So I woke up hellza early on saturday and walked into town to meet up with the group. We left town at 7:15ish and headed for the hills. The drive was about 2 hours and through a really pretty area. Rolling hills and untouched forests. Very unexpected. We arrived up in the village. San Martin Huamalulpam. dont think I spelled that right. There are about 1400 people spread over 3 miles in a valley. We stayed in a small building about 10 minutes from town. In the town there is a church some old houses a school a clinic and over the hill a old ruins. That day we took taxis to the local saturday market, which was packed. The town was about 30 minutes awayThere were no other white people. And we walked around. I bought some sugar cane, muy good. LAter we walked down to the animal market. Very depressing. Something really bothered me there. There was this big gaudy truck with a large sticker across the hood, “Regalo de Dios,” gift from god, and then there was a lady dragging a obviously sick or dying sheep by its head into th etruck. It was wetting itself too. I thought it was quite a contradicion. (sp?). But it was fun. We came back to a great lunch and then headed up to town and talked to the local doctor. It was quite interesting. then we visited the local museum that housed the artifacts from the ruins. This town is great. They have seen foreigners before. But Dr. Jack is the only one who brings groups there and only 3 times a year. So it is a treat from then to see us. They are all extremely nice and greet up and start conversations. It is an awesome feeling. In the musuem there was a curandera, or natural medicine shaman type lady. It was chosen along with another girl ashely to particpate in a ceremoney. First she rubbed us with eggs to extract “mal de ojo” basically bad spirits. and then we layed down on mats and she scrubbed out entire body with oils and herbs. The coolest thing I have every done. Everything smelling amazing. Then for 20minutes we were told to close our eyes and breathe deeply while the oils dried. I woke up later feeling refreshed. It was intense.
LAter that night we ate dinner and chilled. I wake up at 6:30 and climbed the hill above town. Felipe, Esteban y I got to the top before the sunrose. THe view was unimaginable. Below us lay a valley. and pictures do not do it justice. The hill is called El cerro volador. The flying hill, because there is a symbol on the old ruin walls the depicts one of the earliest known symbols of a flying object. And the hill is supposedly were it takes place. We explored the ruins later and then headed home. Sunday night Ashley and I went out to a bar and I was tyte. They gave us free shots of mezcal too. This weekend I am renting one of the cheap tourist cabins up in to mountains. It is called San Sebastion de le Gruja. There are caves and a waterfall with a swimming hole. I might go alone or some of the others from the group might go too. I am having too much fun. Hasta luego.