Come Along on a Trip to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec

The isthmus of Tehuantepec is part of the state of Oaxaca. I have been driving down to the isthmus approximately one time a month for the past year. The trip is a long one--about five hours via a winding mountain highway. However it is also an interesting ride and I thought that I would take you along on the trip.

The isthmus at its narrowest point is only 125 miles wide. It spans the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean. At one point the Panama Canal was going to be built through the isthmus. The region is remote and hot with few highways linking the isthmus to the rest of the state. However because of this remoteness, the isthmus has also managed to protect its distinct, largely indigenous culture.

The photo above is of a Tehuana (women from the isthmus of Tehuantepec) in the full dress of the region. Her headpiece is said to have originated with a shipwreck of a boat carrying petticoats from England. Curious and not knowing what petticoats were, the indigenous people turned them into headpieces for their festive dress. Who knows if this is true or not.
There have been record breaking rains in Oaxaca which caused massive rock slides on the road. We had to skirt quite a few of these huge rocks that had settled in the middle of the highway. To the other side of the rocks is a sheer drop making this journey a little hair raising because of not being sure if a car was coming in the other direction around the curve.
The trip always includes a stop at a Pemex gas station--the only kind that Mexico has--and a Magnum bar or sundae which is the equivalent of a Dove bar.
We passed miles and miles of mountain sides covered with cactus.
We went through several military checkpoints where they were looking for drugs or weapons. At this particular checkpoint, they only glanced in the car, smiled and waved us on. Other times we have to get out and open all our suitcases, etc. while they check in and under the car.
Farther down in the isthmus we began to see banana trees such as this one.
All of the military checkpoints, rock slides and curvy mountain roads were worth it when we looked out the window at these gorgeous views. At this point we were either in or above the clouds.

What a wonderful world God created!