Aventuras en La Huasteca Potosina

One of the most beautiful weeks during my 2013 trip to Mexico, was spent in the state of San Luis Potosi's huasteca region. 

Starting the journey from Aguascalientes in a bronze 2-door Chevy hatchback my husband Miguel Angel, his sister Marisela, her husband Leonardo and I rode toward the state of San Luis and for several miles all we saw was vast and open road. 

La Media Luna 

After driving for about four hours and having numb butt cheeks; our first stop was at La Media Luna in the town of Rio Verde.  Never had I seen a spring of water so crystal clear with a turqoise hue that made me forget the stomach ache I had and run to get my bathing suit. This is where we met my husband's tocallo or name-same, Miguel Angel.  A middle aged Mexican man that greeted us and told us about his life having grown up just minutes away from La Media Luna Springs.  He told us that the water had an excess of certain minerals and that many locals believed them to be healing waters.  Many tourists scuba dive in this spring since it is quite deep and as you go down further you can see the plants with many different colors.  It is a good place for people scuba diving for the first time since there aren't any strong currents or vermin, the water is warm and very clear.  We stayed several hours, swam, ate and conversed with locals.  We had to leave before dark so that we could make it to our next stop where we were planning to camp and stay the night.  

Tamasopo

When we arrived in the town of Tamasopo we bought beer to cool down from the humid heat that had all of us feeling extremely sweaty and sticky.  After that pit stop all we wanted to do was find a campsite and settle in.  Luckily we found one where the owner of the site was from none other than the city of Aguascalientes where we were coming from!  He was very hospitable and even helped us set up our tent.  By then the mosquitoes had begun to eat me alive.  For dinner that night we didn't have the most fancy meal, but we had such and wonderful day that even those instant noodles and roasted corn tasted great.  That night as soon as my face hit the pillow I fell asleep.  At some point in the middle of the night we heard a loud noise, which to several of us (for some reason) sounded like a propeller. Miguel asked, "What is that loud noise? It sounds like it's getting closer!"  Then Marisela said, "It's a helicopter!" As soon as she said that we all bolted up out of our sleeping bags and began to run around inside of the tent.  After about a minute of insanity we heard a train whistle. Leonardo said, "It's a train." At that point we all felt stupid but were too tired to talk about it so we went back to sleep. The next morning we had breakfast at a nearby mom and pop shop where they sold quesadillas and fresh squeezed orange juice, quite an upgrade from our dinner.  We ate a lot, since we knew it was going to be a long and busy day.

Puente de Dios

In the same town of Tamasopo, we went to the main attraction which is Puente de Dios.  You can expect quite a hike and to go through a series of stairs- downward to get to the waterfall and then to the area where you can swim.  The current was strong so there were some ropes that people could hold on to so that youdon't  get tired so quickly.  The turqoise water is breathtaking and on the other side of the roped area there is a tunnel like cave, if you cross it you then reach a more serene area where there is no current and you can swim and dive into the water since it is quite deep. We stayed there for a few hours until our fingers and toes were pruney and we got very hungry. We hiked up what seemed to be a thousand rock stairs and headed to the campsite to pack up our stuff and head on to our last stop. We left Tamasopo very greatful that we had met such hospitable people and had a lot of fun in just a day and a half.     

Xilitla 

After 3 days on the road, we had reached our final destination: the town of Xilitla which is located on the South Eastern part of that state of San Luis Potosi. Here we visited several places- all of which I recommend. After getting to know the town of Xilitla and eating some charcoal grilled chicken we settled into our Tipi at Casa Caracol, where we were going to stay a few nights. After that we wanted to swim so we went to Las Pozas where we quickly found out that in May, the water is ice cold! That wasn't a deterrent for Miguel who was in the water before we even had a chance to think about it. I passed on taking a dip, besides it was very close to where we were staying- I figured that if I changed my mind we could go back. The Gardens of Edward James were such an amazing place. I believe we paid an enterance fee but it was very worth it. You can expect to see abstract and surreal structures from concrete, metal, wood and of cousrse beautiful plants throughout the gardens with hidden waterfalls at different points, a great place to take photos.  We later found out that this was the setting of Mexican singer Yuri's "Invencible" music video. That afternoon we drove down the road to check out La Cuevas del Salitre we hiked downward to reach the bottom of the cave. While Miguel ran down, Marisela and I took our time and to be honest I was freaking out at some points where the rocks turned into dirt and it was very steep. I would definitely say that this hike isn't for everyone- if you love adventure, have decent balance and don't mind getting a lot of dirt under your fingernails then you'll love it! If not, stay on the outside part of the cave, you can take some very cool photos or be prepared to take your time going down like I did. The next day we went to las Cuevas y senderos Mantetzulel. We hiked for about 40 minutes passing the homes of people who spoke the local dialect and some also spoke Spanish we heard a mix of both; a very cool experience. Throughout our hike several ladies offered to sell us vanilla, cinnamon and mushroom tacos. The hike was a bit tiring but very much worth the sweat. The caves were vast and very dark at certain junctures where it felt freezing, and you could see the ridges in the rock formation which showed how old the caves were as was explained to us by the 17-year-old tour guide David who spoke both the local dialect and Spanish and was very helpful in being our interpreter with some of the people on the mountain. It was awesome and inspiring to see how preserved their land and culture was. 

Tamul 

Our last stop, as we cumulatively had about $1,000 pesos left was the town of Tamul where the main attraction was the waterfall or Cascadas de Tamul. We took a pontoon boat from the bay into the area where the waterfall was, the water was a bit brown and quite murky but there were a lot of people from all over Mexico since we went on a Saturday and it was a very fun boat ride. Once we got to the waterfall we were told that at that time of the year (mid May) it was quite dry so we didn't see much of a waterfall which was disappointing but also a bit expected since we were told the same thing at Puente de Dios where during other times of the year there are many waterfalls. So in Tamul we swam in el cenote for a few hours until we had to get back on the pontoon boat to head back. At that point we knew we were very low on funds and the nearest ATM was over an hour away. So we negotiated with a local restaurant owner and he rented us two rooms at his adjacent inn at $150 pesos each and since we had bought skirt steak at a local butcher shop but he shop he offered to cook it for us and just charged us only for rice. We encountered an angel is what we all thought, he asked that we just tell people to continue to visit the huasteca region and respect the people and the land that was enough for him.  To this man and the wonderful people of Tamul I dedicate this blog.  

All in all, an amazing experience. If you are planning to visit Mexico for the first time or have only gone to where your relatives live please don't think that Mexico is just Cancun and other such overrated tourist attractions. I wholeheartedly recommend visiting the Huasteca Region in the state of San Luis Potosí; a magical place that will leave you in awe of its natural resources and wonderful people. 

Viva Aguascalientes'n! - Top 10 places to visit

Aguascalientes, AGS is located in central Mexico and is mostly known for its cock fights, la famosa Feria de San Marcos, and it's warm residents also known as Hidrocalidos.   

Having married an hidrocalido, I have come to know and love this city.  My husband is living in Aguascalientes while we adjust his immigration status so that he can legally return to the U.S. During this time, I have discovered the great degree of resilience and strength that our partnership is made of as I resume our life, without him, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin which is where we once called home.  Earlier in my blog, I wrote about our lives being a lot like a tale of two cities. This is our current reality due to the broken immigration system that separates families not just through devastating deportations, but also through processes like mine; we are one of thousands of couples that have to endure separations that are not on our terms, but on those of a failed system.  Making the best out of a bad situation, I travel to Aguascalientes as much as I can. This blog reflects my top 10 places in Aguas, where Miguel and I have created memories, laughed, reflected, cried, and dreamt of better days.  The following are places I wholeheartedly recommend if you ever find yourself in the beautiful city of Aguascalientes. 

1. Cerro del Picacho - Also known as "El cerro del muerto," this is the place to visit if you are into hiking! Rated by the National Geographic as one of the top 10 places to watch a sunset, this place is a true gem.  You can see it from many parts of the city where it appears as the silhouette of a man laying on his back.  As you can see, my husband Miguel is quite the adventurous photographer!  The above picture was taken when we hiked to the feet (one end of the vast hill).  If you walk more toward the middle you can find a waterfall certain times of the year.

















2. Birria del Mercado Juarez - Goat meat is quite the delicacy in Aguascalientes, and this place is where the locals go to get the best of it! Located downtown, this mercado has the best birria that I have tasted in the 10 different Mexican states where Miguel and I have ventured!




















3. Jardin de San Marcos - This a staple in the city, a very typical place to take a stroll with family, and ideal if you are with your significant other.  During the "Feria de San Marcos," one the largest festivals in the country, this garden is decorated with the theme of the year.  My husband's fondest memory is when he was 7 years old, young women would go around the plaza and young men would court them by wrapping them in "Serpentinas" or give them a rose if they wanted to ask for a date.  His role in all of this was to stand behind bushes and throw eggs at the young couples...

4. Restaurante La Saturnina - one of the oldest restaurant in the city of Aguascalientes, where Miguel and I had our wedding day brunch, and where my father in law had his first job; La Saturnina is a special place for our family.  Besides my personal reasons, this place has delicious food, a lunch buffet and is located on a street with a lot of great shops and museums. 
























5. Museo de la Muerte - In Mexican culture (and several other Latin American countries), death is perceived quite differently than in the United States.  Death is inevitable and this museum takes you through the different ways this reality is displayed in Mexican culture.  It was neat to learn about the origins of the traditions and see local artwork that tells stories of Mexicans and their encounters with La Calaca. This museum is free, fun and across the street from El Parian.

6. Parque Ecologico Heroes Mexicanos - This is a place that you should plan to visit for a few hours.  A popular location for field trips, El Parque Heroes has a lot to offer.  From the beautiful gardens, paddle boating, tandem bike riding, La Casa de Juan Chavez, and the mini city of Aguascalientes, this park is very fun!  A great activity for those with children but also for us big kids :) 




















7. El Ocote - A municipality just outside of the city, El Ocote is a place of wonders.  The beautiful lagoon and the Pinturas Rupestres (pre-historic prints) draw people to come and explore in the stories left by our ancestors.

8. Expoplaza - For those that know me, you know I like to party! So this is the place that Miguel and I visit most Friday and Saturday nights when I'm in Aguascalientes.  During the day there are shops, restaurants and a movie theatre that you could check out.  At night there are bars, and clubs all along the strip.  During La Feria de San Marcos, this place is packed all day and night with special concerts, tamboras, and hundreds of Mexican artifacts.  Another neat thing about the Plaza is that you can see the Torero pop out of the clock on the hour every hour!

9. Isla de San Marcos - A place to visit only during the time of La Feria de San Marcos.  They have livestock, restaurants, music, and even a little zip line! A very fun place visit during the day and some evenings when there are concerts.

10. Yolihuani Temazcales - A temazcal is a type of sweat lodge which originated with pre-Hispanic Indigenous populations.  The word temazcal comes from the Nahuatl word temazcalli which means house of heat, and in Aguascalientes the Yolihuani Temazcales spa is definitely a place to visit! Affordable, away from the loud and busy city- this is where you go if you need to relax.  Their mud baths are the best!