The People
Jilo and 500 Pesos
I drop by Jilo Mancinas’ little hovel of a house in Areponapuchi. The front area serves as a garden, grazing area for Jilos ponies and parking for his beat up little pickup. Jesinia comes to the door. The pure beauty of this little girl flows. She and her sister Daniela live here with there parents. [...]
Full StoryWalk Across Juarez
Walk Across What??? Juarez seems to be the LAST place any sane person would chose to even go to, let alone walk across. Most people assume that my body will end up filled with bullets, decapitated, and hung from some bridge with a scrawled cartel note tied to it. But the actual situation and [...]
Full StoryMennonites Country in Chihuahua
Mennonites near Copper Canyon There are some 80,000 Mennonites in Mexico, most of them in Chihuahua. The largest concentration is around Cuauhtemoc. This area is right along the CHEPE train to Copper Canyon and also is traversed by a very serviceable road. History The immigration of these folks mainly from Canada began in 1922 whena deal [...]
Full StoryThe Tarahumara Baskets…Amazing
There are several crafts which the Tarahumara in Copper Canyon produce- some just for their use and most for sale to tourists. There are fabric and woven goods. There are some musical instruments. Often you will see some youngsters who have picked up agates or other special rocks and are making some change selling them. [...]
Full StoryWe give back…a new laptop for a student in Chihuahua!
One of my main guides on Copper Canyon tours is Alfredo Murillo. People love his skill, humor, insight into culture, etc. Due to reduced tourism trade in Mexico, the Murillo family has been hit hard financially. They have one son in college ( third year of architecture school) and one starting next year. Alfredo mentioned [...]
Full StoryOne of our guides with some local culture.
One of our best on Copper Canyon tours is Alfredo Murillo, a long time professional guide and resident of Chihuahua City. Recently we were kicking back in Casas Grandes and he began to imitate the propane sellers driving the streets of Chihauhua advertising their goods. This is just one of the “value added” parts of [...]
Full StoryPottery Firing at Mata Ortiz
Mata Ortiz pottery is so unique and captivating. Much of the cultural draw is in the fact that it is all produced by local, non-gallery townsfolk in the tiny village of Mata Ortiz, nearCasas Grandes. So you walk from house to house around town-Juan Quezada is realy the only one with a gallery- and get [...]
Full StoryOur Lady of Guadalupe in Creel
The Virgin of Guadalupe is Mexico’s most important saint and is the center of many religious festivities. The Our Lady of Guadalupe festivities happen around December 12 and are the beginning of the Christmas season. Recently we came into Creel in Copper Canyon – actually we hardly ever go to Creel because it is a [...]
Full StoryOne More Enthusiatic Guest in Copper Canyon
Time after time people have these life changing experinces in the rich culture of the Sierra Madres.’This is what makes our work so much fun!
Full StoryThe Incredible Food in Copper Canyon
Most people know little of the unique foods of northern Mexico- called norteño food. It is hearty, simple, often stock based, and it varies a great deal. The variety stems from the fact that there are several distinct cultures in the Sierra Madres. There is the historic ranch culture and from this strain comes the [...]
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