Tesguino…my first shot.

2 Responses on “Tesguino…my first shot.”

1. Richard Loya Molina says:

   February 19, 2011 at 1:48 pm

   My name is Richard “Loya” Molina from Ca. USA. My great grand fathers last name of (Loya) and grandmothers where I believe, the 1st settlers of Cuiteco. My understanding is that they were the ones that started the name and town of Cuiteco out side the Tarahumara natives. They owned over 2,000 acres in the area and where well-known at that time. I was hoping that you may have some pictures of Cuiteco that you may what to share with me or any other assistance to my great and grandfather’s history.
   Cuiteco is a small town but it hits home if you know what I mean.

   Thank you

   Richard Molina

   02-19-11

2. David Christian Newton says:

   July 12, 2012 at 3:09 pm

   Richard Loya Molina:
   We ran excursions all along the Chihuahua al Pacifico during the 1970s through the 1997 period. During my time setting up the excursions, Cuiteco, more than any other place…including Cerocahi, Urique, Batopilas, and the outlying areas, struck my fancy. Various parts of my family had lived, ranched, farmed, and enjoyed life in Mexico, but primarily in the State of Vera Cruz area. They had a ranch up against the Sierra Madre there, much as I have a much smaller finca just north of there now. They were active in the 1880s and 1890s.
   In any regard, Cuiteco was a haunting place, in a positive sense. The people were not cowed and they still were not really familiar with lanky Texan gringos who spoke Spanish. But they were very…affable. Very complacent about taking care of me. The little community was weathered, but it was strikingly cleaned and brushed up. No litter. The little homes and the few larger rough-framed houses were straight and solid. Many houses had well glazed windows….sparkling clean….with neat home-made curtains.
   The children followed me around. “Where are the apple and pear orchards that I see from the train”, and an 8 year old squirt motions me to follow….we walk a hundred yards and there is an extension of ten or twelve groves of about 4 to 5 acres each….well tended. There was even a neat little primary school.
   The children were all bright eyed, shy, yet engaging. The older people were very civilised and attentive to my questions and requests. I stayed there only a couple of times, at essentially a home with a couple of nice rooms to let. Each had a bathroom with running water, and the home-owners made sure I had enough firewood for the night….cold even in Summer. The meals were excellent, and they bent over backwards to show me the sights, the water falls, the Canyon’s edge, and such things. The girls of the home even dug up my dirty clothes and washed, dried, and ironed everything perfectly.
   For the 3 night’s stay, they charged me the Mexican equivalent of about 22 American dollars, total. It is a place that has always stuck in my mind after a lifetime of travelling thoughout Mexico and other interesting places.
   We could never stay with our groups in Cuiteco because of the lack of space. But the people who went through the Canyon trip on their own and who would stay in Cuiteco would always comment that the whole trip was better than perfect….but that their time at Cuiteco was mystical….their favourite moments.

   The surname Loya does not come to mind. But if you think that there are cousins still there, I would recommend that you make the trip. I am taking my daughter’s in-laws….my compadres…there sometime next summer or autumn during a two or three week survey of the Canyon and then on to Mazatlan. We would all be coming from the east side since we are from Texas….

   We wish we could be more helpful. Perhaps some recollection or notes will turn up something more relevant to your family.
   David Christian Newton