El Arbol del Tule
in Santa Maria del Tule, Oaxaca. This Ahuehuete (or Montezuma) Cypress is probably the oldest living tree in the world, at more than 2000 years old. With a 10m diameter trunk it is also considered by many to be the broadest tree in the world. The circumference of the trunk is an amazing 54m, It is over 40m high, boasts a foliage diameter of over 51m, and weighs over 500 tons.
El Arbol del Tule (2)
El Arbol del Tule (3)
El Arbol and church of Santa Maria
Spanish church of San Pablo
Villa de Mitla
Explanatory plaque, Mitla
The ruins, Mitla
The site was occupied by the Zapotecs and later by the Mixtecs until the Spanish conquest in the 1520s AD. See here for more details.
View of ruins and church, Mitla
Further explanatory plaque, Mitla
Plan of Mitla ruins
Detail of geometric tiled decoration
Detail of geometric tiled decoration
Detail of geometric tiled decoration
Detail of geometric tiled decoration
Detail of geometric tiled decoration
Graham in one of the courtyards, Mitla
Close up of geometric tiled decoration
Close up of geometric tiled decoration
Close up of geometric tiled decoration
Close up of geometric tiled decoration
Izy and cactus at Mitla
Izy at Mitla
Close up of geometric tiled decoration
Caroline at Mitla
More decorative features, Mitla
Tiled decoration
and original painted stucco
Hall of columns (?), Mitla
Izy, Kim, Monika and Clare at Mitla
Room with offering stone, Mitla
Inside one of the chambers, Mitla
Entrance to underground chamber (tomb?)
Steps leading to underground chamber
Underground chamber, Mitla
Underground chamber:
detail of internal decoration (1)
Underground chamber:
detail of internal decoration (2)
Original painted stucco, Mitla (1)
Original painted stucco, Mitla (2)
Original painted stucco, Mitla (3)
Original painted stucco, Mitla (4)
Drive to Chiapas
Cacti give way to coconut and banana palms.
Roadside shop with palm thatch, Chiapas
Typical roadside cafe
on the road to Chiapa del Corzo
Shrine at roadside cafe (1)
Shrine at roadside cafe (2)
How many blokes does it take
to close a skylight?
Hundreds of miles of mountainous terrain
on the road to Chiapas