November 07 , 2005 - page 3

From Mitla, we proceeded to Chagoyá, a mezcal factory.  Mezcal is an alcohol similar to tequila that is fermented from sugarcane – it is an important aspect of the economy in Oaxaca, and frequently consumed during Día de los Muertos festivities.  Several of us tried the potent liquor, and I can officially say that straight mezcal is not for me – it rather burns the esophagus going down.

Last on our list of stops was the town of Santa María del Tule, which is home to a gargantuan tree called Ahuehuete, or Tule, or the Tree of Life, depending on which language you speak.  Apparently it’s upwards of two thousand years old, and at forty feet in diameter, it’s considered to be one of the largest biomasses in the world.  Our group had the honor of being led around the tree by a knowledgeable, albeit short, 8-year-old boy named Osbaldo. We lunched in the town