-Desayunando Solo-
Children having Breakfast Alone.
Mucuchies 2014.
Children in Mocao at their young age are very self aware, they tend to be hardworking youth, in fact, most of them leave school after complete middle school to work the field.
-El Señor de la Moto-
The Man and his Bike.
Mocao 2014.
The public transportation in this area is deficient as a consequence people use private transportation. Normally, they ask for a ride to locals who do have personal transportation. This gentleman gave me a ride on his motorcycle to the highest point of the village where I started my journey.
-La Entrada a la Casa del Señor Marino-
The Entrance of Marino's House.
Mocao 2014.
I knocked at this door looking for someone I could talk about the hot springs of the area. The house seemed abandoned and open door. From the outside we can observe living conditions.
-El Retrato del Señor Marino-
Marino's Portrait.
Mocao 2014.
Marino is the person who had take care of the maintenance Musui's Hot Sprigs for over 15 years. This old man has worked without any type of formal income in retribution, even when it is a very touristic place in Merida.
-El Señor Marino nos cuenta un poco de su vida-.
Marino talks about his life.
Mocao 2014.
This old man lives alone in that house, his company are his loved cat and dog.
-El Hombre y la Naturaleza-
Human and Nature.
Mocao 2014.
-Muro de Bahareque con dos Piezas de Arte-
Two Piece of Art hanging from a Bahareque Wall.
Interior of house in Mocao 2014.
-El Gato en la Pared-
A Cat on the Wall.
Interior of a House in Mocao 2014.
This area of the house is used as kitchen. Most people in Mocao still cook with firewood, so the kitchen are designed to fit the firewood under it, working basically as chimney.
-El cuarto de un trabajador-
Farmer's Room.
Interior of a House in Mocao 2014.
A room that looked totally abandoned but it really isn't, in that place Marino rests after long day of work in the field.
-Las herramientas de un Hombre de Mocao-
Interior of a House in Mocao 2014.
In Mocao the majority of Males work in the field, they work from early morning in order to have all the work done by the time the sun goes down and the weather get colder. All those objects are representative the daily life. Robber Boots, tools and bottle of spirits.
-La Bodega-
Convenience Store.
Mocao 2014.
The term Bodega is used to connote small store where is sold candies, beverages and products of first necessity. In this case, a Bodega refers to the porch of this house that displays several products for sell. The reason being of such a store is the convenience despite of the long distance to the nearest groceries store.
-Hora del Almuerzo-
Lunch Time.
Interior of a House in Mocao 2014
-Sendero a las Aguas Termales-
Interior of a House in Mocao 2014.
-Padre e Hijo-
Kindergarten child helping his father. Portrait.
Mocao 2014.
Children in Mocao usually from a very young age start getting involved with the farmer life, helping their parents and eventually finding their own responsibility on the field.
-Padre e Hijo-
Kindergarten child helping his father.
Portrait.
Mocao 2014.
-Los Amigos del Liceo-
High School Friends. Portrait.
Mocao 2014.
Why do you go to school? I asked. The girl on the right replied : -Our dream is to finish school and we will all move to Merida to find jobs and study the University to do what our parents couldn't.
-El Nieto mayor de la Señora Julia-
Portrait.
Mocao Bajo 2014.
We were heading to "Mocao Alto" sector , where Julia and her family lives.
-El nieto menor de la Señora Julia-
Surprised.
Portrait.
Interior of a House in Mocao 2014.
-Red Innocence-
Portrait.
Interior of a House in Mocao 2014.
This shot was named after winning the 7th place in "Everyman 2015" photo contest.
-La Señora Julia en la Cocina Colorida-
Julia in her Colorful Kitchen.
Portrait.
Interior of a House in Mocao 2014.
As soon as we got to her house, Julia invited me a cup of coffee while she was making something to eat.
-Cafe y Sopa de Papas-
Coffee and Potatoes Soup.
Interior of a House in Mocao 2014.
-La mano de Julia-
Julia's Hand.
Interior of a House in Mocao 2014.
-Cosecha de Papas-
Potatoes Fields.
Mocao 2014.
-La flor de la Papa-
Potato flower.
Mocao 2014.
Hiking with Rosa on our way to her house we ran into two young man who were about to finish their labor for the day. I sat next to a yellow flower and I asked what type of flower it was, I found it very beautiful. One of the guys replies- That's a potato flower, he picked up one from the ground and gave it to me.
-Rosa vuelve a casa con una bolsa de Mercal-
Mocao 2014.
Rosa comes back home carrying a supermarket bag with rice, beans, sugar, flour and powder milk after spending five hours in line to get the products from the Government's grocery store (Mercal) where the basic products usually were the cheapest, however, to get them people have to wait in line for hours in other to buy few products. In this occasion Rosa had no more option than leaving her children at home without someone that could babysit them while she was out.
-Lavanderia de Rosa-
Rosa's Laundry Room.
Mocao 2014
-La casa de Rosa-
Rosa's House.
Interior of a House in Mocao 2014.
This house was builded on top of massive rocks, Rosa and her husband made out of those rocks pieces of furniture for the house.
-El hijo mayor de Rosa-
Mocao 2014.
Rosa due to the responsibilities she had to accomplish that day, she left in charge her older son of the house and his younger brother.
-El Hijo menor de Rosa-
Mocao 2014.
Early that day Rosa told me that her younger wasn't feeling good, he woke up with fever. Rosa believed that he caught the cold , even so, she had to leave the house for long hours trusting her older son will take care on him and call her in case of emergency.
-La Rosa-
The Pink Rose
Mocao 2014.
This was a gift from this sweet child, as soon as we got to Rosa's home he was jumping of happiness to see his mom. Rosa introduced me to the child and immediately he went out of the house and came back in holding a pink flower for me.
-Estas son mis Montañas- Portrait.
Mocao 2014.
From that point on Mocao ends and on the back of these mountains there is Gavidia's moorland.
- El Bastón-
Mocao 2014.
-Apreciando la naturaleza-
Appreciating Nature.
Portrait.
Mocao 2014.
-El primer Rayo de Luz-
Catching morning sun ray.
Portrait.
Los corrales 2014.
-El primer rayo de Luz-
Catching morning sun ray.
Los corrales 2014.
Early morning people like to chase the first sun ray of the day, in that way they warm up from the cold nights.
-El primer rayo de Luz-
Morning Sun Ray.
Interior of a House in Los Corrales 2014.
-La luz en sus Ojos-
Portrait.
Los corrales 2014
-Untitled-
Portrait.
Los corrales 2014.
At the end of every story there is something to learn from it, experiences lived in this place are a big part of me. All the people I met, the places I went are part of who I am. They teach me much more than I thought but one of the most important things I learned were the power of a simple living and the love and respect for nature. Even though, This community live in very poor conditions, not even one home I visited let me go without drinking a cup of coffee, some fresh vegetables from their crops or a plate of delicious food. I thank life for giving me this wonderful experience that now other people might appreciate as well.
Thank you!