Interior Mexico - an adventure

On March 15, 2006 Nelda and I, and my brother Arthur and his wife Jean started on an adventure into interior Mexico that has enriched our lives. We spent two weeks touring with Grand Circle and were able to visit a multitude of locations. I was especially pleased that we were not led, exclusively, to the tourist traps. We had some of those, but we also delved into the depths of the country, and saw how many of the natives live. We went through the City of Chihuaha, and the desert country that was so remote that the homes did not have sanitation or running water.

It was a picture taking experience as well as being exposed to Mexican culture. I took many pictures as well as video.

so far, I have put about 10 pictures of our Mexico trip on my Pbase site:
> http://www.pbase.com/nardone

I'll be putting more on very soon. I was unselective and hastily put them on the site. I know that I have not put the best ones on yet - I need to review them all on a full screen and be more selective. I had a lot of fun taking them, and then working them over.

It was a super experience. San Carlos is a fabulous place. The hotel in El Fuerte is a photographer's dream. Copper Canyon was well worth the effort of getting there (but not as grand as the Grand Canyon). The local people, and the culture of the people, as presented by their humble homes, dirt streets, and dirt floors in the homes, lack of basic sanitary facilities, running water, etc. was an experience that I will not soon forget. Everyone that we encountered were pleasant, generous, and welcomed us. If there was any hostility to "tourist picture taking", it was not evident.

We saw extremes in housing that were in contrast to each other and, unless explained, would have been a mystery. The Mormons have settled huge areas of interior Mexico and have planted orchards that seem to run from horizon to horizon. They fill the hills and valleys. The Mexican natives obviously supply the labor, and the Mormons supply the intellect. It must be also mentioned that the Mormons have also set up school systems that are as impressive as any Stateside scholastic institution. The schools are open to the native Mexicans as well as the Mormons. In one picture I have captured the Mormon Temple with a magnificent home in the background, with a small apple orchard in the front yard of this elegant home. I tried to capture as many contrasting architectural and cultural situations as possible. For example, there were many native dwellings that had no glassed windows, a dirt floor, no curtains, no doors, were made from adobe, etc. - but there would be a Dish antenna on the straw covered roof.

In Chihuaha we went to a Farmers market that had, among many, many oddities, a skinned out and dessicated skunk for sale. We were told that it is used as a medicine for a variety of ills. In contrast to that we went to a multi-colored water fountain display at night that was choreographed to Classical music - the fountains were played like a ballet to the synch of the music. Unbelievable - and they played many of my favorite pieces. I got many stills but no video. What a shame.

In the high rent district of San Carlos there is a profusion of multi-million dollar homes, with many of them overhanging the water, and the rest having a fabulous view of the mountains that come down, directly to the water. A principal mountain in the San Carlos harbor has been nicknamed "Goat's Tits" and when you see the picture, you'll know why.

The pearl farm was also of great interest. I took some super pix of pearl seed, and the colorful interior of the pearl oyster shell. Every bit as pretty as the pearl. We also saw exquisite pottery being painted and then fired. A new experience.

I could go on and on, but the pictures will have to speak for themselves. I only regret that I am not at a broadband connection where I could upload pictures to my hearts content. I will also go back to the Pbase site and add explanatory comments.

In all, I took 320 still pictures, Nelda took about 130, and I took 3 1/2 hours of video. I have many more excellent photo's to put on Pbase. Stay tuned, and give the site a bookmark.