"Every autumn, from late October to early November, millions of monarch butterflies arrive in these forested Mexican highlands for their winter hibernation, having flown from the Great Lakes region of the US and Canada, some 4500 km (2796 mi.). At night and in the early morning the butterflies cluster together, covering whole oyenal (fir) trees and weighing down the branches. As the day warms up, they begin to flutter around like gold and orange snowflakes, descending to the humid forest floor for the hottest part of the day. In the warm spring temperatures of March the butterflies reach their sexual maturity and mate - abdomen to abdomen, with the males flying around carrying the females underneath. The exhausted males die shortly afterward, and the pregnant females fly north to Texas, Florida and other sites in the southeastern US." (Lonely Planet Guide, 2006)
As we were walking down the street in Angangueo on Sunday morning, a man driving a Bronco slowed down and asked us if we wanted to go to the Sanctuary. Reed talked to him for a bit, negotiated a reasonable price and we hopped in. After dropping his friend off, he drove us through town and up a steep paved road to a rough, dirt road. We continued up this road for a bit before we came upon some men standing in the road. Our driver told us that he had to pay a "toll" to these men so that he could drive us up to the Sanctuary. The men didn't look official or anything but seemed like residents in that area that had found a way to make a few pesos.
We continued up the dirt, pothole-laden road while our driver told us about the history of the town and the sanctuary during the 45 minute trip. Up near the sanctuary, we passed by many houses that had no electricity or running water because they were far outside the city and close to the mountains. When we arrived at the sanctuary, our driver said that he would wait for us, so we paid the entrance fee and started up the trail to the Mariposas. It was about 4km (2.5 mi) up a trail through the forest which reminded me of the hikes we used to take in the forest near Bend, Oregon when I was a kid. When we arrived at the site of the butterflies, there were a few flying around but a majority were on the fir tree branches, which made them look like trees with leaves. After walking around a bit, we sat in a secluded place away from the crowds of people to have lunch. As it got warmer, hundreds of the butterflies started flying around us! We could hear the swooshing of their wings and even the thump when they bumped into each other! It was an incredible and fantastic experience that I will remember for my lifetime!
After returning to Angangueo, we had lunch at a restaurant and headed back to Cuernavaca with visions of dancing butterflies in our heads.... :o)
For pictures, click on this link:
Coming next: Morelia and Pátzcuaro
2 comments:
¡Las mariposas son hermosas!
I really appreciate your labeling your photos. What an adventure you are having down there! (I am a friend of your sister Joan.)
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