After the 1st night of more than 6 hours of sleep, I woke feeling more refreshed and excited for the day.
Not that I wasn’t excited for the other days, don’t get me wrong, but running on fumes is tough while
traveling and running on fumes like traveling AND leading a group, is even tougher.
traveling and running on fumes like traveling AND leading a group, is even tougher.
The hotel laid out a buffet spread for our breakfast and (don’t tell anyone this, or you’ll ruin my street
cred), I was actually early to breakfast. The group leaders planned over our cafe mexicano and earl
grey and shared our grows and glows. Total aside, but the group I’m leading with is really great. We all
get along well, are on the same page when it comes to adjustments and decisions and everyone is
wonderful at staying positive.
cred), I was actually early to breakfast. The group leaders planned over our cafe mexicano and earl
grey and shared our grows and glows. Total aside, but the group I’m leading with is really great. We all
get along well, are on the same page when it comes to adjustments and decisions and everyone is
wonderful at staying positive.
I rode in the big van today with the participants. Mostly to get to spend time with everyone and get to
chat more, but also to be able to hear any cool facts our guide David (same guy from yesterday)
shared with us. We drove through Ocampo on our way to El Rosario, the biggest monarch sanctuary in
Mexico. The towns weren’t as small as the ones our scenic detour took us through the day before, and
you could definitely tell that the tourism that comes through the area is a significant source of income
for the locals. David said most people work in construction, but the town felt much more welcoming and
lively compared to the others we’d seen.
chat more, but also to be able to hear any cool facts our guide David (same guy from yesterday)
shared with us. We drove through Ocampo on our way to El Rosario, the biggest monarch sanctuary in
Mexico. The towns weren’t as small as the ones our scenic detour took us through the day before, and
you could definitely tell that the tourism that comes through the area is a significant source of income
for the locals. David said most people work in construction, but the town felt much more welcoming and
lively compared to the others we’d seen.
David had “warned” us that we would be seeing many more monarchs at El Rosairo compared to the
day before, but I think I can speak for everyone when I say, I assumed we’d maybe see twice as many
as yesterday. NOPE! We hadn’t even gotten into the sanctuary when we’d already seen hundreds of
butterflies soaring past us and nectaring on nearby bushes. Turns out that El Roario is the winter home
of HALF of all the monarch in Mexico.
day before, but I think I can speak for everyone when I say, I assumed we’d maybe see twice as many
as yesterday. NOPE! We hadn’t even gotten into the sanctuary when we’d already seen hundreds of
butterflies soaring past us and nectaring on nearby bushes. Turns out that El Roario is the winter home
of HALF of all the monarch in Mexico.
Even standing in the parking lot you felt like you were in a snowglobe on butterflies, and it got even
more intense as we walked into the park. Our local guide, Lidia ushered us into a small intro movie for
the sanctuary which explained to guests the life cycle of the monarchs, their migration route, and
appropriate ways to behave in the park (ie. no flash photography, don’t touch the butterflies, and watch
your step!) One of the things they explained in the movie, and forgive me for being an ignorant
pollinator lead, but I learned that it takes 5 generations of monarchs to migrate from Canada and the
US before they make it to Mexico. Then *this* generation (what we call the “super generation” and the
Mexican’s call “methusila generation”) are the ones that mate and then mate and fly back to Texas. Our
hike was all concrete steps, up and back, but it was still a tiring process. I’m not sure if we stopped
frequently to catch our breaths, or we stopped to take in the sights. I guess in the end it doesn’t really
matter.
more intense as we walked into the park. Our local guide, Lidia ushered us into a small intro movie for
the sanctuary which explained to guests the life cycle of the monarchs, their migration route, and
appropriate ways to behave in the park (ie. no flash photography, don’t touch the butterflies, and watch
your step!) One of the things they explained in the movie, and forgive me for being an ignorant
pollinator lead, but I learned that it takes 5 generations of monarchs to migrate from Canada and the
US before they make it to Mexico. Then *this* generation (what we call the “super generation” and the
Mexican’s call “methusila generation”) are the ones that mate and then mate and fly back to Texas. Our
hike was all concrete steps, up and back, but it was still a tiring process. I’m not sure if we stopped
frequently to catch our breaths, or we stopped to take in the sights. I guess in the end it doesn’t really
matter.
Now I know I said this a few times yesterday, but it’s totally true today as well, but the pics don’t do this
experience justice. The sheer VOLUME of butterflies was stunning. The sounds they made as they
fluttered around, bumped into each other, flapped their wings against the plants or pavement, fell from
trees, was unlike anything you’ve ever heard. You have to watch the videos to get a feel for it. I hope
the sound comes through because it was really spectacular.
experience justice. The sheer VOLUME of butterflies was stunning. The sounds they made as they
fluttered around, bumped into each other, flapped their wings against the plants or pavement, fell from
trees, was unlike anything you’ve ever heard. You have to watch the videos to get a feel for it. I hope
the sound comes through because it was really spectacular.
We met another local guide who’d been coming to El Rosairo for 10 years and he said that *this day*
was the best butterfly day he’d ever seen. The population there is up 140% from years previous and
many people thanked us for planting milkweed (the butterflies’ host plant) and encouraged us to keep
up the good work. I learned today that a group of butterflies is called a “kaleidoscope” and this was that
x100. A “flurry of monarchs” still doesn’t really do it justice...maybe more like a blizzard would be
accurate.
was the best butterfly day he’d ever seen. The population there is up 140% from years previous and
many people thanked us for planting milkweed (the butterflies’ host plant) and encouraged us to keep
up the good work. I learned today that a group of butterflies is called a “kaleidoscope” and this was that
x100. A “flurry of monarchs” still doesn’t really do it justice...maybe more like a blizzard would be
accurate.
Basically, the bottom line is, look at the pics, watch the videos, and just try to take a few breaths and
imagine yourself at the moment. Don’t roll your eyes at me. Just do it!
imagine yourself at the moment. Don’t roll your eyes at me. Just do it!
After returning to the parking lot, David negotiated lunch at a local stand where they made us
quesadillas and tacos with freshly made corn tortillas. MUY DELICIOSO! I ate dos quesadillas; uno
with flor de calabaza (squash flowers) and uno with champinuns (again, don’t tell anyone...but those
are mushrooms). While we ate we were occasionally swarmed by young kids trying to sell us
souvenirs, and if they weren’t so damn cute, it may be been overwhelming.
quesadillas and tacos with freshly made corn tortillas. MUY DELICIOSO! I ate dos quesadillas; uno
with flor de calabaza (squash flowers) and uno with champinuns (again, don’t tell anyone...but those
are mushrooms). While we ate we were occasionally swarmed by young kids trying to sell us
souvenirs, and if they weren’t so damn cute, it may be been overwhelming.
A bit of free time to shop and explore more, and then we were back in the van to head to Angangueo,
David’s hometown, for a tour. Now I mentioned that we’d driven through lots of cute local towns before,
but this was really specail. To have a local guide who walked us around and introduced us to their little
community and culture was so special. Considering all of this David connection was 100%
serendipitous, it felt even more special to see the hand-painted murals, the churches, the statues, and
walk around the shops (and of course meet the local dogs, like Pioneer and Kyle...who kept trying to
jump in our vans to eat our snacks).
David’s hometown, for a tour. Now I mentioned that we’d driven through lots of cute local towns before,
but this was really specail. To have a local guide who walked us around and introduced us to their little
community and culture was so special. Considering all of this David connection was 100%
serendipitous, it felt even more special to see the hand-painted murals, the churches, the statues, and
walk around the shops (and of course meet the local dogs, like Pioneer and Kyle...who kept trying to
jump in our vans to eat our snacks).
Liana lead a quick pollinator lesson about bats and tequila and we sat on the steps of the square
eating freshly roasted pepitas and taking tiny shots of Jimador. Walking across the street to the local
restaurant David recommended, we ate pollo mole, pollo grilled, pollo frito, and quesadillas. OF
COURSE, we had fresh, homemade guacamole and tortilla chips, not to mention a few cervesas. We
sat at the long table all as a group and shared our favorite glows from the day. The general consensus
was that the butterflies were okay, but we were all ready to go home. KIDDING! Although I’m sure I
didn’t catch many of you with that one. It’s hard to even joke that the butterflies are boring/not worth it
when you’re surrounded with so much beauty and wonder.
eating freshly roasted pepitas and taking tiny shots of Jimador. Walking across the street to the local
restaurant David recommended, we ate pollo mole, pollo grilled, pollo frito, and quesadillas. OF
COURSE, we had fresh, homemade guacamole and tortilla chips, not to mention a few cervesas. We
sat at the long table all as a group and shared our favorite glows from the day. The general consensus
was that the butterflies were okay, but we were all ready to go home. KIDDING! Although I’m sure I
didn’t catch many of you with that one. It’s hard to even joke that the butterflies are boring/not worth it
when you’re surrounded with so much beauty and wonder.
A cup of hot water to soothe my sore throat before bed and our trip leader debrief and now I’m lying in
bed back under the 6 blankets. It reminds me that I want to make myself a weighted blanket when I get
home...it’s very soothing to be squished in bed. (hilarious side note...as I pulled back the blanket to
climb in bed, there was a small chip crumb on my pillow. Perhaps here there are no mints for pillows,
only tortilla chips!!) Hasta menana!
bed back under the 6 blankets. It reminds me that I want to make myself a weighted blanket when I get
home...it’s very soothing to be squished in bed. (hilarious side note...as I pulled back the blanket to
climb in bed, there was a small chip crumb on my pillow. Perhaps here there are no mints for pillows,
only tortilla chips!!) Hasta menana!
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