tepoztlan is a city built by the tepoztecos long before the arrival of europeans. up the mountain from this spot they built a 'pyramid' that was really a lookout tower. climbing up to this pyramid makes the pyramid of the sun in teotihuacan seem like a joke. we didn't have time this day to go up, but wayne and maribeth have plans of going back...
this mural is on a wall that marks the entrance to the cathedral in this little town. it is made completely of seeds that are glued to the wall. there are local artisans that put up a new mural every 6 months. this one depicts the brutality of the conquistadores.
here is a close-up of some of the seeds. kidney beans, navy beans, and black beans, i think.
in other parts, there were avocado seeds, lentils, and every other kind of seed you can imagine. there was no other source of color on the wall.
hacienda cortes is the equivalent of a cotton plantation in the south of the usa. hernan cortes, the famous cortes that most of us have heard of, never lived here. it belonged to his son, martin (i think that was his name). they probably grew sugar. this tree is a fig tree of a sort that only grows on walls. the interesting thing about them is that, whereas most trees break up walls, sidewalks and granite mountains with their roots, the roots of these trees wrap around the walls and hug them, holding them together and making them stronger.
we paused for some welcome refreshment at the restaurant before we headed back to school. the haciends is a hotel now, 4-5 stars.
can you say schwank?
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