Day 14-a trip to Mitla

This morning we decided to go to Mitla. Russell got us to the
bus stop and off we went. This was after I got us going in the
wrong direction!
Mitla is different from Monte Alban. A lot of the ruins in Mitla
were destroyed by the Spanish to construct a church. Figures.
I could say more, but I’ll keep my mouth shut .
Anyhow, as you can see from the photos it is quite different.
There wasn’t a lot of information about the structures nor was
there a museum-so if one only has a short amount of time we
would recommend Monte Alban as the place to go. There is
a museum there and more information for the visitor.
I did enjoy the bus ride-the countryside is very dramatic and
the mountains are beautiful.
We discovered a tasty restaurant not too far from our B and B.
Russell had 7! lamb chops for $22 and I had a steak with au
gratin sweet potatoes garnished with crispy red onion slices.
Yum.

Jesus and Bugs Bunny will protect us

The altar of missed accidents

Dramatic landscape


On the way to Mitla


The bus dropped us off maybe 1/2 mile
from the Mitla ruins. These "cars"
are from India and are used
exclusively for transportation
within the city limits.

The conductor takes the money
and helps the driver back up
in tight situations

Church built on Zapotec buildings

Mitla ruins

Column for past roof

Close up of ornamental facade

Entry to interior rooms

More colomns

We had to walk up a steep staircase

to get here

Interior of room

I want to use this design for the

next quilt I make

Another room

Interior showing doorways to rooms

Another close up of facade

Exterior shot of ruins

This mother wanted me to talk English to

the young boy who is learning...he said

he was "too nervous" I told him nervous was a

great word to use!

Another interior shot-we had to practically

get on our hands and knees to get inside

Another exterior shot

We walked back to the bus stop

Mitla is very touristy

Abandoned church on top of ruins

Back on the bus-going past a cement factory

Had to stop for gas

Siesta time for La Senora

Las Dazantes Restaurante

tasty bites!

Wending our way home

Day 10- a trip to Zaachila and lunch at La Capilla

Today we went to Zaachila with Arnulfo. He showed us the ancient
tombs of the Zapotec royalty. We were able to go down into two
of them. Afterwards we walked the village and then went to La Capilla
for a tasty lunch. We met Ivonne Kennedy and her husband Hector.
She is a painter and has exhibited in Portland and Hector is
a biologist working on a project not to far from here to protect a type
of parrot that is endangered . His project is 2 1/2 hours from here
up in the mountains above Teotitlan de Valle.
Really interesting and nice people. Another great day.

Zaachila's Market

Frieze outside entrance to tomb
Interior of tomb-niches were for gifts for the dead

Owl
Flying God

Another God or image of dead King

View from the top of the hill where the tombs are

Town church

Kathe and Arnulfo walking up towards the tombs

Statue of the Feather Dancer

Frog in the pond at La Capilla Restaurant

Tortilla maker

Huge tortilla oven

A Memorable Day in Teotitlan de Valle

Today we had an extraordinary and wonderful day.

A few days ago we went
Into the Galeria La Mano Magica to look at the beautiful art -

especially the tapestries woven by

Master Zapotec Weaver Arnulfo Mendoza.
http://www.lamanomagica.com/arnulfo.html
These are not rugs for the floor, but tapestries for the walls.
We met Arnulfo and he invited us to come to his house this past Sunday
on Mothers Day. What a magical day. To be welcomed into his home
and his mothers home. We were picked up by his brother Tomas and
we first went to meet his mother and all the family that were there. Then
we went up to the top of the hill above Teotitlan where he has his house.
Amazing space - large areas of verandahs for sitting and relaxing. He
even has horses. Then we went back down to his mothers house for
a Zapotec breakfast. First a variety of fruit filled jellos, then orange juice, cocoa,
And a hot drink called Atole that is made from corn.
After that Tomas took us to Tlacolula. A village famous for it’s Sunday market.
We spent a few hours there and then returned to Teotitlan where we walked
around the village with Arnulfo. The church is quite beautiful and was finished in 1717.
We returned to his mother’s house where we ate again! This time we had the
special Yellow Chicken Mole made especially for Mother’s Day.
Now we are really stuffed! We are like rellenos!