Day 14

Breakfast



On the road again. Breakfast at 8 and on the bus at 9. Only 45 km to Divisadero but as Sergio Gonzales, our guide said, it is seems like 100 km with all the curves and switchbacks.



View from Divisadero



Our first picture opportunity came at Rio Ortero overlook and as we turned off the highway the dirt road was very wide, smooth and went for probably a quarter of a mile. There were large boulders placed all over the road except for two narrow lanes. Sergio told us that the military placed the rocks so that drug dealers could not land small aircraft.



Tarahumara child dresses in traditional clothing

We eventually reached the overlook and of course there were a number of Tarahumara venders selling their wares. The items were reasonably priced and several people in our group bought baskets. Everywhere we stopped there were always lots of Tarahumara children and we all would stop and take pictures of them and give them candy. Our pockets were always kept full of candy for as soon as we stopped anywhere the word would spread like wildfire. Children would come out of the bushes on the run. It may also have been the maroon Adventure Caravan jackets that the company gave us to wear that tipped them off. Some of them were very cute. They would take candy in one hand then go to the next person in our group and show an empty hand to get more or they would stuff their pockets and show both empty hands.



Hotel Mirdor



After a few pictures we went on to the Divisadero overlook where we could also see some of the Urique Canyon. What a view! The day was overcast therefore we didn't get the full benefit of the different colours in the rock but we didn't have to worry about the sun reflecting on the lens of our cameras and we could get great pictures in any direction. Today was the first day since we entered Mexico that we did not have a totally blue sky.

           

The overlooks were not enough for some of us who had to take the cable car deep into the canyon where we were able to get a glimpse of the Urique River.

           

Back in Divisadero we had a picnic lunch near the suspension bridge, which most of us crossed for more photo opportunities.

       

We then went to the hotel where unfortunately we had to say goodbye to our good friend and guide Sergio as he and Cesar, our driver had completed their tours of duty and were returning to Creel.

           

Our luxury hotel was the Hotel Mirador which is perched on the edge of the Divisadero Canyon. It is a beautiful hotel with excellent views of the canyon from the dining room, lounge, and patio and of course, each and every room.

As soon as we checked into our rooms most of us went for a guided canyon trail walk. This route followed one of the Tarahumara trails from the hotel, part way into the canyon where we encountered a group of Tarahumara cave dwellers. There were a couple of homes and a new one under construction and we were told that six families were living there. From this vantage point we could see other homes a short distance away. The trail continued on and eventually went back to the top of the canyon. We walked for about an hour and took quite a few more pictures, especially some good ones of the hotels as we circled back toward it.

            Happy hour was at 6 in the lounge area around the big fireplace. The heat from the fire felt good as it really cools off here when the sun goes down. There was a musician playing a guitar and singing while we sat and discussed our day with our comrades. Dinner at 7 then off to our rooms to prepare for tomorrow. It was too late to sit on the balcony overlooking the canyon and I do mean “overlooking” the canyon for if you were to look straight down over the balcony railing, it's a long way down.

Donna & Paul