Hello! I returned home September 1 from two weeks in Chihuahua. I had a wonderful trip! Everything flowed smoothly for me.
Before leaving, I had several people tell me how dangerous it was in Chihuahua. I never experienced anything but helpful people including taxi drivers. The first afternoon, I went walking on the newly finished pedestrian mall and stopped at a shop for coffee. I told the Julia, the woman working there, that this was my first visit to Chihuahua, I’d just arrived by bus and hadn’t had coffee all day! She prepared my coffee, opened a pasty case, handed me a chocolate wafer cookie and said it was a gift. “Welcome to Chihuahua!”
Once I was in Chihuahua, I had two people warn me about the dangers of being in the canyon. They said the Tarahumara weren’t safe to be around. And the train ride from Chihuahua to Bahuichivo, I was assured, would be long and boring.
Below are a few photo’s taken from the platform at the rear of the train where I spent most of my time watching the country fly by. My companion for much of the time was a 9 year-old named Alejandro.
The sun was rising and golden light colored the country side. I had a spectacular ride on the train!
The train was 1 1/2 hours late and the only bus had left. Of course, the travel information suggests the bus always waits for the second class train to come in? With the only bus gone, I walked into the parking lot looking for a ride. I met Mario who runs San Isidro Lodge which I had read about. Check them out here. (http://coppercanyonamigos.com
). I had contacted them before leaving 
but the rates were very high and I never heard back from them about a single rate? He offered me a significant discount and I was off to his place for two nights.
). I had contacted them before leaving 
but the rates were very high and I never heard back from them about a single rate? He offered me a significant discount and I was off to his place for two nights.He took me to a gorgeous cascade (below) and then invited me to a traditional Tarahumara Temescal (sweat lodge) as their guest. Amazing! And he has a wonderful spot for the lodge!
Near Cerocahui: The church was built around 1649 and operates a boarding school for Tarahumara girls. It’s run by the Jesuit’s.
Below: San Isidro Lodge staff, my room, the temescal, and the lodge. It was rainy season so, flowers were blooming everywhere and I saw every color mushroom but blue. My second day there, I was trekking through the hills on an old trail guided by a Tarahumara Indian, Victorio, seeing things most tourist never experience.
Leaving there, I was to meet the bus on the road at 4:00. No bus….it was very late arriving at 5:25. It was full!
I had to wait for the second bus. Then we met at a village and transferred people. Too many people so five didn’t get on. The ride is normally about 90 minutes. Ours was closer to 3 hours. Roads were inundated with rain! Rocks had to be moved. We had to get out and push the van once. A tree fell across the road and we had to break it up to pass.
