Santa Cruz Acalpixca: a place full of wealth
Karina Moreno Rojas
From four o'clock some women washes down to Santa Cruz Acalpixca in Xochimilco to carve your clothes with water that can only get there, they installed in their homes through improvisation on hills, streets above, do not have enough water for washing and cooking.
Acalpixca Santa Cruz is a region that boasts lush vegetation which could provide various fruit trees such as plum, wild cherry, peach, fig, avocado, chile apple, pomegranate, apricot, among others, however, due to "the selfishness and neglect of the inhabitants, it is possible to have these fruit trees in the street or from the archaeological zone, "said Joshua Beutelspacher avid journalist who is part of Club Primera Plana and forms, along with three others, the Autonomous Board Xochimilco.
The Board has no official recognition to the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), but is formed by a group of people whose interest in archeology and pre-Columbian history of Mexico, have protected the archaeological wonders that owns and Xochimilco few know and value.
Some of the streets of this region are narrow and steep and full of puddles, loose soil and animal droppings, others are already paving, in which horses and burros still rise and fall with the groceries or clothing for wash slide with ease.
There are many people who do not have animals or car for transportation and down from the mountain to the laundry, a place where you can wash and buy food, it is full of street vendors selling any type of item, so make use of pirate taxis which are in the area and only five weights up or down to who wants it.
Graffiti is a problem affecting Acalpixca Santa Cruz, as it reveals the library is usually alone, the Archaeological Museum, whose visits are only bound students, and the area's archaeological figures painted wholesale with sprays red, green, blue or white.
Here, in the Federal District and lush greenery is a place that holds part of the history of our country, which has the foundation and fall of Xochimilco, trade and scientific and cultural development and its relations with neighboring towns.
"The first to reach the Valley of Mexico were the Xochimilco and Xochimilco founded in 1196 AD," said Beutelspacher pointing to a marked stone steps, like a pyramid, which means the foundation Xochimilco.
Going up and continue the tour in the archaeological zone, the step is still firm and constant and the heaviness of the heat has wreaked havoc. Suddenly an open lattice shows that the place was guarded, but not anymore, anyone can come to observe, While the place, or destroy, for their misfortune. Climbing the stairs
I find the stone map "shows the relief, lowered springs and streams in this area [...] even figurines of fish there," says journalist and teacher who graduated from the Teachers Normal. But the lack of education and vandalism reached this stone of great value, despite the lattice is as old and rusty, graffiti appear side and beer bottle caps announced that someone was there.
The stone map shows the great knowledge he possessed Xochimilca so precisely to make their region. It is known that he had two schools for the aristocracy Calmecac and tepochcalli for the people or commoners. Among the first schools for aristocrats existed Sciences gave the land where agriculture, navigation, herbs, etc.
is believed that within the food was taught to cultivate corn, squash, chile and especially the flowers. Similarly, items were taught areas, such as those shown on the rock map, which were of great importance because in Xochimilco was the office and that touched the lakes Chalco, Xochimilco with 300 km of waterway and Texcoco. We can say that the first two were freshwater and saltwater third as Nezahualcoyotl separate control, thereby missing constant flooding each year suffering population.
And while the original map is daubed stone in the Archaeological Museum in the area are displayed replicas of the same.
As we move from high branches that clutter and slippery rocks to step stone is Cuauilama which means goddess of femininity, the old healer. By continuing glyphs is another stone which shows a pyramid on it a house, the first means the foundation of Xochimilco and the second to fall and domination by the Aztec empire.
Going a step further, keeping weight on his feet and continue to rise is difficult. Dry throat, thick white saliva indicate the need a drink of water, eyes and sweat on his brow puckered fool no one: the heat is strong.
front of my eyes three figures carved in stone that, despite the human stupidity to take away the railings that protected them and scratch them with spray red, green and blue are perfectly cut and defined. The first is a butterfly, the second ocellus a cougar or a tiger, a sign of the south, which connotes a roar in front of the snout having a figure that usually placed to signify sound or word, the third one cipatli or crocodile is first day or first symbol of the Aztec calendar.
"Here was carved Aztec calendar, the first was made in Xochimilco and transferred by the lake in a punt but by weight, about 10 to 12 tons, fell into deep waters, "said the Foundation also belongs to the Mexican Journalists Associations of BC (Fapermex) and said the second time was taken only the raw stone and sculpted by the Aztecs on their land. Therefore, the original schedule is made with materials belonging to Xochimilco and also in the archaeological zone is also a stone carved with the solar mark which is the center of the Aztec calendar, ie the fifth sun.
Following the tour will reach the top, a plain where once the Xochimilcas had an observatory cultural and military purposes, with temples, classrooms and homes. Currently, and for 30 years, people come to dance days leading up to March 21, when spring comes, with arms outstretched, barefoot, making music with teponaztles and drums and costumes similar to those of their ancestors receiving such energy. Beutelspacher argues, "between two or three thousand people dancing for peace of mind, vigor and strength [...] is an inherited custom and existing long before in Teotihuacan."
is time to descend and retire from this place that holds history and wonders that speak for themselves. It's a shame to know that through ignorance of its people and the indifference of local government and the National Institute of Anthropology and History, the stone carvings deteriorate outdoors from nature and what is worse, "human stupidity" as a teacher and journalist said. Likewise, small figurines that people are at home, without understanding the historical and cultural value they have, if given chance to keep his studio and exhibition. Down and down the stairs a little deformed and fight with long branches and hindrances that impede the path. Thus we reach the open lattice and then, after walking downhill to the Santa Cruz Acalpixca washes. The noise is greater, one-thirty pm and more women busily washing clothes. Get in the car and it started leaving behind a large cloud of dust.
From four o'clock some women washes down to Santa Cruz Acalpixca in Xochimilco to carve your clothes with water that can only get there, they installed in their homes through improvisation on hills, streets above, do not have enough water for washing and cooking.
Acalpixca Santa Cruz is a region that boasts lush vegetation which could provide various fruit trees such as plum, wild cherry, peach, fig, avocado, chile apple, pomegranate, apricot, among others, however, due to "the selfishness and neglect of the inhabitants, it is possible to have these fruit trees in the street or from the archaeological zone, "said Joshua Beutelspacher avid journalist who is part of Club Primera Plana and forms, along with three others, the Autonomous Board Xochimilco.
The Board has no official recognition to the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), but is formed by a group of people whose interest in archeology and pre-Columbian history of Mexico, have protected the archaeological wonders that owns and Xochimilco few know and value.
Some of the streets of this region are narrow and steep and full of puddles, loose soil and animal droppings, others are already paving, in which horses and burros still rise and fall with the groceries or clothing for wash slide with ease.
There are many people who do not have animals or car for transportation and down from the mountain to the laundry, a place where you can wash and buy food, it is full of street vendors selling any type of item, so make use of pirate taxis which are in the area and only five weights up or down to who wants it.
Graffiti is a problem affecting Acalpixca Santa Cruz, as it reveals the library is usually alone, the Archaeological Museum, whose visits are only bound students, and the area's archaeological figures painted wholesale with sprays red, green, blue or white.
Here, in the Federal District and lush greenery is a place that holds part of the history of our country, which has the foundation and fall of Xochimilco, trade and scientific and cultural development and its relations with neighboring towns.
"The first to reach the Valley of Mexico were the Xochimilco and Xochimilco founded in 1196 AD," said Beutelspacher pointing to a marked stone steps, like a pyramid, which means the foundation Xochimilco.
Going up and continue the tour in the archaeological zone, the step is still firm and constant and the heaviness of the heat has wreaked havoc. Suddenly an open lattice shows that the place was guarded, but not anymore, anyone can come to observe, While the place, or destroy, for their misfortune. Climbing the stairs
I find the stone map "shows the relief, lowered springs and streams in this area [...] even figurines of fish there," says journalist and teacher who graduated from the Teachers Normal. But the lack of education and vandalism reached this stone of great value, despite the lattice is as old and rusty, graffiti appear side and beer bottle caps announced that someone was there.
The stone map shows the great knowledge he possessed Xochimilca so precisely to make their region. It is known that he had two schools for the aristocracy Calmecac and tepochcalli for the people or commoners. Among the first schools for aristocrats existed Sciences gave the land where agriculture, navigation, herbs, etc.
is believed that within the food was taught to cultivate corn, squash, chile and especially the flowers. Similarly, items were taught areas, such as those shown on the rock map, which were of great importance because in Xochimilco was the office and that touched the lakes Chalco, Xochimilco with 300 km of waterway and Texcoco. We can say that the first two were freshwater and saltwater third as Nezahualcoyotl separate control, thereby missing constant flooding each year suffering population.
And while the original map is daubed stone in the Archaeological Museum in the area are displayed replicas of the same.
As we move from high branches that clutter and slippery rocks to step stone is Cuauilama which means goddess of femininity, the old healer. By continuing glyphs is another stone which shows a pyramid on it a house, the first means the foundation of Xochimilco and the second to fall and domination by the Aztec empire.
Going a step further, keeping weight on his feet and continue to rise is difficult. Dry throat, thick white saliva indicate the need a drink of water, eyes and sweat on his brow puckered fool no one: the heat is strong.
front of my eyes three figures carved in stone that, despite the human stupidity to take away the railings that protected them and scratch them with spray red, green and blue are perfectly cut and defined. The first is a butterfly, the second ocellus a cougar or a tiger, a sign of the south, which connotes a roar in front of the snout having a figure that usually placed to signify sound or word, the third one cipatli or crocodile is first day or first symbol of the Aztec calendar.
"Here was carved Aztec calendar, the first was made in Xochimilco and transferred by the lake in a punt but by weight, about 10 to 12 tons, fell into deep waters, "said the Foundation also belongs to the Mexican Journalists Associations of BC (Fapermex) and said the second time was taken only the raw stone and sculpted by the Aztecs on their land. Therefore, the original schedule is made with materials belonging to Xochimilco and also in the archaeological zone is also a stone carved with the solar mark which is the center of the Aztec calendar, ie the fifth sun.
Following the tour will reach the top, a plain where once the Xochimilcas had an observatory cultural and military purposes, with temples, classrooms and homes. Currently, and for 30 years, people come to dance days leading up to March 21, when spring comes, with arms outstretched, barefoot, making music with teponaztles and drums and costumes similar to those of their ancestors receiving such energy. Beutelspacher argues, "between two or three thousand people dancing for peace of mind, vigor and strength [...] is an inherited custom and existing long before in Teotihuacan."
is time to descend and retire from this place that holds history and wonders that speak for themselves. It's a shame to know that through ignorance of its people and the indifference of local government and the National Institute of Anthropology and History, the stone carvings deteriorate outdoors from nature and what is worse, "human stupidity" as a teacher and journalist said. Likewise, small figurines that people are at home, without understanding the historical and cultural value they have, if given chance to keep his studio and exhibition. Down and down the stairs a little deformed and fight with long branches and hindrances that impede the path. Thus we reach the open lattice and then, after walking downhill to the Santa Cruz Acalpixca washes. The noise is greater, one-thirty pm and more women busily washing clothes. Get in the car and it started leaving behind a large cloud of dust.
