San Augustin Etla

The Tuesday Hiking group trip this week was to San Augustin Etla, one of the many "Etla" villages north of Oaxaca. There is no bus service to these villages, so we caught a colectivo at the second class bus station for the 20 minute trip. The main road into San Augustin Etla is dirt/rock, surprising to gringos because there appears to be some monied people living here. It's a pretty village, with lots of water, new houses with swimming pools and views of the valley to envy. One of our neighbors plays golf here every week, too, but I've never seen the golf course. This is also the home to the old yarn spinning factory turned into art gallery, thanks to the generosity of Francisco Toledo. That beautiful old building alone is worth the trip, and there is always a good art exhibit on display.

We gathered in the square by the Toledo gallery, by one of the beautiful ponds, and started the climb up the hill. The first 15 minutes were up steep streets, to the city reservoir. From there, even though we were climbing steadily, the gain in altitude was so gradual we didn't notice. The picture to the left is the beginning of the aquaduct.









It took almost no time before we were out of the village, with breathtaking views of the village and across the valley. The aquaduct is cement, less than 3 feet wide and about 3 feet deep. The water was rushing, proving that we were climbing! The trail was one person wide most of the way to the spring on top of the mountain, but in a few places was only one footprint wide. Stuart is walking on the rim of the aquaduct in this image...the Snuffy Smith trail!












This is the magnificent view we had for the two hour hike to the top of the mountain. Here, the trail is very narrow...those with a fear of heights had turned back by this time.

There is an old power generator building at the top of the mountain, no longer in use. Apparently there is a road up to the building, but I didn't see it. I'm very respectful of the people who built this aquaduct, having to haul cement up here to build and maintain the canal. We saw cement markers with various dates as we walked, the oldest dated 1882.

















We reached the top of the mountain in 2 hours walking time. The stream was free flowing up here, and I took advantage of the time and the rocks to dip my feet into the water. I'm not sure if it was cold by comparison, or really cold. But, it was refreshing! This was the best of the hikes, even though I'd only been on three this trip. Stuart did several more. Joy and Rick, the hosts for the hikes, and Stuart and I agreed that this was the best. And, our last hike here, we leave next Monday.

Four of the hikers took the 'low road', following the stream, back to the village. I was too hungry, and took the viaduct trail back, thinking about comida! After lunch, Joy and Rick, Stuart and I toured the current exhibit at the Toledo Gallery, which was hand-made paper and drawings on that paper. Oaxacan artists and Japanese artists showed their skills.

This is my favorite piece in the exhibit, even though I liked some of the drawings very much too!