Devs 310

Einstien's placeWhile in Mexico my younger brother had the opportunity to come down and backpack down the coast of Oaxaca with me. We bummed around various little surf towns before we hit gold, a small hippy surfer town named Mazunte. Arriving in Mazunte is interesing, as there is no bus that passes by the town entrance. Instead, there are small pickup trucks which you can hop in the back of along with many other backpackers, Mexicans, gear, dogs, groceries etc. etc. for a winding ride to the town. My brother was terrified by the number of passangers which were crammed on, and was so happy when we put are feet back on the ground. We perused various hostels until we came to the last one on the beach... Einsteins.

Intriguied by the picture of a messy, curly white haired, drooping ear pierced, grinning, pirate/grandpa looking man, we decided to check it out. The accomodations were shit (literally, nobody had dumped the bucket of water to flush the toilet before we arrived leaving a mound of pooh), we were sold by the easy going atmosphere, view of the beach, cheapness and above all EINSTEIN, the man on the poster who was on the deck to greet us and greet us he did. "Velcom Velcom!! Ver are you from?!" as went his english. He presented us with welcoming shots of coffee mezcal (a potent liqour from oaxaca) and began to tell us his stories. This man is something straight out of the movies. He is a pirate through and through... he even has the wooden crutch, bandana and told us about his now dead parrot. My favourite story of the afternoon though was of his knee operation. After explaining to us in full detail the procedure, he showed us a special necklace he had made for him.... OF HIS KNEE CAPS!!! No joke, this man wore the pieces of his old knees around his neck in a very heavy necklace!

Tipsy from the numerous mezcal our host had served us, my brother and I headed down to the beach from some swimming, snorkling and skin boarding. I quickly learned that trying to skin board for the first time, with a buzz on, results in bruises and loosing parts of your bikini!

Late in the afternoon we hiked barefoot to Punta Cometa, the most southern point on the Oaxaca coast to watch the sunset. There were many other tourists who had accumulated to watch the show. It was the most amazing, magical sunset of my life. No one spoke the entire time as everyone was consumed with their own thoughts. After it finished, for about 10 minutes, even as people started walking home, no one spoke. The moment could not be captured by the best of photographers.

The day ended, back at the hostel with Einstein and some travelling buddies having a drumming jam session. Einstein has an extensive collection of drums which he pulls out every night, teaching his visitors how to play. As everything this man does, it was entertaining and full of laughter.

This was only one of many great days I spent in Mazunte. I recommend Mazunte and Einstein's to all easy going, adventure seeking, backpackers trucking through Mexico.
http://www.carlos-einstein.com/esp/hostel/mazunte.html