Semana Santa – Nopala
4/5/09 – 4/12/09
High holy week in Mexico (Semana Santa) sends throngs of city-dwellers to the beach. Borrachos! The scene in Puerto Escondido changed from mostly tranquil fishing/surfing town to spring break craziness. Our peaceful apartamento became a frat house complete with outdoor peeing and puking. After our towel was “misplaced”, we decided to flee to the mountains for the climactic Easter weekend.
Playa Zicatela
Before our departure, we went up to the Mercado and were graced with one of the many reenactments of Jesus’s walk to Calvary, aka the Stations of the Cross.
We drove east up the 131 toward Oaxaca City, heading for the town of San Reyes Nopala. Twenty-seven miles (44 kilometers) out of Puerto, Route 131 makes a hard right in the center of the town of San Gabriel Mixtepic. At this point, in front of the San Gabriel Hotel, turn 90 degrees to the left and stay left at the upcoming fork, traveling seven miles up the winding but mostly paved roads to the town of Nopala. In the heart of Chatino Country, Nopala is a small, sometimes quiet town nestled at 2000 feet above sea level, situated along and above the tranquil Rio Manialtepec. We spent two nights at the Hotel Palacio del Chatino in a quaint room with hot water (during the day) and a perfect view of the Catholic Church and associated Courtyard. The holiest of weekends in Mexico was complete with candlelight vigils, processionals, beautiful hymnal services and even explosives throughout Friday and Saturday nights.
Templo Catolico Nopala
Courtyard of Hotel Palacio del Chatino
Room 105 of Hotel Palacio del Chatino
The overnights in Nopala were more quiet than any we’ve experienced in Mexico, as were the hours of any church services. (Apparently drinking is forbidden in Nopala during Semana Santa.) However early mornings, beginning at 7:30 am, were polluted with the constant and repetitious advertisements over the town’s public address system, the speakers of which happened to be located just above our hotel room. Regardless of the onslaught of constant local update, Nopala provided the serenity we were seeking from the temporary chaos invading our hometown on Easter weekend.
We traveled back over the river and down to Puerto Sunday night, passing hordes of vehicle traffic headed back to the city. Happy to be back in our tranquil setting, we enjoyed an ironic beer in celebration of our return. And also a very hearty “Salud!” to Margaret and Jon Reeves’ anniversary!
Rio Manialtepec
Cheers!
High holy week in Mexico (Semana Santa) sends throngs of city-dwellers to the beach. Borrachos! The scene in Puerto Escondido changed from mostly tranquil fishing/surfing town to spring break craziness. Our peaceful apartamento became a frat house complete with outdoor peeing and puking. After our towel was “misplaced”, we decided to flee to the mountains for the climactic Easter weekend.
Playa Zicatela
Before our departure, we went up to the Mercado and were graced with one of the many reenactments of Jesus’s walk to Calvary, aka the Stations of the Cross.
We drove east up the 131 toward Oaxaca City, heading for the town of San Reyes Nopala. Twenty-seven miles (44 kilometers) out of Puerto, Route 131 makes a hard right in the center of the town of San Gabriel Mixtepic. At this point, in front of the San Gabriel Hotel, turn 90 degrees to the left and stay left at the upcoming fork, traveling seven miles up the winding but mostly paved roads to the town of Nopala. In the heart of Chatino Country, Nopala is a small, sometimes quiet town nestled at 2000 feet above sea level, situated along and above the tranquil Rio Manialtepec. We spent two nights at the Hotel Palacio del Chatino in a quaint room with hot water (during the day) and a perfect view of the Catholic Church and associated Courtyard. The holiest of weekends in Mexico was complete with candlelight vigils, processionals, beautiful hymnal services and even explosives throughout Friday and Saturday nights.
Templo Catolico Nopala
Courtyard of Hotel Palacio del Chatino
Room 105 of Hotel Palacio del Chatino
The overnights in Nopala were more quiet than any we’ve experienced in Mexico, as were the hours of any church services. (Apparently drinking is forbidden in Nopala during Semana Santa.) However early mornings, beginning at 7:30 am, were polluted with the constant and repetitious advertisements over the town’s public address system, the speakers of which happened to be located just above our hotel room. Regardless of the onslaught of constant local update, Nopala provided the serenity we were seeking from the temporary chaos invading our hometown on Easter weekend.
We traveled back over the river and down to Puerto Sunday night, passing hordes of vehicle traffic headed back to the city. Happy to be back in our tranquil setting, we enjoyed an ironic beer in celebration of our return. And also a very hearty “Salud!” to Margaret and Jon Reeves’ anniversary!
Rio Manialtepec
Cheers!
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