Barrio San Pedro, Part One
In this continuing monthly series on neighborhoods of Tepoztlán, I feature one of my favorites, Barrio San Pedro. I lived there from 2007-2008, and enjoyed the relative coolness and proximity to the National Forest and trails, while, at the same time, it's only a half-hour downhill walk to the center of Tepoztlán. And, it was a comparatively quiet neighborhood.
[Note: All photos and the video in this post are by the author]
This article will be in two parts. Part One covers mostly residential areas, while Part Two is more mountain- and trail-oriented.
Here is a general map of Tepoztlán with San Pedro circled to show its location northwest of the town center (taken from this article):
Map of Tepoztlán showing location of Barrio San Pedro.In this article I have gathered photos and videos in San Pedro by first taking a combi (public van transportation) from the center of Tepoztlán to Café Montaña at the outskirts of Barrio San Pedro, and then walking downhill (east), stopping off to visit the homes of a couple of friends. Below is a numbered map so that you can refer to the locations where the images were taken:
Map of Barrio San Pedro with numbers corresponding to where I obtained the images in the article. Each map number comprises a section of photos.
Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. ( Left: The combi (vans subsidized for public transportation) station on Av Galeana in the town center. Right: The combi I took to San Pedro. It ends up in the small outlying village of Ocotes, past San Pedro. This is not included with the map numbers. It is located off of the bottom right.)The trip uphill goes up Av Galeana and then snakes its way to the highway. After about fifteen minutes of riding on the combi, I got off at the outskirts of San Pedro at Café Montaña.
1. Café Montaña
Here's Café Montaña at the edge of the highway:
Colorful signs outside the Café tell what's going on.
Café entranceIt's a small café, but there seems to be plenty of seating:
2. Downhill from the Café
Leaving the Café and heading back down the highway, one sees interesting homes and other sights.
Top left: a curve in the road - Top right: construction - Bottom left: a nice home just off the road. Bottom right: the road continues straight downAlong this part of the road I saw some furry guardians.
Left: Coffee tree with beans at the side of the road - Right: road entering another neighborhood, Cedros (Cedars)3. Flat Area
The next section of about a hundred yards is flat before the road goes downhill again. Here we find elegant-looking entrances to homes and a small grocery store.
A small grocery (abarrotes) store
Location of Tepoztlán's monthly mercado trueque (barter market) where only trading is allowed, no cash or credit card purchases.
Elegant entrances adorn this flat section of the highway in Barrio San Pedro.4. Down to the Callejón (Alley)
Now we are on the way to the long alley entering a friend's home.
Left: I think these domes are cisterns containing water - Right: a typical home along the highway
More upscale homes-- Left: a ranch-style - Right: a nice gate5. Callejón (Alley) to My Friend's Home
Safaya is a friend originally from Canada who rents a bungaló across from the owner's house. Both have lovely gardens and are set way back from the noise of the main road.
Long alley with friend's home at end--way back from the highway noises
Dense vegetation along the alleyway
Entrances along the alleyway-- Left: the first one, on the right side of the alley -- Middle: second, on the left -- Right: straight ahead to my friend's home6. Outside Saffiah's Home
This is a very homey yet beautiful bungaló surrounded by a variety of lovely plants.
The terrace wall and beyond with a large variety of plants
The garden with bushes, trees, herbs, and vegetables7. Out the Callejón and Down the Highway
This callejón reminds me of an old country road in New England.
The highway curves further downhill
More beautiful gates along this section of the road
Compare the castle back from the road with this more humble abode8. Calle Esperanza to Casa de La Vida Retreat Center
Calle Esperanza: street sign at entry and a long view of the street
Part of the street lined with flowering shrubs
Left: house with wall -- Middle: unfinished house -- Right: downward grade
Mt. Chalchi in the background, to the southwest.9. Casa de la Vida
I met Anosha in 2007 when I was living near her in San Pedro and we've been friends since then. After we had met, she got her own place in San Pedro to set up a retreat center for holistic cleansing. She borrowed on past experiences with design to create an incredibly beautiful center consisting of a large building and extensive property. Here is a video slide show I made, and here is her website.
Since I've provided documentation above, I'll not go into detail here, but will provide two photos I took on this expedition to illustrate the unique light coming through her doorways inside the house.
10. From Anosha's Place to the Church
The church is one block downhill from Casa de la Vida, Anosha's healing center. Next to it is a very small tienda (store) that sells basic abarrotes (groceries).
The strawberry-colored wall on the left is part of Casa de La Vida, and the church is one block down.
The San Pedro Church
A little store next to the church11. Down Galeana Back Towards the Center of Town
Esperanza ends at the Church. Take a right turn and go one block. That is Galeana, the main road all the way down to the town center.
The top of Galeana, in Barrio San Pedro, facing down towards the town center
A sequence of images walking down Galeana from San Pedro towards the center of Tepoztlán
An interesting doorway
An altar nestled in a hole at the base of a wall.This ends Part One of our excursion through the mostly residential part of Barrio San Pedro. I hope you enjoyed it and will return for Part Two, a hike to a spring and an overlook in a part of the National Forest that's in San Pedro.
