.  We did the “touristy” attractions.
Castillo de Chapultepec, I found very interesting and was absolutely fascinated with this castle.  It was actually lived in, until the mid 1930′s, by the Mexican President.  After that time it was turned into the museum it still is today.  Every part of the castle was beautiful.  The architecture, the views, even the garden on the roof top.
Castillo de Chapultepec
Castillo de Chapultepec
We also took the city tour bus.  On the ride we were able to see things such as theIndependence MonumentThe Zocalo, and Belles Artes.
The Zocalo was very cool.  It is a huge square and is the area where Mexico City began.  The square, rarely empty, usually holds very large events.  It includes a building, where the Mexican President addresses the city, a HUGE cathedral and what is left from the original pyramids; which isn’t much.
Saturday, March 30th was Shannon’s 28th birthday!  She wanted to celebrate by going to the rooftop pool that we had heard of.  We chose to sneak to the top of the Plaza de Galleria’s pool instead of making the longer trek to the pool everyone talked about.  It was a nice relaxing day in a shallow pool in the warm Mexican sun, just what she was looking for.
Rooftop pool
Rooftop pool
After the rooftop pool we made the worst decision of the trip.  We stopped at a restaurant called “50 Friends.”  Needless to say, it wasn’t very friendly.  The next day we each got food poisoning from, not Mexican street food, but this sit down, American style restaurant!  I finally got completely over mine about four days after I returned to the United States.
That night Shannon’s friends made her a birthday dinner.  It was enjoyed with many friends and a meal of salad, bread, and a chicken and mushroom pasta.  A cake was the finisher.
To close out Shannon’s spring break, after a day and a half of lounging, watching basketball, and some movies, it was time for Shannon to go back to school.  I attended two days of her gym classes and played capture the flag with the kids.  Some classes participated more than others but it was a blast.  It was also intriguing to hear where the kids went for spring break; ALL OVER THE WORLD!  They might not yet realize how privileged they are to travel and see the things many never will.
My flight left early Thursday morning.  I dreaded leaving Shannon and the awesome weather knowing that back home it was 25 to 30 degrees cooler.  But the trip was great.  Mexico and Mexico City are places I will definitely return to and would recommend to everyone else.
The media puts such a spin, negative spin, on topics because they can.  Don’t listen to what they say, just turn off the TV!
Shannon & Me
Shannon & Me
Thanks for checking out my trip to Mexico!

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