Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. Part of a reconstructed pyramid. Photo by author To continue the hiking theme from the last entry, this documents the two main pyramids in Tepoztlán, focusing on nearby back trails. First is a description of a lesser known reconstructed pyramid near the highway and the trail above it to a mountain view. Then a back...
Read MoreTepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. The midpoint of my hike/retreat. Photo by author On May 31, I packed my backpack and headed for a mountain trail that starts fifteen minutes uphill from my apartment in Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. My aim was to climb the mountain, almost to the top, where there is a rock overhang that forms a cave. I'd spend the night...
Read MoreTepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. A landscape view from the trail beginning near Santa Cruz Church, a 15 minute walk from the town center (Centro). Photo by author Tepoztlán is a "magic town" in the central volcanic region of Mexico where I've lived since 2003. Part of the magic is the very unusual shapes of the mountains, formed by secondary...
Read MoreAmatlán, Morelos, Mexico. This trail features an unusual landscape. Amatlán is an ancient village in the municipality of Tepoztlán. It is the birthplace of the Nahuat god Quetzalcóatl. Its name derives from that of the Amate tree, from which a form of paper was made. I am going to introduce you to one of the trails
Read MoreIt's fun to shop for fresh vegetables and fruit at the outdoor markets. The warm dry climate makes it comfortable. During those few months when it rains, an overhead tarp provides protection. The main market in Tepoztlán is in the center of town. Parts of it are open every day, but it expands on weekends to serve the large tourist influx to this...
Read MoreTepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. Finger Rock. Photo by author On September 22, the day of the fall equinox, I hiked alone into the mountains near where I live, in Tepoztlán, to honor the transition of seasons. I gave the rock protuberance that juts up two stories high from the forest floor the name "Finger Rock," because that's what it looks like to...
Read MoreTepoztlan, Morelos, Mexico. A family business that operates on weekends in my neighborhood. Photo by Don Karp I’m sharing what my neighborhood is like in Tepoztlan, Morelos, Mexico. This is the second part, where we explore the streets away from the my apartment. To see my apartment, views from there and etc.,
Read MoreTepoztlan, Morelos, Mexico. Right across the street is this friendly frog who dispenses drinking water directly from the mountains. Photo by author This is a personal description of my neighborhood in Mexico. It is not just any neighborhood, or an average one. Tepoztlan, a "Magic City," is in the central volcanic region, an hour south of Mexico...
Read MoreThe climate in Tepoztán is temperate, making it an ideal place to grow plants. The soil is from volcanic deposits, and very rich. Tepoztlan, Morelos, Mexico. Me in my garden. Photo by author The climate in Tepoztan is temperate, making it an ideal place to grow plants. The soil is from volcanic deposits, and very rich. The only hitch is lack of...
Read MoreTepoztlan,Morelos, Mexico. New trash (basura) containers are all over Centro. This is the main plaza (zocalo). Photo by Don Karp In order to continue the federal funding normally paid to a " magic city" in Mexico, Tepoztlan needs to meet a certain level of cleanliness. After all, tourists don't want to come to visit where there is a mess....
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