A Long Climb on a Rugged Coast

6/18

Time for another adventure. I figured since I had taken many photos yet I would go on a trek to find some pics of the areas that I had been thus far. So (after having slept in) I slung my camera across my back took my telephoto lens in a plastic sack and set off for Carrizilillo (careezileeyo), the beach where I surfed yesterday. There was a path that went down next from the house straight to the water where there are large rocks. There I found a plethora of crabs. I pasted a couple of tidal pools with a few striped fish, and climbed on to Manzinillo. From there I moved on through the beach front onto the rugged coastline of the point that separates Manzinillo and Carrizilillo.
The climb would have been much easier if I had two free hands but my purpose was to take photos so I kept my equipment with me. There were a few tough spots with a few potentially perilous drops but it wasn’t too perilous (Monty Python nod). There were crags in many parts of the rocks, but from one particular area I heard a high pitched screech. I look in the direction of the noise and thee bats flew out of the crack and around the corner turned a circle and reentered. I was able to get a couple of pictures of them in flight.
After almost an hour and a half I made it to the final bend where at the top sits an abandoned and dilapidated house. There is no roof and the foundation has been eaten away as it sits perched quite precariously a top the mount overlooking the inlet. I made my way through the ruins and was unable to find a path down, so I walked further inland and met my greatest challenge yet. There was a very large hotel planted right in the middle of the path with a fence preventing any passage. There were however stairs that led to the beach from the hotel I just had to get over the fence. I follow the fence down (and I mean down) toward the beach a ways and had to push my way through a bit of foliage; well the push became a puncture as a few fairly descent curved thorns entered my flesh. First thought: pull them out. Not realizing at this point they are curved the skin just stretches out. Now pain has become secondary to the insult that it is to receiving a small wound at the end of such a journey in the hot sun with no water, so consequently I rip that vine a new one, hop the fence, and take the stairs to the beach.
I find my trusty contemplation seat from the day before and sit in the shade for a bit, snap a few photos, and begin to take the conventional way back. On the stairs I meet the Frenchman from the day before. We exchanged pleasantries (which was much less painful than having my bottom impaled on a cactus (Johnny English nod)) and met on our way; him down to the waves and me home for lunch. The return trip took all of 15 minutes, and it took me 1 minute to consume the liter of water waiting for me in the refrigerator. While I’m letting my core temperature come down to a realistic level before eating the family decides it is time to go see some baby turtles. I can’t argue with that so I skip lunch and hed to the beach.
We get there and a couple of scientists are digging up the newly born sea turtles. We wash our hands and get to hold a few of them. Out of the 100 that were ’planted’ 80 survived. I picked out the little guys with the lightest color shell whose name was Crush (Finding Nemo nod). I took a few candid shots with him and then a few poses. He was a natural. The problem however (because we came to release them into the ocean) was that they couldn’t be tossed for another 2 hours, and since we had smaller children with the attention span of a gnat with us we opted to leave and come back tomorrow.
On the road, cars, fumes, honking, okay……… beach. I dug myself a little seat and watched the kids play in the water as the sun was setting. Then out of nowhere, dude comes walking plops down and starts chatting with me. And really this is something I have really been wanting, a real person to person interaction. He asked me if I thought we were all the same, if I would do what I could to save his life if he were drowning a kilometer out, if I was against violence, if I was 20 kilos of weed, you know the usual. We also talked about the unavoidable presence of God in all places. He is 23 and has been in the military for 6 years, having been in 8 battles and received 3 wounds. He lives in Oaxaca City and gave me his info. Told me to contact him when we get back to the city. I thought that I would.
The family then ate some dinner back at Alicia’s, where this time I had the Tlayuda. The adults wanted to stay and walk around the main street, so I volunteered to watch the kids. We made it to the house and realized we didn’t have the keys to the house. So Jorge and I took some pretty sketchy paths back to the main street. He then sent me back with the keys were I ran into a couple of street gangs of dogs. They were looking for a fight but none of the wanted to start it, so I returned without incident.
The kids were going to swim in the pool but it began to rain, so they put in a movie. I took a quick shower (5 minutes tops (and the kids weren’t alone g-pa was there and the older sisters)), and I come back to see one of the kids passed out (asleep), and another drinking orange juice from a shot glass, and the last optically glued to the television. Because of the rain the parents returned early and I wasn’t able to sleep outside.
Interesting Note: I forgot to mention that the human nasal cavity is quite a wonder. Yesterday (surfing day) I discovered up bending over to brush sand off of my feet that that cavity can hold at least three communion cups worth of sea water , as it came pour out of my nose, so if your looking to smuggle a few extra ounces onto an airplane…. I’m just saying…..
Amendment: Jorge’s car is not a Passat it’s a Pointer (if that means anything to anyone).