Benito Juarez and Ocotlan

After a long week with Casa Hogar, we headed up the mountains to the village of Benito Juarez!!  Hikes, eating at Casa de Piedra (a restaurant by a local family that makes unique local foods including the best locally, mountain raised trout ever...everyone loved it!) and a zipline over a deep ravine in the mountain!!  We also were able to heavily tip a local girl, Lucila, who served us lunch using the few dollars left over from David M.'s donation to Casa Hogar.  She is working extra jobs to be able to go to Oaxaca City and go to high school and eventually college.  With tears in her eyes, she accepted our support of her education.

We also played basketball and soccer in the town square, and met with the town leaders to give them a donation of basketball nets to support the towns endless games of bball in the concha (town square).  After their hospitality last year and willingness to let us form a team in their local bball tournament, it was the least we could do!!

In Ocotlan, our Amazing Race has continued.  Here is a run down of the challenges:

Teach 240 children English in 2 days

Sign our names hundred of times to the scores of children who surrounded us at the school

Read and act out 4 books to four different classes

Killing one massive scorpion

Ride in the back of a police truck (the town took us out to lunch again)

Soccer at our homestay

Paint 12 alebrijes (wood carvings) during our Wed afternoon excursion to Efraim Funetes's studio

Two mototaxi rides (so far)

Tonight's Leg of the Race:  The Plazito (Ocotialn's festival):

Carnival games and rides

Churros and hot cakes (they love pancakes here!!)

Concerts and Dancing

Get to bed at some point to return to Oaxaca for out last full day (shopping & museums)

Some of the kids next to Benito Juarez (the gold head in the center)

The group walking over the bridge to the tiroleza (zip-line).  We zig-zagged across the ravine!!

Enjoying a meal at Casa de Piedra (House of Stone)

All School, Ocotlan-Style- our formal greeting in front of the whole school (600+students and teachers)

Teaching English

One of our classes!!  The most eager students in the world!!

We are rock stars...signing endless autographs

A Post-Earthquake Celebratory Lunch at Frida's (note our chef,  Frida Kahlo in the center)

Painting Alebrijes at Efraim Fuentes' studio

Two Truths and a Lie..."I rode in the back of a Mexican police truck....."

BLOG UPDATE:  In Oaxaca, if you sit patiently long enough and relax, amazing things happen!!!!!
While writing this and chatting with Homero, our host dad, he mentioned that at the age of 8 he worked in a knife making workshop etching knives for 10 cents a week.  Then he asked if we wanted to visit a workshop a few blocks away owned by family members.  WELL..it wasn't just a workshop, it was THE WORKSHOP that made the Conan the Barbarian  and Red Sonja swords!!!!   After showing us how the knives and swords are made, WE SHOPPED!!

This man made Conan and Red Sonja's swords...and a cake knife we bought to sell back at Wat 

Things have come to this....Mr. Werner with Conan the Barbarian's sword and Ms OB with Red Sonja's sword!!!