A Few Views of Chiapas

I had to include some of my favorite photos of Canon del Sumidero, our very first stop in Chiapas. The Canon (or canyon in English- sorry but I can't seem to be able to add accent marks and the first n in canon is missing a tilda, that little squiggly mark that makes it sound like a 'y') is located in Chiapa de Corzo, the first little pueblo that we went to. So we all got into these little boats and took an hour-long ride throughout the canyon and some of it was really breathtaking. I wasn't too crazy about seeing this crocodile up close and out in nature but luckily he/she didn't come after me (I knew it just couldn't wait to attack me and eat me- that's a nice irrational fear that I share with some of my sisters). Anyways, it was a great start for my trip to Chiapas and I cannot wait to post more from the trip!!

The first few of these pics are from San Cristobal de las Casas, one of the main towns in Chiapas that the EZLN (Ejercito Zapatista de la Liberacion Nacional) took control of during their uprising on January 1st, 1994, the day that NAFTA went into effect. I really liked San Cristobal; the weather was rather mild compared to other places in Chiapas and I really liked the church on the main square. We only had a few hours here in the afternoon before we had to get to sleep and be up and ready to go the next morning. I hope that I can someday go back and spend more time there. I also included a few pics of the Cascadas (Waterfalls) in El Chiflon. They were really pretty and the one that I am standing in front of was by far the biggest and longest one as it dropped from far above where we were.

Here are some pics from Comitan, a beautiful little pueblo found in the heart of Chiapas. I thought that the yellow church was rather unique and the buildings surrounding the zocalo of Comitan were also pretty and different. And I included another few pics from Laguna Montebello. Chiapas is a very beautiful state and the greenest one that I have seen in Mexico. There are so many forests and jungles and the landscape is basically all green, including the surrounding hills and mountains.

And here are a few more images from Chiapas. I was pleasantly surprised to find myself at the Guatemala border, crossing illegally and enjoying every minute of it. It really makes me want to actually visit Guatemala but I found the experience quite amusing. A few of these pictures are of the borderlands between Guatemala and Chiapas and one of the photos is from Laguna Montebello, a beautiful place found in the dense forests of Chiapas (where else?) that has many lagunas.

Tecalli de Herrera and Tepexi El Viejo

One Saturday morning, my friend Javier and I decided to travel around the southern region of our state of Puebla. We grew a little weary towards the afternoon and it was kind of Javier to drive for extended periods of time but Puebla is not that big of a state. We first stopped in Tecalli de Herrera and visited the Ex-convento de Tecalli, the first picture. What remains of it is quite impressive although there is no roof on the main part of the structure. I wanted to include a few pictures of a mural on one wall and a pic of the baptismal font originally used by the Franciscan order here at the convent. The construction began in 1540 and was completed in 1559 or something like that. Tecalli at one time was home to Tolteca-Chichimeca peoples or at least part of their area. The convent was abandoned in 1643 when the Bishop of Puebla was at odds with those that ran the convent and lived there. It was quite interesting and of course, with my handy student id, I got in for free. I just love that because wherever we go, I can usually get into these places for free. That's as it should be! It was a fun day and I got to know a little bit more about this state of Puebla.

The second part of our journey took us to a pueblo called Tepexi. Tepexi is famous for all of its marble and onyx that is extracted from the surrounding landscape. There are tons of stores and little shops that sell everything marble and onyx. This first church is the church of Tepexi and the second, colorful one is from some little town on the way back to Puebla. After eating a few tacos stuffed with "pura papa" (or potato puree and chiles), Javier and I went to the archaeological site of Tepexi El Viejo. The Popoloca peoples of this part of Mexico constructed the buildings at the site in the Postclassic period (1200CE-1519CE) and were taken over by the Tenochca Mexica in 1503. Anyways, as we were driving all over Tepexi, looking for this site, we noticed a family of five sitting and playing at the side of the road. Javier pulled over and asked them if we were on the right road for Tepexi El Viejo and they said yes and asked if we could give them a ride to the site. Javier agreed and so they got into the bed of Javier's truck and guided us around the site, telling us what they knew. It was fun and interesting to say the least.

Here are a few other pics from around Tepexi El Viejo. I am disappointed that the INAH (Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia) has not done much with this site. It could definitely use some excavation and organization and of course, that requires funding. I also think that there could be better signs (or really just some signs) that lead to the site. But people, whether Mexican or tourist, aren't really interested in smaller sites such as this one. People want the big and majorly impressive sites because of course those are much more profound and interesting. However, these Popoloca peoples lived here, constructed these pyramids and I find it fascinating. The Mexica did march all the way from Tenochtitlan in order to control this site so at least for them it did carry some weight and importance.

My Mom and Dad Visit!!

My mom and dad came down to Cholula to visit me for a week! I was really excited to see them and thankful that they added me on to their many places to visit during their annual summer trip across the US. And this summer, they were able to travel a bit more south than L.A. and we had a great time. I loved being able to try out different restaurants, go to Oaxaca (again!! I love that place), and share time with my parents around Cholula, my home for almost a year now. So of course I had to take my parents up on top of the Great Pyramid of Cholula and show them the surrounding valley (and La Iglesia de la Senora de los Remedios on top of the pyramid). I promised my dad that I would add a picture of Popocatepetl (aka Don Gregorio) so here is a shot of that active volcano. We had a great time in Oaxaca, going to Monte Alban and Mitla, two of the many sites in and around Oaxaca. I loved seeing my parents and the time just came and went way too fast. It was the highlight of my summer so far and I love my parents so much and would not be having this entire experience without their love and support. Thanks mom and dad for a wonderful and full week here in Cholula!

So here are some pics of Mitla, originally a Zapotec site in the state of Oaxaca. The name Mitla is a corruption of the Nahuatl 'mictlan' or "place of the dead" and the Zapotec name has a similar meaning. The site of Mitla was used by the kings of Zaachila (which was the seat of the valley's most prestigious lineage) as a place to consult the highest Zapotec priest, resolve disputes among nobles, and as a burial ground. This first picture is of the Group of the Columns and the second is of one of the tombs. Among the Zapotecas and the Mixtecas, the dead were a part of the family, housed in tombs underneath the house. Mitla contains a set of five elite residential compounds which were first established in the Classic Period (250ce-800ce). Aren't my models so adorable together?

Here are a few more images from around Mitla. The intricate designs called "grecas" are truly amazing and extremely interesting. I was really excited that my mom and dad were so willing to go with me to this site. I've been to Oaxaca a couple of times before but never made it to Mitla. Thankfully, the thick clouds that hung over our heads did not release any rain. It is a very interesting site and I am so happy that I was able to visit another ancient site (and this time with my parents!).

Chalcatzingo

Chalcatzingo is in the state of Morelos and is the most ancient site that I have visited. Its apogee was during 700bce to 500bce and had a population between 500-1000 people. It was well positioned at a trade-route crossroads between Guerrero and the Basin of Mexico, Oaxaca and the Gulf lowlands. It does contain some civic-ceremonial architecture and iconography. The largest platform (or mound) contained burials found with jade ornaments. It is a beautiful site, surrounded by a few mountains and fertile plains. There was also a water source so its location was ideal for these ancient peoples. Chalcatzingo is famous for its stone carvings which were carved right into the mountain-side and cliffs. I was really excited to be able to finally go to Chalcatzingo and witness first-hand these amazing carvings and to see this very ancient site.

This is arguably the most famous rock art found at Chalcatzingo. Rock art is an important tradition of Mesoamerican cultures and was initiated during the Early Olmec Period (1200bce to 800bce). Known as "El Rey" or "The King", this iconography depicts a ruler of somekind (some have argued that the person is actually a female) that sits in a cave, another ancient Mesoamerican tradition; caves are symbols for entry and exit of the underworld and very important 'natural' openings to the underworld. Surrounding the central personage are symbols of fertility, rain, wind, scroll volutes, and three rain clouds (pictured below) that release the raindrops so necessary for the cultivation and consumption of maize (and squash and beans, the three main staples of the Mesoamerican diet-even to this day). These kind of petroglyphs, a design that has been pecked into the rock, are much more common than are pictographs or painted designs in Mesoamerica. I also included an image of a jaguar stomping on a human figure; again, this symbolizes the connection between sacrifice and fertility and the importance of the jaguar as a powerful and even mystical creature.

Chalcatzingo's setting is quite beautiful, considering that it is set between two mountains. This rather large tree (that my friend Javier is standing next to) interested me because it appeared to be supporting the entire mountain. I had to include another carving of a jaguar; obviously, the jaguar is very important to many Mesoamerican cultures and its veneration reaches far back in time for this area of the world. I also took a picture of one of the two sculpted mounds in the main plaza. I'm not sure what that last sculpture is; I think it could have been used for sacrifice but I'm not sure and we didn't have a guide to explain some of these things to us.

And here are some more images of Chalcatzingo and the surrounding area. I had to include the picture of this brightly-colored lizard creature. All of the lizards here at Chalcatzingo were extremely fast and kind of big; it reminded me of Charly, my friend Vicki's 4ft. iguana, but I still have some irrational fear of these reptiles. I also included a picture of the ball court and one of the 'monticulos' or mounds although it does look like a miniature pyramid. I got sunburned here because the sun is very strong and as you can observe, Chalcatzingo is surrounded by these open fertile plains. But I enjoyed coming to this ancient site (the most ancient that I have visited so far!).