It was foggy this morning as we left Creel. Our first stop was to see a cave home that was still occupied by a local Tarahumara Indian. She was not there but her son had opened the “home” so we could see it. It was indeed a cave that has been used as a home for who knows how long. There is no electricity and heat/cooking was from a wood burning stove. In this day and age it was a real eye opener.
A foggy morning as we left Creel. This is a statue of a Tarahumara Indian at the roundabout at the edge of town.
The path to the cave home of a local Tarahumara.
Approaching the home located in a rock cave. That is the access door.
We were welcome to enter the home. It was spartan.
The son of the home owner was selling locally made items outside the cave.
Leaving there we soon found ourselves on a dirt road heading to a site Christopher and Abraham wanted us to see. Because of the fog the scenery around us was a bit eerie as we passed fenced fields. We soon arrived at a very old chapel, seemingly in the middle of nowhere. It is the mission church of San Ignacio de Arareco, built by the Jesuits in the 18th century to serve the nearby small Tarahumara village. There are no pews in the church, only benches on each wall; men sat on one side, women on the other.
Traversing a dirt road lined with fences like these- made with tree branches.
The Jesuit mission church of San Ignacio de Arareco, built in the 18th century.
No pews inside the church, only benches against the side walls.
Locally made ladders.
An elderly Tarahumara woman sitting outside the church.
An eerie graveyard located across from the church.
Nearby are a series of rock formations that seemed out of place given what the rest of the area looked like. One is famously known as the “frog”; I had to agree with its name.
Translation says “Valley of Frogs”.
Why this area is called the valley of frogs.
My Kodak moment for the day.
More rock formations in this area.
There were a scattering of homes in the area.
We saw miles and miles of the fences throughout our journey so far.
More rock formations.
A scene I liked.
A balancing rock formation.
The next stop was at a nearby pristine lake, Lake Arareko, for some picture taking. Since it is a common stop there were some local Tarahumara ladies selling their wares to those who stop to admire the scenery.
The fog was gone by the time we left the mission church area.
We saw many people walking along the train tracks. There are only a few trains so it is relatively safe.
Lake Arareco with a lovely reflection on the still waters.
Tarahumara ladies set up booths to sell local art & crafts wherever they expect people to stop.
Business was slow this morning so she was grabbing a quick snooze in the warm sun.
Then it was on to our final stop for the day, the Hotel Mirador, overlooking Copper Canyon. We had no warning what to expect until we arrived at the hotel and stepped out onto the deck overlooking the canyon. It was truly an “OMG” moment; it is simply a breathtaking vista. This is why we came! It was certainly worth the 469 miles that took 11.5 hours of driving time to reach this location. And the good news was we would be spending two nights here, sightseeing in the area before moving deeper into the canyon complex by train.
Translation: Copper Canyon!
This is why we came! Our first view of Copper Canyon.
Vendors outside the hotel lobby. They are there every morning to greet incoming guests. They leave when the guests leave.
We made it to Copper Canyon.
Literally dozens of hummingbirds feeding outside the hotel patio.
Marvelous carved door at the hotel.
Surprisingly the internet here was great! Gerry doing some last minute work.
Pre lunch cocktail on the hotel deck.
The perfunctory soup at lunch!
Chicken mole enchilada.
More carved doors at the banquet room.
Artwork in the hotel lobby.
After lunch at the hotel we were free to roam the property or simply sit on the balcony of our rooms in rocking chairs and take in the vistas before us. It was simply marvelous!
Elevation at Hotel Mirador in Copper Canyon.
Our room was tastefully decorated.
Ultra modern bath.
Our hotel room with the “drop dead” balcony view.
Relaxing on our balcony with my feet up! What a view!
The view keeps changing as the sun moves across the sky.
Using a telephoto lens to capture a native woman returning with material to weave baskets.
Late afternoon shadows on the canyon walls.
Sunset at the canyon
A Tarahumara family watching the sunset from a distant ledge.
Another sunset view.. The sun was behind us so the views changed quickly.
A set dinner was held at the hotel but we gathered ahead of time for a sampling of local wines, which turned out to be pretty darn good!
