I am having the time of my life in the city of Oaxaca! I arrived on Saturday night, and I’ve been on the go ever since. There are so many beautiful sites to see, and I am trying to soak it all up. I’ve visited free museums, listened to live music, taken a walking tour, participated in the Oaxaca Filmfest, eaten at the markets and wandered through the city completely amazed by its beauty.
Yesterday, I also went on a hike to two natural springs (La Salinas and Hierve el Agua) with Zapotrek, a tour company that’s run by a Oaxacan native. The company uses local guides to explore the countryside and allows visitors to eat local meals and contribute to rural economies. The hike was about 6 miles, and I absolutely loved the scenery, company, food and overall experience. One of my favorite parts was speaking with Hector, the local guide, about his town.
He is from San Baltazar, and he is 49 years old. We spoke about medicinal plants as he pointed them out to me, his one time crossing the border to California so he could see his brother, his work collecting and chopping firewood for 45 pesos a day and his town’s “service” system.
Every man in the town between the age of 18 and 60 must hold a one-year unpaid position every 4 years. This year, his job is to be a guide in the countryside. He explained that his community of about 4000 residents is very close, and the service makes it possible for every family to contribute to its well-being. If a man leaves the community to work elsewhere or gets sick, then his family is still responsible for that man’s service. And if someone refuses to perform their service, they are imprisoned. He said he likes this system because you learn about different roles and it’s a good way to keep the community united. He also explained that families help each other a lot. For instance, a few years ago, someone flipped their car in an accident about 10 hours away from the village. As soon as the people in the community heard, people jumped on a truck and drove to go help him. He said they are all willing to help each other in a moment’s notice.
I loved listening to his stories and learning about his village’s system of government.
Last but definitely not least… I ate crickets and maguey worms!!! They were pretty tasty- crunchy with a hint of lime.
Trails And Travels 