SKU: 88635080796

T. Ramirez - original works on handmade amate paper

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T. Ramirez - original works on handmade amate paperThis is a gorgeous original work on amate paper. T. Ramirez original works on handmade amate paper Though there are a number of Mexican artists who are doing this type of work, Ramirez is one of the top ones around. Some of these works are by him, but we also have some works by other top amate artists from the region. These works are watercolor and ink and measure around 23 x 15" (57 x 37cm.) The tiny Mexican village of San Pablito, found in the

This is a gorgeous original work on amate paper. T. Ramirez - original works on handmade amate paper Though there are a number of Mexican artists who are doing this type of work, Ramirez is one of the top ones around. Some of these works are by him, but we also have some works by other top amate artists from the region. These works are watercolor and ink and measure around 23 x 15" (57 x 37cm.)

The tiny Mexican village of San Pablito, found in the mountains of Puebla, has been making amate bark paper for centuries. The local people are of Otomί ancestry, and continue to practice this ancient tradition of paper making. To the southwest in the State of Guerrero, amate paper is brightly decorated with beautiful scenes depicting everyday life of the villagers, such as the harvest, fiestas, weddings, religious customs and wildlife." When the Spanish banned the paper in Mexico because it was being used for magic and witchcraft, the remote town was one of the few places to preserve the traditional craft. Today, the artisanal paper is highly prized by Mexican folk art enthusiasts, and most households in San Pablito are involved in paper-making and the craft provides a vital source of income for local families. The paper boom has helped reduce poverty in the village and has provided work for papermakers and people who harvest bark throughout the region.

Locals like Trejo González still honor the spiritual and historical significance of the handmade craftpaper. “It’s not just amate paper, there’s a history behind it. We share our knowledge of it with the whole family.”

The paper is made by stripping the bark from a wild fig, nettle or mulberry tree—each tree provides a different tone, ranging from brown to white. The bark is cleaned and dried before it is placed in a pot of boiling water for seven to eight hours. After boiling, the bark is rinsed in clean water and the craftspeople beat the bark using a stone against a wooden board. The paper is sometimes dyed or decorated with flowers or other items.

Before the arrival of Spanish colonizers to Mexico, amate paper was used extensively by the Aztecs. Because of its connection to indigenous religious practices, it aroused suspicion in the conquering Spanish settlers. Thousands of amate manuscripts were destroyed after the invasion, and the use of amate paper was banned because it was deemed to encourage witchcraft.

By the 20th century, the knowledge of how to produce the paper was only being maintained in a few small towns hidden in the mountainous regions of the states of Puebla and Veracruz. The survival of the tradition has always been closely linked to its ritual use and to this day, residents of the village of San Pablito, who speak a dialect of Otomi and learn Spanish as a second language, still believe that amate paper has mystical powers.


The shamans preserved the tradition of paper-making throughout the period when it was prohibited in Mexico. When foreign academics began studying the use of the paper in the mid-20th century, shamans began producing it commercially and there was an explosion of interest in the topic. Mexico City artists began to incorporate the paper into their art and the Mexican government publicized and promoted the unique indigenous craft.


Some info on the paper making process:

https://www.paperslurry.com/2015/07/23/hand-papermaking-in-mexico-amate-paper-traditional-mayan-techniques/

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SKU: 88635080796

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D
Deshrek
West Palm Beach, US
★★★★★ 5
Very beautiful book
Format: Hardcover
It’s not only a tour guide but rather a detail record of the Camino de Santiago history book and the pictures inside this book look so beautiful you may only find in specialized photo albums.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2026
T
The Indie Reviewer
Alexandria, US
★★★★★ 5
Wonderful resource
Format: Hardcover
This spectacular pilgrim guide title Walking the Camino de Santiago, is an excellent production that provides helpful guidance on anything a pilgrim would need to know prior to making this well-known pilgrimage via some not-so-well-known routes and tips. This book stands out in excellence with its simplicity and yet thoroughness in providing chapters on the possible eight pilgrimage routes with history on each one. It provides tips and practical information on things to check out as part of the geographical and cultural landmarks, food, accommodations, etc. The illustrations and photographs in this book make it a stunning work of art and resource. Anyone considering doing this pilgrimage/ retreat would benefit from this book. If nothing else, this book can be gifted to someone considering doing the Camino, and it would make an excellent coffee table conversation starter.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2025
D
David S Ross
Draper, US
★★★★★ 3
Small hardcover: get the Kindle version instead
Format: Hardcover
This is a small format hardcover with 6.5 x 8.5 inch pages. As an armchair traveler I was hoping for more illustrations and I also found the small print, generally small photos and illustrations and the small captions on the illustrations quite frustrating. I would actually recommend the Kindle version instead since it is less expensive and allows you to better expand the illustrations to get a much better view. There’s a good description of eight of the more popular Caminos including the best known “French Way” which stretches almost 500 miles from the French border area to Santiago de Compostole in Western Spain. Learning about the history of the pilgrimage routes which stretches back more than 1000 years was interesting and the maps provide a good general sense of the different routes. The day by day accounts tend to be a bit boring without larger illustrations. This is a decent introduction for someone like me who only thought there was a single Camino de Santiago. Still I wish I had the Kindle version instead of the print version in this case.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2026
P
P. Alley
Cuba, US
★★★★★ 4
Great Book for Choosing a Camino de Santiago Route with Distinctive Descriptions and Photos
Format: Hardcover
This DK travel guide is a little unusual in that it does not primarily focus on the things to see, places to eat, and places to stay, although brief suggestions are included. Instead, the book describes eight main routes of the Camino de Santiago in 2-to-3-day sections, plus some alternate routes and extensions, touching on the scenery and the history of the walk. Suggested cafes and albergues (pilgrim hostels) are relegated to small paragraphs that resemble captions. Arguably there are days when there won’t be much to see or do, just long meditative walks between farm fields or vinyards; also, the rigors of the walk may leave pilgrims too tired to explore much. As the guide says, “you’re not a vacationer, you’re a pilgrim.” Of course, there are helpful tips included, particularly in the back of the book where culture, etiquette, transportation, and training are discussed, but also some trail-specific advice throughout. For example, some routes like the Portuguese route allow for returning to the same hotel for several nights by utilizing trains to access different sections of the route. The distinctiveness of the various routes makes this a helpful book if you’re intrigued but not sure which of the routes would be right for you. You'll be left with a little more work to do to find contact information and seasonal operating hours for the listed places. The layout of the book features lots of pictures, as might be expected for a DK travel book, but the pages are not glossy and there are none of the cutaways and drawings which make DK books so recognizable. The book feels more like an engaging textbook than a typical travel guide. It seems to be an intentional decision not to carry paragraphs across pages, which gives the reader the opportunity to look at the pictures and captions before continuing. There are some artistic details like wavy-line swooshes that overlay the photos and unfortunately often make them look as though something is wrong with the print, but otherwise, the writing, design, and layout make the information very accessible.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2026
S
Siren61
San Leandro, US
★★★★★ 5
Lovely book, tons of information and well organized
Format: Hardcover
This book has a cute retro feel to it, like something from the 70s or 80s that might have been lingering in the school library when I was a kid. Covers a number of different historical routes, broken down by starting point, with different lengths and duration. Each route is broken into managable chunks, with highlights on local foods and culture and sights to see along the way. Good information to help with planning- they do not recommend specific hotels/lodgings (such information could be quickly outdated) but do suggest which towns to stay in and whether or not you need to book there well in advance. They also call out some restaurants by name, well known for local specialties. In all, a very nice resource for anyone planning a pilgrimage and wanting to compare the different routes and learn more about the history.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2025

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