Temezcal

So, today our class took a trip to a temezcal, which is located up past Plaza de Los Angeles in the backyard of the owners. Basically, a temezcal is ancient type of sauna that pre-hispanic Mexican tribes used. It is a small, round hut made out of mud and bricks, with a wood-fire oven attached to the outside. Inside is very dark and hot (obviously) and there are corn husks hanging from the low ceiling. There are square rocks around the edges of the hut for people to sit on. In between every two seats are huge clay jars filled with water, for people to refresh themselves with. In the middle of the temezcal are glowing hot rocks that are shoveled in from the outside oven, and smaller pumice stones.

When we got there, we stripped down to our bathing suits and entered the temezcal. It was ungodly hot! Apparently it was 40 degrees (F) hotter than the outside temperature, which was 90. So it was about 130 degrees in there! It felt hard to breathe, and my body became drenched in sweat immediately. In fact, I never knew I could sweat SO much. A shaman guy came in, and explained to us the ritual. We rubbed oil on ourselves, drank some hot cinnamon tea, held hands, and did some chants. Then we rubbed ourselves with salt and aloe, and stewed in there a while longer. Finally, we came out and had some light refreshments. I relaxed in the hammock that was there.

The place was quite beautiful - they had plants and flowers and herbs growing everywhere. Most of the people left, but five of us girls remained. Finally when we left, we walked down the callejones and encountered a cool artsy wall, an adorable baby rat with it's eyes barely opened, and some interesting graffiti.