E13 | Ways to School | Israel, Mexico

Israel Ramirez is 13 years old. He and his parents are the only inhabitants of Puerto de la Cruz, a tiny hamlet on the slopes of the Potosí mountain, one of the highest on the Mexican plateau. In this desert region, once an important mining basin, temperatures can reach forty degrees, a climate ideal for harboring dangerous rattlesnakes, scorpions and felines. These are the conditions Israel has to contend with on his way to school, which he travels by bike. His friend Miguel Ángel accompanies him on the two-hour journey. Together, they overcome the dangers of the trail with determination and enthusiasm. There are, however, moments of respite, such as bathing in a reservoir halfway along the way, before they resume their journey towards new knowledge.