Mazamitla

Today was Charis' birthday and she and Craig invited us to Mazamitla to celebrate the day. We'd not been to the mountain town on the south side of the lake, and were excited to see this 7000 foot elevation natural treasure. The huaraches that I have worn now for more than 15 years were made in Mazamitla, so it seemed fitting for them to return to their home place.

But before heading to Mazamitla, we decided to stop in the lakeside town of San Cristobal Zapotitlan, where the women's weavers cooperative is located and where they create wonderful corn husk and palm weavings.  This would be Charis and Craig's first time at the cooperative and we knew they'd be overjoyed to experience this special place and meet the women of the collective.



Palm for basket weaving. 

Each bundle is labeled with the name of the woman who will be weaving with this local material, making beautifully crafted work.

Some of the craft for sale at the cooperativa store

More raw material for the women weavers

Corn husk figures

Un pedido (special order)

Special orders arrive all the time to the weaver's cooperative.  They may make a large order of figures as table centerpieces for a baptismal fiesta, first communion party, birthday celebration or wedding.  Given a few weeks of time, these orders are custom made from top to bottom.

Some colorful wreaths

Happy visitors and shoppers

Carretera to Mazamitla

So loaded up with baskets, figures, flowers we headed to our destination, climbing up from the lake's shore to the mountain village of Mazamitla.

Brad picking lamb's quarter and Charlie guarding

We stopped to stretch our legs and for a bit of refreshment.  Brad wandered off to study the local flora and found lamb's quarter, which he picked and I cook in a yummy breakfast omelet the next morning.  We love our wild greens!

View from our lunch spot Quinta Del Bosque

Entrance to Quinta Del Bosque

Local fauna

Mazamitla main plaza

Mazamitla (La Capital de la Montaña) is a town and municipality and is a popular resort destination for travelers from Guadalajara. Its name comes from the Nahuatl and means "place where arrows to hunt deer are made". The municipality has 11671 inhabitants and is known for its natural beauty.  It is considered by the federal Secretariat of Tourism as a Pueblo Mágico.

Strollin' and shoppin'

The town's streets are centered around their main plaza, as are most villages in Mexico.  Mazamitla has also created a pedestrian avenue full of quaint, small shops and eateries offering local delicacies such as fruit in syrup and milk based candies.

Taking time to play

Antique Mexican toys are found throughout the area.  Brad found a rolling penguin toy most enjoyable and showed us how it is done.

If you can't make time to play, then what's the point?

Bouquet

So from us to you, enjoy when you can. 

Salud, amor y pesetas para gozar!