This is the story of my experiences living as an ex-pat in Mexico since 2003. It's to culminate in a published book. With your help, I'll be editing, selecting a title, and cover art: a participatory project. Your comments encouraged!

Letters from Mexico

Letters

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Deer Sanctuary--

Tepoztlan, Mexico

September 28, 2019

The trail to the cascade is not difficult, and takes about twenty minutes. Notice in the photo above, the sign saying no dogs allowed.

The boulders are huge, and some have roots of amate trees growing over them.

The stream from the cascade flows into a small man-made pond. The video I've included entices with it's sights and sounds. It was made while walking upstream to the cascade.

Tepoztlan, Mexico. The neighborhood near Alejandro's gallery. Photos by Don Karp

Along the trail is a jungle of lush vegetation. There are large amate trees, with their roots magically griping onto boulders. The water gives the trees opportunities to grow in odd shapes and strange ways, enhancing the mystical properties of the place.

The Deer Sanctuary (Santuario de los Venaditos) is a beautiful nature preserve with two main trails--one to a cascade, and the other to an overlook with petroglyphs and a cave. Speaking to a caretaker, I learned that the park was founded ten years ago. The deer are in captivity, in a large fenced in compound, and were not available the day I went there. In ancient days, when the valley was not as densely settled, deer would come to the cascade to drink.

This article is divided into two parts: the trail to the cascade, and the one to the overlook and cave.

Deer Sanctuary, Tepoztlan, Mexico.The signs at the trail head invite us to "respect and look after this natural space."   Photo by Don Karp

Deer Sanctuary, Tepoztlan, Mexico. Pond below the cascade. Photo by Don Karp

Cascade in the Deer Sanctuary, a nature preserve in Tepoztlan, Mexico. Photo by Don Karp

Deer Santuary, Tepoztlan, Mexico. The vegetation forms a lush jungle   on the trail to the cascade.                Photos by Don Karp

Deer Sanctuary,Tepoztlan, Mexico. Trees take on weird forms near the cascade. Photos by Don Karp

Deer Sanctuary,Tepoztlan, Mexico.  Stone seats along the trail. Photos by Don Karp

Deer Sanctuary, Tepoztlan, Mexico. Beginning of the trail to the overlook and cave. Photo by Don Karp

Tepoztlan, Mexico. Galeria de Arte Alejandro Aguirre. Video by Don Karp

Deer Sanctuary, Tepoztlan, Mexico. From the overlook, a view of the Atongo Valley, showing a housing complex. Photo by Don Karp

Just around the corner from the overlook is the cave. It is a rock outcropping, but here they call them caves, even though they do not go deep into the earth.

Trail to the Cascade

Deer Sanctuary. Trailhead to the cascade. Tepoztlan, Mexico. Photo by Don Karp

Deer Sanctuary, Tepoztlan, Mexico. Trail to the cascade. Photos by Don Karp

You must be tired now after looking at all of these images. At least I was after hiking to the cascade and back. Here are two different seats made from stones and boulders to rest before we head up the second trail.

Trail to the Overlook and Cave

Deer Sanctuary, Tepoztlan, Mexico. Here's an amate with roots encircling me and my friends. I'm the one with the hat. Photo by Don Karp

The trail to the overlook and cave is much shorter, but it's steeper. Some steps have been provided to make the walk easier.

Deer Sanctuary, Tepoztlan, Mexico. This crudely made sign guides us to the overlook (mirador). Photo by Don Karp

The overlook provides us with a splendid view into the Atongo Valley, the wealthiest neighborhood in town. The rock wall behind has a couple of interesting petroglyphs made in ancient times.

Deer Sanctuary, Tepoztlan, Mexico. View of the Atongo Valley from the overlook. Lower frame shows a housing complex in the Valley. Photo by Don Karp

Deer Sanctuary, Tepoztlan, Mexico. Ancient petroglyphs on the rock wall behind the overlook. Photos by Don Karp

Deer Sanctuary, Tepoztlan, Mexico. Scat left by a critter at the entrance to the cave to let us know it's where he lives. Photo by Don Karp

Deer Sanctuary, Tepoztlan, Mexico. The cave displays many colors and rock forms. Photo by Don Karp

As we leave the sanctuary, it's fitting to leave you with a photo representing man's artistic engagement with nature.

Deer Sanctuary, Tepoztlan, Mexico. Stone piles in the stream below the cascade. Photo by Don Karp

Deer Sanctuary, Tepoztlan, Mexico. Looking back at the hills near the Sanctuary from the Atongo Valley.   Photo by Don Karp

If you like cascades, please look at the end of this blog.

I hope you've enjoyed our expedition to the Deer Sanctuary. It's one of my favorite nature areas in Tepoztlan, Mexico, where I live. If you liked it, please give me a comment or send an email: [email protected].

Consider a visit. It's only a fifty minute walk to the cascade from my apartment through a very nice neighborhood, less if we take a taxi to the parking lot of the Sanctuary.