Oaxaca
is located 250 miles south of Mexico City in dramatic mountainous
country (Photographs: Lauren Langford)
UltraPath VIII was held at the Victoria Hotel in Oaxaca, a sprawling complex with beautiful terraced grounds and lush gardens strewn with bougainvillea and exotic tropical plants. The hotel, perched on a hill overlooking the valley and city below, is surrounded by the spectacular Sierra Madre mountains.
Oaxaca
is located 250 miles south of Mexico City in dramatic mountainous
country (Photographs: Lauren Langford)
During breakfast on the verandah of the hotel's El Tule Restaurant, attendees enjoyed of exotic, fresh juices, fruits, and Oaxacan delicacies while the valley below awakened to the sunrise over the mountains. Luncheons were served on the grounds below the verandah under a tent set up for the group.
The social program, that was organized by Dr. Hugo Dominguez-Malagon,
began in Mexico City, where at least 55 of the attendees and their
families and friends met at the Calinda Hotel for the bus ride
to Oaxaca. After a stop for recreation and shopping in the village
of Puebla, the busses arrived at the Hotel Victoria in ample time
for the attendees to prepare for the Opening Reception. Here,
we were treated to sumptuous and plentiful food and drink, and
then entertained by a troupe of dancers in 
splendid
authentic native costumes, who performed elaborate, lively dances
depicting their Zapotec and Mixtec indian heritage. During the
performances, the dancers handed out woven hats, baskets, boxes,
brooms, and other favors, including whole ripe pineapples, to
the audience. It was a wonderful welcome for our group, and a
fitting prelude to the scientific program that began the following
morning, and to the remainder of the social program for the week.
Elsa Ramos from Bruce Mackay's lab hosted sightseeing tours to
the archaeological ruins of Mitla and Yagul, and to the Tule Tree,
a huge ahuehuete cypress estimated to be more than 2,000 years
old. She also arranged museum tours and shopping excursions to
the zocalo (heart of the city) and other shopping areas for families
and friends throughout the week while participants attended the
scientific
program. On Tuesday afternoon, the group boarded busses for a
tour of the Monte Alban ruins. Once the holy city of more than
40,000 Zapotecs, Monte Alban is among the most interesting and
well-preserved archaeological ruins in the country. Built about
600 B.C, the city was taken over by the Mixtecs 1,000 years ago
and used as a cemetery of lavish tombs. Over 160 of the tombs
have been excavated, and many of the gold, jade, pearl, and ivory
treasures unearthed are on display in the Regional Museum in Oaxaca.
It was here amid the remains of Monte Alban that the traditional
group photograph of the registrants was taken.
In the evening, participants and guests were treated to a banquet at the Hosteria de Alcala, just off the zocalo. After dinner, many in the group returned to the zocalo to visit the many shops, markets, and museums in the center of town, and to join in the street festivals throughout the main square.
The Gala Dinner, traditionally the highlight of the social program, lived up to its reputation, and then some. The entire group was escorted to the Del Vitral Restaurant in downtown Oaxaca for a real feast. Once the estate home of the Zorilla family, the mansion was used until the early 1960's for official government functions and apartments for visiting government dignitaries. In the mid 60's, the Zorilla family converted the mansion to a restaurant and opened its doors to the public. Today it is one of the most exclusive in the state. We were wined and dined beyond our wildest expectations, and the musicians played beautiful music throughout the evening. After dinner we basked in the splendor of the mansion, had our pictures taken in the garden room against the backdrop of stained glass windows, and finally retired to the streets to join in other evening celebrations.
We owe Hugo Dominguez a huge debt of gratitude for the exceptional
social arrangements for UltraPath VIII in Oaxaca. If you were
unable to attend, you missed one of the most memorable and enjoyable
meetings of the Society. The tradition continues in 1998 in Ashville,
North Carolina, as UltraPath IX is hosted by John Shelburne and
his associates at Duke Universlty Medical Center. John has accepted
the challenge to organize a social program that will uphold the
tradition and rival the good times in Oaxaca, and we know he will
be up to the task. We look forward to seeing you in North Carolina
in 1998.
Memories of Oaxaca