“Killing Me Softly” ~ City of Rocks, New Mexico
“It wasn’t long before another bohemian showed up… an Argentine who turned out to have an incredible fascination with photography. I showed him the ropes of the place and told him about the farmer who comes by once a week (today) with fresh… fruits and vegetables for cheap. He didn’t know what peyote looks like or how to clean it, etc. So I agreed once again to indoctrinate my fellow would-be peyotero to how to cut a rug with Senor Mescalito.
All went well after I’d answered the hundredth question about photography and stated I’d answer just one more before we had to focus on getting our minds clear for the “ceremony”. I can’t really can’t have the kind of experience I like to when I’m functioning as a guide because I’m always looking toward the inductee and making sure they’re doing ok. They usually follow all of my advice and there’s rarely a problem. But, I try to keep my head focused on their having a great experience instead of my own. I suppose that’s my little way of “paying it forward.” ;-)
It was a great afternoon with perfect weather. The Argentine mostly wondered about making photos in the desert. When he came back to show me what he’d captured, I was blown away. All of this time I’ve spent in the desert, I never thought to focus on the main thing I was trying to avoid, i.e.. thorns. The thorns or “espinas” in Huiricuta are particularly brutal. Well hidden, and perpetually finding there way through your boot’s sole and or embedded deep in your hands and legs. Over the years, I’ve learned to keep the unwanted barbs out of my flesh, but I’d never thought to turn my lens to what I’d always feared most… the thorns! What a revelation!”
(From my Skip Hunt Vagabond travel blog)
“Espinas Ses” ~ Shot in the Sacred Huiricuta desert region of San Luis Potosi, Mexico © 2009 Skip Hunt
Also, included in my new Calendar “Skip Hunt Vagabond :: Mexico 2009 :: Muchas Espinas”
“Netherworld” ~ Amatlan, Mexico © 2009 Skip Hunt
(from my Skip Hunt Vagabond travel blog)
“I had been told that I could get a cheaper room in nearby Amatlan. Amatlan, I’m told, is supposed to be the birthplace of Queztalcoatl and a very mystical place. Mystical birthplaces of alleged mythical gods works for me!
The little town of Amatlan is only about 6k outside of Tepoztlan, but not well marked so it took me awhile to find it. The hotel that had been recommended to me didn’t exist or I wrote it down wrong because no one there had heard of it. A dazed Mexican hippy walking along the road hadn’t heard of it either but suggested I ask around at the teepees and pointed me down a winding narrow dirt road toward one of the majestic cliff faces.
Amatlan has a lazy and claustriphobic feel with a dramatic backdrop like some mystic painting… as does all of Tepoztlan. Only, I think the views are somewhat more dramatic from the viewpoint of Tepoztlan.
After winding down the muddy dirt road to about it’s end, I parked the bike and looked up toward a small compound with teepees and a kitchen area. There was a tanned smallish man with long gold and silver hair sitting in the kitchen and he asked in English if he could help me. I asked about the hotel that’d been recommended and he said there was no place of that name anywhere in Amatlan. He then said the birthplace of Queztalcoatl was right there in that very location and that there was a portal right behind him on the cliff face. I wasn’t sure if I’d heard him correctly so I asked, “Did you say there’s a portal up there?”. He said “Yes. A portal right up there.” I tried not to laugh and asked “A portal to where?” He exclaimed, “A portal to another dimension! Why don’t you come up and have a look for yourself?”
I thought “Oh boy! This better be good.” The little man introduced himself as Ea Orgo-Maynez and directed me toward the portal. All I saw was an interesting cliff face that went up about 30 meters with a crack that started at the ground and went up in a giant arch forming what could be considered a portal shape I suppose.
Around the compound were large teepees, a temazcal dome (for sweat ceremonies), a few cabanas, hammocks and that common kitchen area decorated with lots of crystals. Indian batiks and various other mystic paraphernalia. Beneath the portal to another dimension where the crack started, there was a shrine in a small cave space full of all sorts of offerings and such,
Ea told me to pick out any teepee I wanted, but that the whole place was booked on Saturday and I’d have to leave for a couple days. I didn’t want to do all that moving so I took a room in Tepoztlan instead, but told Ea that I’d like to come back and hang out a bit. He said that I was welcome to come back any time I wanted and use the kitchen if I wanted or use the hammocks. He said “Mi casa es su casa!”
Something was very odd about the whole area for me. Soon after I arrived, I began having Deja vu. I’ve had Deja vu before but this was different. As far as I can recall, I don’t believe I’ve ever been to Tepoztlan or Amatlan. As a photographer, if I’d been there before I certainly would have photos of the place. Yet to the best of my knowledge, I have no photos of the place at all.”
Cactus from the desert region called Huiricuta by the Huichol Indians in San Luis Potosi, Mexico for my travel blog Skip Hunt Vagabond which I just completed the final entry for this journey. Disfruta!
Also, you can view more thorn-themed images from this region in this little extra gallery HERE
Did a quickie gallery of spines ~ “Espinas de Huiricuta” ~ for my currently evolving Skip Hunt Vagabond Travelblog
