Chance to explore music and mines in nearby Pozos
By Susan Montana January 18, 2008 San Miguel de Allende

Trip Mineral de Pozos Sat, Jan 26, 9am Departing at 9am 150 pesos (bus), 150 pesos (tour)

The Tourism and Culture Association of Mineral de Pozos celebrates the New Year in an old way, with a guided walking tour of the centuries-old mining complexes, and a concert of pre-Hispanic music. 

On Saturday, January 26, the festival commences at the Jardin Principal at 10am in front of Casa Mexicana. Accompanied by a professional bilingual guide, Bill Lieberman, participants will board a tour bus for Cinco Señores, one of the most important and well known of the over 150 one-time mines.

Next stop is nearby El Triangulo, a site familiar to movie-goers having been used as a location of many feature films and television shows. After a break for refreshments and snacks, the tour will continue with other stories and legends of Pozos in its heyday.

Photographers from around the world wander the high plains of Pozos for the experience of capturing images in the abandoned ruins, surrounded by maguey cactus and vistas that include the foothills of the Sierra Gordas.

The time spent at each location will allow for photography and visitors are encouraged to bring still or video cameras.

It isn’t only the visuals that are exquisite in these settings; the ancient stone walls lend themselves to an acoustic ambience that is perfect for the drums, whistles and voices of the group Corazón Endiosado.

Known throughout the state and region, Pozos’ own Marco and Fernando Sanchez Garcia and Monica and Georgina Ugalde Garcia perform interpretations with ancient Mexican musical instruments. A concert of the haunting and harmonious sounds of their ancestors created on instruments hand hewn by the group will be performed in the ruins of El Triangulo. The concert will begin in El Triangulo after the last tour, around 1pm. Extra time is allowed for lunch or to visit artisans and galleries before the bus returns leaves Pozos at 4:30pm (arriving in San Miguel at 5:30pm). For driving directions from San Miguel, Querétaro and other cities, call Casa Montana at (442) 293-0033.

Round-trip tickets for bus transportation, departing from Liverpool parking lot at 9am in San Miguel, are 150 pesos per person. Tickets for the tour, which includes guide, chaperones, refreshments and concert, are 150 pesos available at Pergola Gallery, inside the Instituto Allende, as well as Galeria 19. All proceeds benefit the Mineral de Pozos Tourism and Culture Association.

While chaperones will accompany the group to ensure safety and comfort, this tour is not recommended for small children. While not overly strenuous, comfortable walking or hiking shoes, a sunhat and sunglasses are suggested. Also, be advised that at this time of year, Pozos with its altitude of 7,500 ft. can experience both summer and winter weather within a two-hour time period. Murphy’s Law and Pozos locals say “If it can snow, it will,” meaning wear lightweight layers, and bring a jacket.












Learning more about sustainability
By Betsy Bowman

Center for Global Justice Trip
CEDESA, Dolores Hidalgo
Sat, Jan 26, 9am–4pm
Calzada de la Luz 42
400 pesos

CEDESA (Centro para el Desarrollo Social y Agropecuaria) in Dolores Hidalgo was founded about 40 years ago by the Roman Catholic priest Father Memmo. It helps campesinos in the Dolores Hidalgo area survive and prosper on the land.

The answers to the question of what people need to know to live off the land were different 50 or 25 years ago. Today we know more about agriculture, water recycling and sanitation, and we also know about international competition in the agriculture market thanks to NAFTA. A community’s success in living off the land directly impacts the number of young people who emigrate north.

Since 2000, CEDESA has been building a model sustainable housing unit complete with rainwater collection, recycled water, a home garden plot for raising vegetables with natural fertilizers, nopal greenhouse, dry toilets and passive solar construction. These new sustainable techniques are helping local campesinos live off the land. The goal for CEDESA and campesino families is that no family member be compelled by necessity to leave the area and emigrate north to help the family survive. CEDESA not only is building a model for sustainable campo living, but they are working to help individual families incorporate sustainable features into their homes.

The Center for Global Justice hopes to contribute to CEDESA by introducing solar water heaters and solar stoves, which use very small amounts of combustible material.

The center’s visit to CEDESA costs 400 pesos for transportation, entrance to CEDESA, lunch, translation and guides. Please meet at 9am at the Center’s office, Calzada de la Luz 42, in Centro. Tickets available at the office Monday–Friday, 9am–1pm. Call 150-0025 for more information.

Betsy Bowman was a co-founder of the Center for Global Justice in San Miguel.