travel mexico baja california emilio zapata
In 1997, I had the opportunity to travel with some friends and their church group to a small town about 400 miles south of the U.S. border.
While most of the group's mission was two-fold... both to help physically/materially and to reach them spiritually, I went along mainly to add whatever expertise I might have acquired,
as an architect and builder, to the construction of a water cistern and the finishing of a a drug rehabilitation center to serve the mostly native indian population of this section of Baja.
I got to meet some beautiful people and learn something about the history and lifestyles of the many divergent native indian groups, Zapotec, Mixteca, and Triqui, that have migrated to
this area to earn a better living on the commercial farms.
This is a "real" part of Mexico that I had never known as a tourist.
Before leaving Oregon, I researched and did working drawings for a concrete block water cistern.
Upon arrival, the steel rebar was on site and we proceeded to cut, bend, and set the vertical bars in a new concrete slab.
Much to my chagrin, when we went to pick up the block itself, I discovered that concrete block available in this area was only 6" in width, not 8".
So much for my expertise. With some extra work, we were able to rebend all the rebar so it would work with this new module.
The biggest lesson I learned from this trip came not with the work or the people I met, but with the realization of an ironic paradox.
While we were making life a little more tolerable for the people we were helping, it became apparent that we, like numerous other charitable groups we met, were also taking the edge off
the discontent of the people who, without our help, might have been more motivated toward demanding a more democratic change in the government that would be more responsive
to their needs for education towards a goal of self-reliance.
Travel: 1997 -
This location has earned a four star (very good) rating from
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unless noted otherwise all images copyright d. holmes chamberlin jr architect llc
Pushing a shovel, Emilio Zapata, Baja California, Mexico, 1997. (photo by others)
The beginnings of a concrete block cistern.
Part of the group prepares the ground for excavation of water lines.
Local workers investing in their future.
Local woman producing beautiful weavings, Emilio Zapata, Baja California, Mexico, 1997
Another woman specializes in jewelry, Baja California, Mexico, 1997.
Young boys show off their toys with pride, Baja California, Mexico, 1997.
Roadside vendor selling fresh coconut milk from the shell.
Squatters petition government for use of undeveloped land, Emilio Zapata, Baja California, Mexico, 1997.
copyright d. holmes chamberlin jr architect llc
page last revised february 2020