COPPER CANYON TRIP, Chihuahua, Mexico, Part 2: Guest Post by Susan Kean

Descending into Copper Canyon.

In January, my friend Susan Kean and her partner George took a ten-day Road Scholar trip to Copper Canyon in Chihuahua, Mexico--a canyon three times greater than the Grand Canyon in the United States. She has graciously agreed to share her thoughts and photos about the trip. Here is the second half of her two-part report.

At the top of Copper (cobre) Canyon.

This morning we left Divisadero on the top of the canyon and drove down a very twisty road to Batopilas, stopping on the way in a restaurant run by the local indigenous people--the Tarahumara.

Restaurant on the way to Batopilas.

We had delicious chile relleno served with beans and rice and I loved the beautifully decorated china. The mural shows the cave house where the indigenous folks live.The motel/ restaurant has no electricity by choice. They use hurricane lamps and fires for heating.

Tarahumara woman along the side of the road.

There were lots of rocks on the road at various spots. In the worst spots the driver checked the hillside to make sure none were rolling down on us!!!

View of Copper Canyon from the toilet stop. Note narrow winding road into the canyon.

 
The toilet stop on the way was an outhouse with a long drop down to the canyon floor if you missed a step! This trip is not for sissies. Walking at 7000 feet in freezing cold to go and see a waterfall was tough for me at this stage of my life. Lots of steps, no railings. I used my stick and George!

Bedroom and lounge area in the hotel in Batopilas.

Batopilas is an absolutely beautiful town. Our hotel is a 19th Century hacienda with amazing rooms and vintage bathtubs. Not sure about that!

Vintage bathrub.

At dinner we were told about the amazing history of Batopilas. Silver has made the town rich.

Early the next morning we said goodbye to Copper Canyon

COPPER CANYON TRIP, Chihuahua, Mexico, Part 1: Guest Post by Susan Kean

Chihuahua, Mexico.

In January my friend Susan Kean and her partner George took a ten-day Road Scholar trip to Copper Canyon in Mexico, a canyon four times greater than the Grand Canyon in the United States. She has graciously agreed to share her thoughts and photos about the trip.

Our trip to Copper Canyon, Mexico, began in El Paso, Texas, where we met our bus to take us to the border. We crossed through at the Santa Teresa crossing, about 20 miles from El Paso. All very peaceful and easy.

Pancho Villa. Always on a horse.

One of Pancho Villa's many saddles.

Our bus then drove us to Chihuahua--a rich town developed thanks to the silver trade. On arrival, our first stop was the Pancho Villa Museum, which is housed in his home. His wife lived there until 1980 (She was much younger than he was.)

Decor inside house. Picture of Pancho Villa.

Beautiful citrus in courtyard.

Pancho Villa is seen in a lot of different lights but he was the leader of the Mexican Revolution in the northern part of Mexico. He went on to become mayor of Chihuahua. He was shot in his car in 1923.

Car where Pancho Villa was shot.

Mural of Revolution depicting woman revolutionary at the Pancho Villa Museum in Chihuahua.

Many women fought for the Revolution, often dressed as men so they could fight. We learned they tried out different forms of Government after the Revolution and settled for Democracy

Early the next morning we took a walking tour of downtown Chihuahua before heading to the Canyon.

Municipal buildings in downtown Chihuahua in the early morning.

Cathedral in Chihuahua.

As near as we came to an actual chihuahua.

Note: Part 2 will post next week.