Day3. The Chapel on the Mountain. A heart-attack in one easy climb.

I have SEEN the little shrine way up on the mountain every day since my arrival.  I didnt set out to climb up there.  (My home movie scenario: unknown hikers body found alone and unprepared in the mountains.)  I left the hotel to walk 5 blocks and "see where the Gringos live."  When i got to the end of the street I saw the trailhead sign. Then there was a lady getting into her car next-door so I asked her, "is this a difficult trail to climb?"  She appeared to be mid 70's and answered, "Oh no, it's pretty easy."  So off i go at 11:30am in the blazing sun.  *Note: did i mention that Ajijic sits at 5,000ft elevation?  Denver is 5,200ft. Since my arrival I have been suffering from some mild 'altitude sickness.'  (I've read that Caffeine and Alcohol exacerbate this condition...  so i'm not the best patient)  I find that minimal exercise produces maximum effect in my fatigue and oxygen deprivation.  Anyway, here I go climbing.  Huffing and puffing and staggering uphill.  On the three occasions during my hour long climb where I found a tiny patch of shade I huddled in a puddle and rested.  I survived - obviously - and agree with part of what the lady said.  It's a pretty easy trail climbing DOWN!

My path of most resistance.  See the several wrong turns?  I didn't.

My hotel

Inside the breezy, shaded, religious shrine for some much needed rest.

In addition to the tiny chapel, there were also the 14 stations of the cross along the path.  

I found this most reassuring as I could know I was still on the right trail.

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"The series of stations is as follows: (1) Jesus is condemned to death, (2) he is made to bear his cross, (3) he falls the first time, (4) he meets his mother, (5) Simon of Cyrene is made to bear the cross, (6) Veronica wipes Jesus’ face, (7) he falls the second time, (8) the women of Jerusalem weep over Jesus, (9) he falls the third time, (10) he is stripped of his garments, (11) he is nailed to the cross, (12) he dies on the cross, (13) he is taken down from the cross, and (14) he is placed in the sepulchre. The images are usually mounted on the inside walls of a church or chapel but may also be erected in such places as cemeteries, corridors of hospitals and religious houses, or on mountainsides."

Now it's Sunday morning and the Catholic Church bells are ringing out over the city with a call to worship.  The first bell was at 6:30am and I just heard the 8am bell.  With multiple churches in town it's quite an orchestra of sound as they echo around.  Have a relaxing restful Sunday and a great new week!

-Skip