Monday, March 31, 2008

Ghost Towns, Gold & Silver Mines, and Good Food

We took a drive to Mineral de Pozos. It is about a 45 minutes drive from San Miguel de Allende.

Less than 100 years ago it was a flourishing gold, copper and silver mining town. But when the mines were depleted, the population dwindled, leaving abandoned houses and mines.

When we first drove into town, it didn't look too bad, as you can see from the first picture below.

But as we drove deeper into town we discovered that it truly was a ghost town. Almost all the streets were completely deserted. We saw very few people around, mostly near the main street of town. We tried to find a guide to take us into the mine shafts, but there were none around. One guy gave me directions to the mines and said we may find a guide there. He said he was a guide himself, but today he was too busy. So we drove several kilometers out of town on a dusty dirt road, only to find even more abandoned settlements.


We never did find a guide, or the mines for that matter; but saw some eery, yet awesome scenery. It was a little spooky driving around in the dead silence of the area and seeing nothing but ghostly remains of days gone by.

We did, however, find an oasis in the midst of it all. Posada de Las Minas is a small hotel with rooms above and a courtyard restaurant on the lower level. It was a welcome retreat and the food was wonderful.
The poblano pepper and corn soup was a delight.
I had grilled fish with a spicy tomato, pepper and garlic sauce, topped with olives, along with veggies and Spanish rice. It was just as good as the soup.
Ron had a huge steak, salad and french fries. He said it was the best steak he has ever had.


I imagine some tourists come through Mineral de Pozos to see the abandoned mines, but it is a bit off the beaten path. I can't imagine that the hotel and restaurant do a booming business though. Even so, the food was fresh, well prepared and delicious.
Mexico looks more fascinating every day.
Gypsy Girl

6 comments:

Babs said...

Glad you got to Pozos. I have a friend who lives over there - believe it or not - from pictures I've seen - San Miguel looked as "abandoned" in the 50's!
The mines are NOT depleted. In the Revolution all the mines were flooded because of all of the deaths of the Indians who were teated as slaves and this was their "payback".......Real de Catorce outside of Matehuala is the same........BUT now because of the leakage of arsenic and other poisonous materials in the water it is too expensive to reopen the mines.
Ya'll should check out Tequisquiapan and Bernal.....go on a Thursday because the shops in Bernal are only open Frid - Sun. And Tequisquiapan is too full on the weekends with DFers........it's only a 2 or 2 1/2 hour drive from here.........

Anonymous said...

Hi Mom, Wow I am glad to see you are stretching your legs. How awesome it must be to see a ghost town. Your friend Babs'always has interesting comments. She has so much to share. Please add her photo to your blog. I'd like to see her and perhaps her abobe. I want ot see what I have to look forward to when I move there. Love Heidi

Anonymous said...

Hello Rita & Ron,
Ghost town I would have to agree looking at the pictures. I think I would of been scared!!! Very interesting that there would be a hotel in such a quite place that actually serves good food. Glad you are exploring and have been enjoying reading and learning about Mexico.

Love Beth

Gypsy Girl said...

hey babs, Thanks for the info on the mines...interesting. And we probably will check out Bernal and Tequisquiapan, it's on our list for when Ron gets back from Boston. But this list is soooo long and time is getting short.

Gypsy Girl said...

Hi Heidi, I really enjoyed meeting babs...my first blogosphere friend that I have met, it was for her too, it was kind of exciting.
I don't know if she will want a photo in the blog...we'll see.
Miss you, Mom

Gypsy Girl said...

Hi Beth, Thanks for stopping by and leaving comments. I am glad someone back home is reading the blog posts.
I am loving it here.
Ron is back home right now.