Olita Travels (2024)

13/05/2024

𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘦'𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘣𝘶𝘵, 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘶𝘴, 𝘸𝘦’𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 🦍

Oh don’t mind me, currently sobbing reminiscing on this trip, how much I love gorillas, and listening to the Tarzan soundtrack. Animals are absolutely incredible and being able to be so close to these great, ginormous but gentle apes in their natural habitat for an hour of my life was an immense honour…
The mountain gorilla that I saw in Bwindi, is a subspecies of the eastern (one of 2 species- the other is- you guessed it- western) and is endangered, with only a little more than 1000 in the wild.
Humans share up to 98% of our DNA with these giants, and though most of us may think we’re the sexier species, Big Daddy Silverback def had it going on… I mean, he had quite a few gals attending to him! But that’s just a G-thang, as gorilla families usually consist of about 10 members, with one dominant, shepherding, super smooth & huuuuge silverback.

It was unbelievable to see our gorilla family interact with each other and see just how very similar we are- playing, laughing, grooming, carrying, cuddling, napping, mamas scolding their mischievous babies…

But what I most related to was how they nap and eat ALL DAY LONG … just like me! They spend about a quarter of their day eating- 85% of their diet is made up of plants (ok, not like me- they’re on the vegan trend like most Californians!) they can also eat larvae, snails, ants, roots, barks and rotting wood (a good source of sodium/salt)- insects are the future for us too!
Unfortunately, our genetic similarities means that exposure to human illnesses – even a cold - can have potentially detrimental impacts on gorillas as they haven't developed the necessary immunities. So conservation efforts must focus on minimizing this risk (more on that in another post )
I was gutted the days before my gorilla date, as I had a high fever & couldn’t move (dengue sucks). I had given up hope. But when I woke up with no fever, feeling half alive, I was allowed to go - and even though I almost fainted getting there— and cried (but I always cry jaja) I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

20/03/2024

🌵💀🌵💀🌵💀🌵💀🌵💀🌵

An animal graveyard, my favorite place to be (wrapped in a chinchorro by the sea) and other bits of the island’s arid, cactus strewn, mangrove buffered landscapes. Not pictured: the hundreds of stray dogs that roam the island (many folks have yet to learn the importance of ✂️), the random donkeys who interrupt road trips by popping their heads into your vehicle for snackies, terrifying calamitous centipedes that somehow find their way into your clothes and beds…

𝙴𝚕𝚎𝚟é 𝚕𝚊 𝚟𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚊 𝚊𝚕 𝚌𝚒𝚎𝚕𝚘
𝚈 𝚢𝚊 𝚝𝚎 𝚘𝚛é 𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚘’ 𝚕𝚘𝚜 𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚘𝚜,
¿𝙲𝚞á𝚗𝚍𝚘 𝚖𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚜 𝚕𝚘 𝚚𝚞𝚎 𝚚𝚞𝚒𝚎𝚛𝚘?
𝚈 𝚜𝚎 𝚖𝚎 𝚚𝚞𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚘’ 𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚜 𝚖𝚒𝚎𝚍𝚘𝚜,
𝙼𝚒𝚛𝚊 𝚎𝚕 𝚎𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚓𝚘, 𝚍𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚕𝚘 𝚚𝚞𝚎 𝚟𝚎𝚜
𝙻𝚊𝚜 𝚌𝚘𝚜𝚊𝚜 𝚗𝚘 𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝚜𝚒𝚎𝚖𝚙𝚛𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚘 𝚜𝚎 𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚗
𝙼𝚒𝚛𝚊 𝚎𝚕 𝚎𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚓𝚘, 𝚍𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚕𝚘 𝚚𝚞𝚎 𝚟𝚎𝚜
¿𝙰 𝚚𝚞𝚒é𝚗 𝚎𝚗 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚍𝚊𝚍 𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚕 𝚚𝚞𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚢 𝚚𝚞𝚎 𝚝𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚛?

17/03/2024

Ｔｉｂｕｒóｎｔｉｂｕｒóｎ…
🦈🦈🦈🦈🦈🦈🦈🦈🦈🦈🦈🦈🦈🦈
𝘔𝘢𝘮𝘪 𝘲𝘶𝘦 𝘵𝘶 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘦? que salvemos al tiburón.

Sabías que los tiburones son esenciales para el ecosistema marina? Al rehabilitar a la poblaciones de tiburones que habitan y visitan el Caribe Mexicano representa grandes beneficios para los ecosistemas marinos? Esto es debido al rol biológico vital de los tiburones, al controlar la salud en las poblaciones de peces, consumiendo a los peces más débiles y enfermos. Son como el sistema inmune del océano!
Así que salvar a tiburones es salvar al arrecife y la flora y fauna del Ocean, y rehabilitar sus poblaciones aquí en Mexico tiene un impacto positivo a nivel regional y hasta internacional en el caso de algunas especies que viajan hasta Estados Unidos y Sud América
A pesar de su importancia, los tiburones viven bajo amenaza cada día…y los humanos somos los culpables.
Al día de hoy, un tercio de las especies de tiburón han sido exterminadas. Es nuestro deber proteger estas especies que han nadado en nuestros océanos por más de 400 millones de años.

14/02/2024

🥑 𝕞𝕖 𝕞𝕦𝕕𝕖 𝕒 𝕥𝕦 𝕓𝕒𝕝𝕔𝕠𝕟 𝕡𝕒 𝕠𝕝𝕖𝕣 𝕖𝕝 𝕞𝕒𝕣 🥑

En este mundo dónde siempre buscamos “algo más” espero que, por lo menos, nunca les haga falta aguacate. Ni helados. Ni un buen libro (de dragones!) Ni un culito chulito. Ni canciónes bailables. Ni abrazos tiernos. Ni palabras dulces. Ni paz interior. Ni el auto-amor.
Que encuentren su medio aguacate, ya cuando sea el tiempo indicado (esto nadie lo controla, sorry!) y que cuando lo encuentren, no lo coman de una vez! Mejor esperar que esté bien madurito y algo suave por dentro (no malgasten su tiempo con los x-siempre duros). Y recuerden, siempre que haya un vacío en su vida, llénalo primero con aguacate💚 (ya ven, soy todo una love guru— aunque quien sabe, to’ esto podría ser truco, y esta forma media masculina que sale en mis fotos podría ser de plástico!)

From someone who was forever wanting more, never satisfied, always seeking fulfillments (and second servings of foooood) and still growing and learning about “it all,” I wish you self-love and rrrr-love, inner peace (and outer, so stand for justice!) and endless, perfectly ripe avocados (and all that they stand for)- I know, the last one is hard to find (ha, literally). May we all find a place and a human to feel completely ourselves in and with.

Ah, y por supuesto un alto al fuego- que ya BASTA con dejar a un pueblo documentar su proprio genocidio 🍉

23/01/2024

🌞🇧🇷🌞🇧🇷🌞🇧🇷🌞🇧🇷🌞🇧🇷🌞🇧🇷🌞
B A H I A T E R R A D A A L E G R I A

Do e do axé
Terra de gente , de praias e avenidas.
Terra dos mistérios, dos encantos e do amor.
Jardim de Alá, local de encontro que Deus abençoou.

de todos os santos
Do abara e do
As Cira e Dinha já sabem como o povo quer
Pimenta, vatapá, salada e camarão
Ninguém resiste a tamanha tentação

Bahia e bendita
Das águas sagrada do Dique do Tororó
Do por do sol da Barra, da de Plakaford.
Do , centro histórico de .
Nas suas ruas de pedras muita gente chorou
Tristeza e alegria a beleza imperou
Patrimônio da humanidade, o mundo já consagrou.
Museus, igrejas e catedrais.
Ninguém esquece... jamais

Bahia terra da pluralidade
Onde se funde o plural e o singular
Todas as raças se unem numa festa popular
Carnaval, Lavagem do Bonfim, Festa da Conceição e Yemanjá.
Se o trio elétrico não veio
A roda de samba pode esquentar

Bahia, terra dos .
Do sincretismo religioso
De Xangô a Jeová
Nesta terra mística todos podem acreditar

Bahia terra dos poetas
Dorival Caymi, Caetano Veloso e Gilberto Gil.
Ídolos do nosso

Bahia terra que
Terra do e da
Quem chega aqui nesta terra
Não quer sair nunca mais

Tânia Balthazar

31/12/2023

كل الدنيا بلادي وارضي
ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ɪꜱ ᴍʏ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛʀʏ
ꜰᴀʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡɪᴅᴇ
ᴀʟʟ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ᴀʀᴇ ᴍʏ ʙʀᴇᴛʜʀᴇɴ
ꜱɪɴᴄᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀʏꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴏʟᴅ
ʙᴏʀᴅᴇʀꜱ ᴀʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅɪꜰꜰᴇʀᴇɴᴄᴇꜱ
ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ ᴜꜱ
ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴏʀᴅꜱ ᴀʀᴇ ᴡʀɪᴛᴛᴇɴ ᴏɴ ᴘᴀᴘᴇʀ
ᴀɴᴅ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴡʀɪᴛᴛᴇɴ
ʜᴀꜱ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴀ ᴄʜᴀɪɴ
ᴅᴇɴʏɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ꜱᴇᴇɪɴɢ ᴍʏ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛʀʏ

Rajieen (song by various MENA artists)

A winter’s lament, for true peace and justice this new year. Que no nos olvidemos de lo que nos hace ser humanos, lo que nos une, y que rechacemos a lo que suele dividirnos, borrarnos…

20/12/2023

𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐫è𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫

18/12/2023

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️𝕡𝕖𝕣𝕥𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕫𝕔𝕠 𝕒 𝕝𝕒 𝕥𝕚𝕖𝕣𝕣𝕒 𝕪 𝕒 𝕤𝕦 𝕚𝕟𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕣𝕟𝕠
❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

Please join me in supporting immigrant newcomers staying hot hot hot (not freezing their buns off!) this Colorado winter (🔥 tip: good quality coats and hot springs help, but since we mustn’t transport springs in our cars and not everyone has access to them, coats and other winter clothes will have to do!!) (if you have all the clothes and are still cold you can always menealoooo)

We’re also looking for $ donations, blankets, hats, gloves other warm (ideally wearable) things!
You can drop off at:

Para Ti Mujer
150 Sheridan Blvd.
Suite 200
Lakewood, CO 80226
Monday, Wednesday or Friday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

or

Colorado Changemakers Collective
12075 E 45th Ave.
Denver, CO 80239
Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Please call (720) 385-9173 before dropping off donations.

More info here: https://www.denvergov.org/Community/Assistance-Programs/Migrant-Support

13/10/2023

𝙒𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧'𝙨 L I O N 𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙…
make mine a C U B sandwhich 🦁

Had an unbeatable day in the Serengeti. Saw 21 lions before lunch time, 10 of which were some absolutely adorable, playful cubs as the sun rose high, in the sapphire sky… (yes, I quoted and sang Lion King throughout the day…)

Ar sunrise, mama was with her two cubs, and the she soon joined two big maned machos, who she kicked out of a spot to snooze for a while.

Within 20 minutes we happened upon a pride of 3 lionesses with 7 cubs between them, and though there seemed to be a matriarch that lead them (and got the most cuddles), all lionesses interacted with all the cubs… A pride of lions is usually made up of related females and their cubs, plus a male or small group of males who defend their pride. The lionesses raise their cubs together and cubs can suckle from any female with milk.
I could’ve watched this family interact for hours! There was one older cub in particular who kept his distance from the rest, he really seemed to be in his emo teenager phase and waited a long time before joining the rest of his pride when the walked across the road to get some shade… but when he did finally came through, his mom welcomed him with open arms (or neck caresses, however it’s called) and he soon kicked his little brother out the best spot.

As you can see in the pics, cubs and young lions have rosettes and spots on their sandy coats, which generally disappear as they mature. Super cute while it lasts!

Later on, we saw quite a few total Aslans and Musafas. I wish my hair stayed that flowy and gorgeous in these dusty conditions!

📸 mostly by .bertsch in the Serengeti, but some from my time in ( and ) and in .

09/10/2023

L E O P A R D S 🐆
Cuaaaaanta elegancia, por dios!
Wether they’re stalking or sleeping, eating or leaping, this is probably my favourite animal to spot (ha) (ok I love all of them but let’s focus here!)

Perhaps the most elegant of the big cats, these powerful, long bodied, beautifully spotted carnivores are definitely the strongest climber, thanks to special muscles in their shoulder blades. The most common place to see them during the day is high up in a tree branch, where they often store their kill to prevent other predators from stealing it.

Leopards are predominantly nocturnal, solitary animals, but each individual has a home range- which is marked with urine and claw marks- that intersects with other leopards.

They like their space, but their number one problem? Humans.

These big cats have long been hunted for their soft fur — used to make coats and ceremonial robes — as well as for their claws, whiskers, and tails.
Habitat fragmentation, reduced prey base, and human-wildlife conflict have greatly reduced this species’ population throughout most of their range. Although they are widely distributed across Africa and Asia, due to habitat fragmentation and loss, their range has reduced by 31 percent worldwide in the past 20 years. Furthermore, the commercialized bushmeat trade has caused a collapse of prey populations across large parts of savanna Africa — estimated an average of 59 percent decline in prey populations across 78 protected areas.
Because of this, when close contact with human settlements, they may prey on livestock. Pastoralists will retaliate and kill the big cats in retribution or will attempt to exterminate them in order to prevent livestock killings. It is important to educate communities to make sure they do not hunt for fur, and also to create enclosures to keep their livestock, and thus also , safe

15/09/2023

𝙻𝚊 𝚝𝚒𝚎𝚛𝚛𝚊 𝚎𝚜 𝚖𝚒 𝚙𝚊𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚊
𝚂𝚘𝚢 𝚍𝚎 𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚊, 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚘 𝚗𝚘 𝚎𝚜 𝚖í𝚊
𝙻𝚊 𝚚𝚞𝚒𝚎𝚛𝚘
𝙿𝚎𝚛𝚘 𝚕𝚊 𝚚𝚞𝚒𝚎𝚛𝚘 𝚕𝚒𝚋𝚛𝚎
𝙲𝚘𝚖𝚘 𝚞𝚗 𝚙á𝚓𝚊𝚛𝚘 𝚟𝚘𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚘
𝙴𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚎 𝚟𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚜 𝚖á𝚜 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚍𝚎𝚜
𝚂𝚘𝚋𝚛𝚎 𝚟𝚘𝚕𝚌𝚊𝚗𝚎𝚜 𝚌𝚞𝚢𝚘𝚜 𝚏𝚞𝚎𝚐𝚘𝚜
𝚜𝚊𝚕𝚞𝚍𝚊𝚗 𝚊 𝚕𝚊𝚜 𝚗𝚞𝚋𝚎𝚜
𝙱𝚊𝚒𝚕𝚊𝚗 𝚌𝚘𝚗 𝚎𝚕 𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚘
𝚅𝚘𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚘
𝙲𝚘𝚗 𝚕𝚊𝚜 𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚊𝚜 𝚍𝚎 𝚋𝚛ú𝚓𝚞𝚕𝚊
𝙿𝚊𝚛𝚊 𝚚𝚞𝚎 𝚗𝚞𝚗𝚌𝚊 𝚜𝚎 𝚙𝚒𝚎𝚛𝚍𝚊
𝚂𝚒, 𝚕𝚒𝚋𝚛𝚎-
𝚀𝚞𝚎 𝚗𝚘 𝚕𝚘 𝚙𝚞𝚎𝚍𝚊𝚗 𝚌𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚊𝚛
𝙿𝚘𝚛𝚚𝚞𝚎 𝚗𝚘 𝚎𝚡𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚗
𝙹𝚊𝚞𝚕𝚊𝚜
𝙴𝚗 𝚎𝚕 𝚊𝚒𝚛𝚎
𝚂𝚘𝚕𝚘 𝚎𝚗 𝚕𝚊 𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚎.
𝚝𝚒𝚎𝚛𝚛𝚊 𝚊𝚕í𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚝𝚎,
𝚌𝚘𝚗 𝚊𝚕𝚊𝚜
𝙰𝚋𝚒𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚊𝚜, 𝚝𝚒𝚎𝚛𝚛𝚊 𝚚𝚞é𝚍𝚊𝚝𝚎
𝙸𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚎
𝚂𝚒𝚗 𝚕í𝚖𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚜, 𝚜𝚒𝚗 𝚒𝚖𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚖𝚘,
𝙸𝚗𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚘 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚘 𝚎𝚕 𝚌𝚒𝚎𝚕𝚘, 𝚜𝚒𝚗 𝚍𝚞𝚎ñ𝚘,
𝚃𝚒𝚎𝚛𝚛𝚊, 𝚖𝚒 𝚊𝚕𝚖𝚊,
𝚃𝚒𝚎𝚛𝚛𝚊 𝚖𝚒 𝚌𝚞𝚎𝚛𝚙𝚘
𝚃𝚎 𝚚𝚞𝚒𝚎𝚛𝚘
𝙼𝚒𝚊 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚘,
𝚗𝚘.
𝚃𝚒𝚎𝚛𝚛𝚊 𝚙𝚊𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚊,
𝚝𝚒𝚎𝚛𝚛𝚊 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚛𝚎
𝙼𝚎𝚓𝚘𝚛 𝚕𝚒𝚋𝚛𝚎,
𝙿𝚊𝚛𝚊 𝚝𝚘𝚍𝚘𝚜
𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚘 𝚊 𝚗𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚎 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚌𝚎
𝚃𝚒𝚎𝚛𝚛𝚊 𝚖á𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚊 𝚘𝚓𝚊𝚕á
𝚚𝚞𝚎 𝚜𝚎 𝚚𝚞𝚎𝚍𝚎 𝚊𝚜í,
𝚂𝚒𝚎𝚖𝚙𝚛𝚎.
🇲🇽🇬🇹🇸🇻🇳🇮🇨🇷🇭🇳

15/08/2023

𝑸𝒖𝒆 𝒍𝒍𝒖𝒆𝒗𝒂 𝒍𝒂 𝒏𝒐𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒈𝒊𝒂
𝑸𝒖𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒓𝒆 𝒆𝒍 𝒄𝒊𝒆𝒍𝒐 𝒂𝒛𝒖𝒍
🌞☔️🩸🌼

Ah, the complexity of Colours and Colonialism continues…

Today, one could say that and its paradoxes is still a place of pilgrimage …a “magical city” for tourists en route to the capital of , or the new , and a place for instagrammers (guiltyyyy) to delight in, marvel at and pose against its , looking buildings, painted as an idea of a governor in the 60s to draw positive attention …

Yet let’s not forget the history and true colors of the city, and the blood toll it took to build it all - both during the rise of Great Maya Civilization and after their fall…

15/08/2023

ɪᴢᴀᴍᴀʟ- ᴀ ꜱᴀᴄʀᴇᴅ ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇ

Despite the destruction caused by the Conquistadors, and the looting in more recent years, five massive Pre-Columbian structures are still very visible, including the ruins below the Convent, and over 163 significant archaeological structures, and thousands of residential structures, have been found.

The most impressive and largest , is that to the Maya Sun god, Kinich Ahau, named Kinich Kak Moo (macaw of the solar flaming face) with a base covering over 2 acres and a volume of some 700,000 cubic meters. It is open to climb and lies parallel to the now convent.
To the south-east lies another great temple, named Itzamatul, “Grace of the sky” in honor of the god, Itzamná.

The was a sacred and important place of pilgrimage and worship for its namesake, the creator , and Ixchel, his spouse.

Ironically, since the Conquest, became a place of for s, as it was the first chair of the , and the open atrium of the is second in size only to that at the .

15/08/2023

ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʀᴜᴇ ᴄᴏʟᴏᴜʀꜱ
ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ʏᴇʟʟᴏᴡ ᴄɪᴛʏ
(cont.)

Though many of the cathedrals and homes the Spanish built, and the riches accrued, were with the materials taken from destroyed and sites, and on the backs of the Maya people, the indigenous culture was prohibited, and, covered… the only exchange for their work and resources was total conversion to , the Crown, and other ways of life.

was originally founded during the Late Formative Period (750-200 BC) and was continuously occupied until the Spanish Conquest, though largely abandoned with the rise of in the Terminal Classic (800-1000 A.D.) (see previous posts about the Collapse)

It is also known by locals as "The City of the Hills,” as, post abandonment, the became covered and ultimately were hidden (by nature, who despite human shenanigans, always ultimately comes out on top of the pyramid- ha!) for a few hundred years, and their shapes resembled hills….

15/08/2023

🟨Ｚ🟨Ａ🟨Ｍ🟨Ａ 🟨Ｌ

The stunning
𝘠𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘠𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘯
attracts people from all over in with its bright beauty and supposed harmonic combination of both Spanish and Mayan and .
Though the is a definite draw, the true color of the city is tainted by the blood it took to build it…
The Franciscan convent, San Antonio de Padua, constructed in 1561 literally atop of the Pap Hol Chak (and so extra elevated towards the “heavens”) is a blatant symbol of the of and its social, political, and economic subjugation of those to the land…
This systemic stratification persisted well into the 20th Century (the Caste Wars being the most brutal recent example) and continues today- with those of indigenous descent, though no longer literally (or at least, obviously) enslaved or slaughtered, still being largely marginalized or one could say, “at the bottom of the “

05/08/2023

C D M X : la mejor ciudad del mundo 🏙️🏙️🏙️🏙️🏙️🏙️🏙️🏙️🏙️🏙️

C D M X : la mejor ciudad del mundo … quiero perderme contigo 🏙️

Wandering around the of
is an almost guaranteed way to fall in love… from catching festivities, political rallies, social protests or a group of boisterous ladies dancing Zumba in the … atop the ruins of what once were sacred temples of … to being serenaded by cheeky mariachis in as adolescents and old folx alike criss cross fingers and maybe tongues on benches… to catching a folkloric ballet show at or, for a few supporting centavos, just admiring a multitude of mega talented (or, simply the right kind of quirky) street performers outside the plaza … all while indulging in the smells (and soon, taste) of drool-inducing of the world at every corner (ok, every few feet is more like it)😍 I repeat, it’s a place to fall in love (and you don’t even need another human for it!)

te amo, even though your high elevation (2300m) and pollution levels give me nosebleeds every other day.
It breaks my heart that the number one response when I say I live here is shock/fear/warnings of danger

19/07/2023

Spot the invasive species… 🥽props to the turtles for politely posing and allowing us aliens into their safe space (yummy sea grass!)

Wayyyy before humans ever reached , nay, way before humans ever did anything at all (we talkin’ Jurassic period, 150 million yrs ago!), our was home to ! And today, the small of Aruba still is home to 4 of the 7 species: Loggerheads, Leatherbacks, Hawksbills, and Green Turtles, who make their nesting season on the beaches from March and September.

Sea turtles survived several mass extinction events, including the cataclysmic event that killed off the dinosaurs... yet will they be able to survive humans? Are we killing them now? (More on that in my previous post)

We are so flippin fortunate to share this planet with such fantastic flora and fauna, yet so many of us fail to actively care for them. It shocks me that some ninkenpoops (or the stubbornly uneducated) think they’re at a petting zoo when in the wild. Sure, it’s a pretty touristy beach with calm waters and the wee turtles are soooo cuuuute and oh I’m sure it’s been your childhood dream to be April O’Neil and love on Mikey but for the love of all that is sacred, NEVER TOUCH or disturb WILDLIFE! Not even Master Splinter himself should be putting hands on these turtles… or any other marvelous creature found on land and sea (unless it’s a human and it has given you explicit consent or it’s your dearly beloved for pet)— and if you read the many reasons why to “leave no trace” yet continue to do so I won’t be mad when you step on a sea urchin or a bison at Yellowstone gives you a bloody headbutt…

Turtle power, forever.
🤿📸

06/06/2023

G R A N D 🏔️ T E T O N S

the 🐻-🤐-🔺

Ósea, Bear- muda (y aterrorizada)- triangle — I am not used to frolicking in grizzly territory… but these views were worth almost sh****ng myself every time the wind caused a rustling in the bush.

24/05/2023

Ｕ　Ｔ　Ａ　Ｈ　—　
Ａｎ　ｏｍｉｎｏｕｓ　ｌａｎｄｓｃａｐｅ　ｏｆ　ｎｅｖｅｒ－ｅｎｄｉｎｇ　ｃａｌａｍｉｔｙ

Or should I say, clam-ity? 🪸 Can you believe this was once all under the sea? But then again… it does look like walking through giant desert coral 🪸

During the Pennsylvanian Period (320-285 million years ago), much of Utah was covered by ocean and only a small arm of the Ancestral Rockies penetrated into Utah from the east. The Moab region was a gigantic deep "sinkhole," the Paradox Basin, which would be flooded with ocean water as sea levels rose (or the land bridge subsided). A layer of limestone would form in this new ocean bay. Then the Paradox Basin would be cut off from the ocean and would dry out, leaving evaporated salts, capped with shale.

The following Permian Period brought deposits of sandstone to the area - that forms a lot of what we see today in the Canyonlands.

By the Triassic period, the Ancestral Rockies were eroded away, and the sea retreated to the west, creating a desert and covering much of Utah in sand dunes. The Jurassic saw the sand dunes give way to river floodplain… Western Utah rose in altitude while the east sank, allowing the seas to reclaim Eastern Utah during the Cretaceous Period… and on it goes. And so it shows us the patterns of the earth, it’s formations, climate and environments and how they all interact 🏜️

15/05/2023

𝐂 𝐎 𝐋 𝐎 𝐑 𝐀 𝐃 𝐎: (n.)
(kŏlə-rădō) 𝒂 𝒗𝒂𝒔𝒕, 𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒖𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒑𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒚𝒑𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏..

One of the most I’ve ever done! Mostly because it proved that I am indeed a muggle born witch whose owl just never arrived (can’t blame it, we moved countries about 3000 times).

We set out a bit late (mama loves a good sleep) with our hearts set on seeing these famed and fabled (that I had happened upon a few days prior browsing ) but looking at the forecast, we were in for some rough times. And indeed, throughout the , we got hit with ALL sorts of crazy weather, from rain to hail to snowstorm to bright . A typical experience, one could say. Many turned back in fear (and perhaps, wisdom) but not us! We were well equipped with waterproof layers and snacks that you can eat with numb hands.

Upon arrival to the “top,” it seemed we would not see said mystical lakes, as the clouds had settled heavy upon them and snow was blurring our vision.
Nevertheless, with fogged glasses and frozen snot on my chin, I performed my SUN dance, beckoning her over with arms wide opennn in a sort of aerobesque meets hula movement, and lo and behold that burning star peaked out from where she was hiding, surely seduced by my absurd hip shaking. It was glorious! We were thrilled. And so quickly de layered and cleaned up for nice photos to show the world this stellar place and to remind fellow or hopefuls, that, despite how radically relaxed & groovy we appear in photos, it is not a walk in a park to “get there.” It takes training, preparation, organization and perhaps a wee bit of witchcraft.

When , the different ranges in elevation or temperature throughout the day can lead to ABRUPT weather changes that could catch you off guard & put you in danger — it’s vital to have the right gear, look up conditions beforehand, practice in your comfort zone, read the signs/clouds/ sky, the animals around you… keep yourself safe, to keep others safe. And always, leave no trace!

Mischief managed.

04/05/2023

— M I T L A —
a place of death?
to rest?
or to worship?

21/04/2023

a ꜱᴏʀᴛᴇ ᴘʀᴏᴛᴇɢᴇ ᴏꜱ ᴀᴜᴅᴀᴢᴇꜱ 🐆

🇧🇷 B R A S I L 🇧🇷

sua beleza não tem paralelo… amooo a sua natureza ❤️
Floripaaa Ilha da magiaaaa 🪄

Hiking to hidden beaches might be the best way to do it (as much as I love my alpine lakes, and volcanos, I am much more likely to take a sweaty dip in the sea… than in fire and ice) 🌞

25/03/2023

Rainbows over rainforest, and Africa’s most powerful waterfall, the smoke that thunders.

Though I almost died rafting down the “slam”bezi River during rainy season, I emerged victorious and awe inspired… (though I suppose it’s a worthy place to leave one’s’ flesh body and join the angels)… it seems incredulous that this beast of nature was no more than a trickle of water during a 2019 drought. But longer dry seasons and shorter rainy seasons are hitting this paradise and changing the ecosystem around it. What will happen to the species that thrive here? What will happen to humans that depend on Victoria and the Zambezi for their livelihood?

Climate change is real friends.
Support world leaders who are gonna do something about it.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/world-heritage/article/victoria-falls-1 #:~:text=Victoria%20Falls%20is%20getting%20drier,a%20smaller%20period%20of%20time.

12/02/2023

Suggestions from an anthropologist (and nature lover) for your cenote or cave experience (part one):

1. Whenever entering a sacred space, be it a church or a cave, cleanse yourself : cenotes often have showers nearby for a quick rinse, and guides ask those on a cave excursion not to wear sunscreen (you won’t be seeing much sun) or bug-repellant (not many bugs either)- to keep the water and geological formations as free from harsh chemicals, and as pure as possible
2. Carry less stress and burdens (and backpacks!)— some of these areas are small and cramped, so bringing more than just your body and vital necessities can easily crowd the area and take it from a natural wonder to a… messy closet! You can often leave non essential items at the mouth of cave or in your vehicle
3. Ask permission or say a prayer of gratitude to the spirits, gods or the ancestors to grant you protection and guidance as you journey through their realm (if you’re not spiritual, think about it as asking for permission/advice from someone who knows more than you, or those who were once rulers…)
4. Leave as little to no trace as possible!! Do not touch or remove anything! Removing items or artifacts prevents an archaeologist from being able to properly conduct research and study the site. Removing artifacts impacts the story that is learnt about the cave and createsk a gap between people and their heritage.
5. Take a moment of silence, and, if deep in a cave, darkness (zero artificial light). It is incredible how serene it can be when humans are still, and attempt to be one with their surroundings. A moment of zero stimulation is a chance to check in with the self and be present.

08/02/2023

𝘓𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥
𝘚𝘦𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦
𝘜𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘦
𝘊𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦… 🦚

In areas of Mesoamérica without rivers or streams, and especially during seasons of extended drought, cenotes (sinkholes caused by the extensive corrosion of limestone rock) were an exceptionally important source of water, creation, and ultimately, survival, for the Maya.
Fortunately, there are over 6000 cenotes in Yucatan alone. The name comes from “ts’onot,” Yucataco for “a place with underground water. “

While cenotes and water were an integral part everyday life, they also served a divine purpose in the great circle of life, reincarnation, the journey to paradise— upon death, going into the underworld was a route to the upper world (the heavens).

So not only were Cenotes and caves sources of fresh water, but also a source of spirituality — they were sacred spaces, and the Maya believed that their Deities dwelled in them.
When entering the caverns, the Maya had elaborate cleansing ritual in order to prepare themselves engage with their gods and ancestors. They would often drink hallucinogenic substances (from fermented cacao, plants, mushrooms, the skin of a toad…) to induce themselves into an altered state of consciousness when performing sacred practices or ceremonies.
Under the influence of hallucinogens, smoke, and with only the fire from a torchlight inside the complete darkness of the underworld, the Maya would “see” their divine rulers as glistening stalagmites and stalactites cast shadows depicting images of fierce gods.
Whether it was a ritual for fertility rites, rain, water, or spiritual animals, the ancient Maya would ask their gods for help based on a need or purpose… these excursions to Xibalba, their requests, offerings and... pleads …increased as environmental stress and unsustainable practices caused chaos in (and eventually, the collapse of) their great cities….

04/02/2023

Exploring the entrance to Xibalba’s territory in Mesoamerica — caves — one of the Maya’s holiest places of the flesh world, connected to the mystical underworld, outside of normal time and space.

The limestone terrain of Belize, Guatemala and the Yucatan contains thousands of cave systems, in many of which explorers and archaeologists have discovered prehistoric remains demonstrating extensive use of these sites by the ancient Maya: ceramic artifacts, stone tools, architectural modifications, cave art, smoked chambers, human bones…

The Maya believed in recurring cycles of creation and destruction and felt that caves were a place for both, and thus served as a home to their powerful deities— gods who influenced all aspects of their life, from every day needs and activities (rain, agricultural fertility, political conflicts) to the birth and death of earths spirits….
Archaeologists note that the most intensive period of cave use by the Maya was just before the decline of their civilization, the Terminal Classic period (AD 800-1000).
Interesting how humans turn to spirituality most fervently in times of great stress and peril…

As I explained in my Chichen Itza post, environmental stress was a huge cause for the decline of the Maya. Extensive periods of drought and unsustainable agricultural practice left the masses of people (a population which, in Belize, was double the size of the current one) without resources… and hope. As the situation grew dire, people were desperate, and sacred rituals in caves (including, perhaps, sacrifice) nincreased ( ) Yet despite the increase in appeals to their gods, the Mayan social/economic system was collapsing. Surviving Maya gradually began to abandoned their cities, their temples, their land, their holy sites, their caves... what that remains today, are a few tangible clues of an ancient past…and warnings for our present.

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