After three days of walking across the Sierra Juarez Mts., north of Oaxaca, my legs feel like wet knotted rope. Tim and I trekked through a region called Pueblos Mancomunados, which is a series of 8 Zapotec communities high in the mountains of Oaxaca. For almost 400 years these communities have run their own affairs.  There home is high up in the alpine, around 10,000 feet, where you can look in any direction and all you will see is more mountains. Since 1615 these self sufficient villages have been bonded together. And their political system is akin to direct democracy and has been practiced since before the coming of the Spanish. Land is equally apportioned here and mutual aid a common factor of life. When disputes arise, village assemblies gather in order to solve the problem.

With guides leading us through the mountains and canyons we got a close look at this region. We walked a total of around 70 kilometers through rough mt. terrain. For instance, on the third morning of our trip, we left the town of Amatlan and walked directly up a very painful hill. There were no turns on the trail, it just went straight up. But aside from the pain, it was beautiful country; from pine forests to oak covered hills to deep ravines. We got back to Oaxaca very tired and in the mood for hamburgers.

On another note: Freda and Tim left town today in their trusty van for Guatemala. I waved goodby as they drove off.