Well, I'm actually back in Atlanta and going back to catch up on the blog. Somehow, at the beach in Puerto Escondido, I just had other things pulling at me. So, now, it's nice to write and remember the beautiful time in Mexico.
Nov 3
We get up early to avoid any crowds and work within the confines of COVID protocol for the Mitla site. On the way, we stop at a mosaic mural dedicated to Benito Juarez who was born in a small town near Oaxaca. He was president of Mexico from 1861-72 and did a lot to reform Mexico into more of a democracy.
The ruins of Mitla are right in the town of Mitla. The site is mostly Zapotec with later Mixtec influence. The area was occupied from as early as 900 BCE and reached it's peak from around 750 - 1521 when the Spanish came. Mitla in Nahuatl means "Place of the Dead".
The Spanish built a church using many of the stones from the site.
The fine stone work is what, to me, makes this site so special.
It was originally stuccoed and painted. A bit of the painting remains over some of the doorways.
Several of the areas are courtyards with rooms off of the courtyard with limited access to the courtyard.
This is a private house overlooking one of the courtyards of the site. I'm not sure if it would be really cool to live there or too much like living in a fish bowl.
After visiting the site, we had some time to do some shopping at the little stalls outside of the site. There were several large catrina style figures to greet us.
The front of the church built on the site.
The central square of the town is also beautiful and had painted skulls for the Day of the Dead.
For lunch we went to a place that makes mezcal. Usually we can see the process but they were on a break because of Dia de los Muertos. Still had a delicious, relaxing lunch there. They have lots of fun little sculptures around and they also had a nice ofrenda for Day of the Dead.
Next stop is Teotitlan del Valle which is famous for rug making. They use all natural dyes. Where we went they clean and spin the wool as well. The Isac Vazquez family is one of the best known families in the town for the quality of their work.
The cochineal insects grow on the leaves of a certain kind of cactus. They give the bright red dye. When lime juice or baking soda is added, the dye turns orange or purple.
Liz squashed the live cochineal in her hand so that became the demonstration place for seeing it turn to orange and purple.
Several of us supported the local economy by buying rugs. Once one person decided to buy one, it was infectious and several of us bought rugs. I'm inspired to make a quilt that will complement my rug.
This is the designer and weaver. When I got home, both my cats approved of it too.
The Tule tree is about 2000 years old and is an ecosystem within itself. I guess it is because of Covid that they weren't letting people get close to the tree. Our driver stopped as close as he could so we could get out and see it from a block distance.
Our plane for Puerto Escondido leaves at 7AM so everyone retires early to be ready for the next leg of our journey.
Love the rug!! Where is it?
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