Cuajimoloyas

After getting a good night of sleep, we got on a bus and in 2 hours arrived at the rural community of Cuajimoloyas located in a somewhat remote area of the Sierra Madre (main Mexican mountain chain).There we met several fellow hikers: 2 girls from Germany, 2 girls from the Netherlands, and an American couple, both of whom are medical students. Together accompanied by a guide we embarked on what was supposed to be a 3-hour, but turned into a 4.5 hour hike in the highland forest. We saw many interesting trees and plants, climbed through a canyon, and saw some incredible views of the Sierra Madre.The hike was a bit strenuous since after all it was at the altitude of 3,000 meters above sea level, but we thoroughly enjoyed the peaceful and beatiful woods. What was most interesting to me as a development student is the level of community development evident in this tiny pueblito.It is a part of a group of 8 communities in the area who are organized in one entity and have started 5 different businesses together (ecotourism, lumber, purifying and bottling water, and some others). The communities are doing well and are an example of successful community-driven development. Our guide, who was one of the initial founders of the ecotourism business, talked a lot about the forest and how the pine trees are being plagued by some caterpillars that make the trees dry up, but how the communities refuse to use insecticide because it was bad for the environment and made the bugs more resistant. His love for the forest and pride of what the communities have achieved was evident.Cuajimoloyas was a clean and tranquil town where everyone waved at each other and participated in one of the businesses or agriculture.In addition, our guide would often stop and point out a plant that had some medicinal value or was used in food preparations. I was proud of my Russian background since I recognized quite a few of them. After getting back to Oaxaca City, we ate some incredibly delicious tacos with the American couple. Now we are off to exlpore the zocalo (main plaza) and most likely stopping by the taco place once more.