Hi Family and Friends
It's good to connect with you again. Things have been sort of tumultuous and busy over the last few days mostly because there are six of us travelling together, all with our own preferences. We were seven while my sister Janet was visiting over the last three days -- a treat because we get together rarely.
Janet flew here from Oaxaca where she's been studying Spanish for the last month. She flew in the cockpit with the captain -- I suppose they let her because she has her commercial and instructor's ratings and 4 000 + hours flight time.
My luggage apparently danced back and forth between Mexico City and Oaxaca until finally it finally arrived at the hotel three days into our trip. I discovered that you can live with almost nothing for a few days and life is so simple when you have nothing!
We're very much oddities here, we white ones. There are tourists, but they are all fluent in Spanish, have darker skins and fit in. We stick out -- especially Max and Kai because most kids are in school. Since they are homeschooled, their travel schedules are flexible.
People are extremely friendly and accomodating and I sense that it's not because we bring money to town. They are just that way. Generally people aren't poor, although six and seven year old barefooted indigeonous children sell their wares in the park long after the sun has set. I looked at a ragged little girl last evening and wondered what the future would hold for her.
To be honest, I don't think we are a whole lot better off at home with all our devices and money. People hang out a lot with friends and family here. Lifestyle is a ton slower and less stressed.
The road to the coffee plantation up high was windy, rocky, curvy and the vans tires almost flat.
Max helped the driver change a tire by a poor rural home.
The cute little boys who live at the home.
I bet your bathroom is lovelier than this.
Susan jumping. I wasn't so brave.
This tree is called The Pregnant Tree because of the way the roots grew around the stone.
Mexican style barometer. Someone raises or lowers the stone to mark the conditions.
Coffee beans grow high on almost inaccessible mountains slopes. In the centre of the red berries is a soft, white, slippery coffee bean. The berries are picked, beans removed, dried in the sun and sorted. Eventually they are roasted.
An old coffee grinder.
This is a ball park, at this particular site always resulting in a sacrifice. At the recently discovered archaeological site of Rio Copalita Bocana, dating back to 900 A. C. to 1000 AD, researchers are beginning to restore the old city.
The Mixtas and Zapotecas choose a wonderful area for their temples and daily life. This is the view from the top.
An ocean of fish for the indigineous people 1000 years ago.
Because of the Rio Copalito Bocana, they had fresh water too.
Off to the Beach
Janet keeping Kai warm.
After the site, we snorkeled at Entrega, one of Hualtulco's nine bays.
Very soon, I'll wish you a very Merry Christmas, walk out the door in shorts and pinch myself
that it is indeed December 25th. Bob and I have never been away from cold and snow during the holiday season. Enjoy your preparations. We are thinking of you.
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