26 25.37 N, 108 37.26 W
This morning after breakfast, Cesar met us and we drove to the Mirador del Rio Otero. Mirador is viewpoint in Spanish. After we turned off the road we drove down what used to be an airstrip, which is covered now by occasional rocks and branches. Apparently it was used for illegal activities and the police put in the rocks to discourage any pilot from landing there. After driving down the field we came to the view point and there was a Tarahumura woman with her children with tables of goods to sell to anyone who came to the view point. Phoebe and I bought a few items. Cesar led us down a path to the cliff side and we came to what we thought was just a large rock. On closer inspection we saw a small set of stairs on one side leading down underneath the rock. Under the rock there is a cave that an elderly Tarahumura woman had enclosed with a wall of boards, some still covered with bark and a door with a padlock. She was not a home but we were able to look around. She has a fantastic view looking directly across the canyon. A short distance away she has an outhouse. We were thankful we had the opportunity to see an example of the cave dwelling of the Tarahumura but we are sorry we were unable to meet the resident which is a friend of Cesar.
Our next stop was Divisadero and the Copper Canyon adventure park. It costs $15 pesos a person to enter the park. We went to see miradors or viewpoints, including the Balancing Rock. This rock is on top of a shear rock outcrop and it rocks back and forth. Daring tourist 'rock' the rock. Cesar demonstrated and Reg went out on the rock and struck a surfer pose. Apparently a few tourists have fallen off of the rock and died on the rocks below. But this is Mexico and you are responsible for yourself, no lawyers involved. Besides the Balancing Rock there is a short suspension bridge that we went over and some other viewpoints where three canyons converge. For the more adventuresome there is a gondola with a glass floor that goes across to a rock outcropping that you may stand on to see the view before returning, a zip line which looked like fun, a small rock wall where you could practice rock climbing and a playground for kids.
After the park, Cesar dropped us off at the train station. We went to one of the food stalls an had gorditos and quesadillas and a pop for lunch ($55 pesos a person) before the train arrived. Phoebe and I walked around the stalls selling souvenirs from t-shirts to shot glasses, more Tarahumaru baskets woven from pine needles, jewelry, hats, shawls, etc, etc. Reg and Rich kept guard over our luggage and people watched.
The train arrived and we got second class tickets on the train. It cost $436 a person to ride second class from Divisadero to El Fuerte. We think we had the same seats as when we rode up. The train left shortly before 2pm and arrived at El Fuerte a little after 7:30 pm. I had called ahead to the Rio Vista Hotel for reservations and they had sent the one legged taxi driver to pick us up.
We went to the restaurant at the Hotel Hidalgo for dinner. We had a great meal. Rich and Reg had the fresh fish with garlic and lemon. Phoebe had a salad and tomato soup and I had the chicken and cheese enchiladas. The portions were generous and the food delicious.
Now it is time to sleep.
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