MEXICO – CHIHUAHUA (Ciudad Juárez)
Day 1 Fri Dec 6
I slept in Douglas Arizona as it was in the afternoon and I wanted to get to Chihauhau by dark. My T-Mobile phone expired on Dec 6. The Douglas crossing was a nightmare. The US side took 30 minutes to check the camper completely. On the Mexican side, they would give a permit for the truck but not the camper. My only option was to now drive 220 miles (4 hours) to the El Passo/Ciudad Juarez crossing.
CJ has three crossings in the city and one, Santa about 12 miles west. What a dream – no one checked the camper on either side, and all the facilities were in one small room (tourist permit 717 MP, photocopying documents $2 and the banjercita. Unfortunately, because the truck is a diesel, I had to drive 44 km south to the commercial banjercita to get the permit. An American told me they would never approve a 3500 truck as it was likely used for work and gave me a phone number of a fellow who could help me. But I had to get gas, a SIM card and money first so carefully put things in order to maintain the diesel destination at the end.
Gas in Mexico is about $1 more expensive than in the US and it appears that diesel can only be bought at a Pemex. The Telcel SIM (can only get more than 2GB at Telcel Centro) was 140MP and 10Gb cost 300MP. I stopped at a mall that had a Scotiabank ATM and withdrew about US$500. I bought some needed groceries and decided to stay in the mall parking lot.
There was no vehicle insurance available at the border. I investigated Mexican insurance (liability and coverage for the camper is mandatory in Mexico) and decided to buy through Lewis & Lewis as prices were about the same and this was easily the most organized website. 6 months is little more than 3 months. Liability was $500,000. Medical and evacuation insurance was included in the price. Because I had no assurance that a permit for the truck or camper would be given, I decided to buy it after those were approved.
The total insurance for the truck and camper for 6 months was US$574, a good deal as I would not be paying for my BC truck insurance.
It is unusually cold here and was about 10C all day. Shorts and flip flops were not practical.
The Telcel data was much faster than T Mobile.
ON Soriana mall parking lot in Ciudad Juarez.
Day 2 Sat Dec 7
I drove the 33 km out to CIITEV Juarez. They would give a permit for the truck but not the camper as they required an up-to-date registration (which isn’t necessary or even possible in British Columbia). After much arguing that a camper was different from a trailer, he contacted his superior and refused to change his mind. I drove back through CJ and bought unlimited data on T Mobile ($60) for one month in El Paso. The plan is now to go to Baja.
Possibly, this was lucky. Many parts of mainland Mexico have become unsafe with kidnapping and theft common in the interior (Zacatecas was often mentioned).
GO TO ARIZONA SOUTH
World Heritage Sites
Archaeological Zone of Paquimé, Casas Grandes reached its apogee in the 14th and 15th centuries and played a key role in trade and cultural contacts between the Pueblo culture of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico and the more advanced civilizations of Mesoamerica. The extensive remains, only part of which have been excavated, are clear evidence of the vitality of a culture which was perfectly adapted to its physical and economic environment, but which suddenly vanished at the time of the Spanish Conquest.
Casas Grandes is one of the largest and most complex Mogollon culture sites. Settlement began after 1130 AD, and the larger buildings developed into multi-storied dwellings after 1350 AD. The community was abandoned approximately in 1450 AD.
The Casas Grandes complex is situated in a broad, fertile valley along the Casas Grandes or San Miguel River, approximately 56 kilometres (35 mi) south of Janos and 240 kilometres (150 mi) northwest of the state capital, Chihuahua. The settlement depended on irrigation to sustain its agricultural activities.
After being burned about 1340, Casas Grandes was rebuilt with multi-story apartment buildings to replace the small buildings. Casas Grandes consisted of about 2,000 adjoining rooms built of adobe, I-shaped Mesoamerican ballcourts, stone-faced platforms, effigy mounds, and a market area. The population may have been about 2,500 in Casas Grandes with perhaps 10,000 people living within its area of control.
Specialized craft activities included the production of copper bells and ornaments, extensive pottery, and beads from marine molluscs. These crafts were probably distributed by an extensive trading network. Casas Grandes pottery has a white or reddish surface, with ornamentation in blue, red, brown, or black.
Ramos Polychrome olla with macaw symbols
Woman with a bowl, Ramos effigyThe settlement featured T-shaped doorways and stone disks at the bottom of ceiling support columns, both distinctive of Puebloan architecture. Casas Grandes had ballcourts, though they were relatively small. A 2,300-kilogram (5,000 lb) iron meteorite was found in one of the rooms, carefully wrapped in linen. The meteorite is displayed at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.
Various theories exist as to the inhabitants of Casas Grandes, but the most logical relationship of Casas Grandes to Forty Houses 97 kilometres (60 mi) to the south and to TJ Ruins and Gila Cliff 320 kilometres (200 mi) to the north led to the common agreement that the site is part of the Mogollon culture.
Camino Real de Tierra Adentro
CUAUHTEMOC
DELICIAS
Natural History and Earth Museums: Delicias: Paleontology Museum
HIDALGO DEL PARRAT
PARRAL
CHIHUAHUA World Cities and Popular Towns
History, Culture, National and City Museums
Chihuahua: Museo Casa Chihuahua
Chihuahua: Museo Casa Juárez
Castles, Palaces, Forts: Chihuahua: Quinta Gameros
Art Museums: Chihuahua: Casa Redonda. Museo Chihuahuense de Arte Contemporáneo
Religious Temples: Chihuahua: Metropolitan Cathedral
Military, War and Police Museums: Chihuahua: Historical Museum of the Mexican Revolution
Science, Technology and all Industry and Mining Museums: Chihuahua: Museo Semilla
Caves, Sinkholes and Saltmines: Chihuahua: Cave of the Crystals
CIUDAD JUAREZ World Cities and Popular Towns
Airports: Chihuahua (CUU), Juarez (CJS)
History, Culture, National and City Museums: Ciudad Juárez: City Museum
Art Museums: Ciudad Juárez: Art Museum Ciudad Juarez
Archaeology and Anthropology Museums: Juárez: Museo de Arqueologia El Chamizal
Military, War and Police Museums: Juárez: Museo de la Revolución en la Frontera (MUREF)
Science, Technology and all Industry and Mining Museums: Ciudad Juárez: Tumbleweed Interactive Space
Copper Canyon Cable Car
Vestiges of the Past
Archaeological Zone of Paquimé, Casas Grandes
Casas Grandes
Cuarenta Casas
House and Biographical Museums: El Sauz: Museo Ex-hacienda El Sauz
Archaeology and Anthropology Museums: Cuarenta Casas
World of Nature: Basaseachic Falls NP, Copper Canyon NP, Tutuaca Protected Area
Waterfalls: Piedra Volada Falls
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MEXICO – COAHULLA (Saltillo, Torreón)
Tentative WHS: Aire de protection de la flore et de la faune Cuatrociénegas (06/12/2004)
CIUDAD ACUNA
MONCLOVA
PIEDRAS NEGRAS
SALTILLO
Religious Temples: Saltillo: Catedral de Santiago
Natural History and Earth Museums
Saltillo: Bird Museum of Mexico
Saltillo: Desert Museum
Museums – Decorative Arts, Design, Fashion: Saltillo: Museo del Sarape y Trajes Mexicanos
Museums – Various
Saltillo: Bullfighting Museum of Culture
Saltillo: Museo de los Presidentes Coahuilenses
TORRREON
Airports: Torreón (TRC)
Railway, Metro, Funiculars, Cable Cars: Torreón: Cable Car Tower of Christ Noas
History, Culture, National and City Museums
Torreón: Laguna Regional Museum
Torreón: Museo Arocena
Architectural Delights: Torreón: Teatro Nazas
Religious Temples: Torreon: Suraya Mosque
Natural History and Earth Museums: Torreón: Museum of Metals
Villages and Small Towns
Arteaga
Candela
Parras de la Fuente
Vestiges of the Past: Guerrero: Misión de San Bernardo
Military, War and Police Museums: Torreón: Museo de la Revolución
World of Nature
Cuatro Cienegas Biosphere Reserve
Dunas de Yeso (Gypsum Dunes)
Lakes: Lake Amistad
Well-being: Wineries: Casa Madero
Ski Resorts: Bosques de Monterreal (only ski resort in Mexico)
Museums – Various
Gomez Palacio: Acertijo Museo Interactivo
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MEXICO – NUEVO LEON (Monterrey)
MONTERREY/GUADALUPE World Cities and Popular Towns
Urban Legends
Monterrey: Macroplaza
Monterrey: Paseo Santa Lucía
Airports: Monterrey (MTY)
Roads, Road Bridges and Tunnels: Bridge – Monterrey: La Unidad Bridge
History, Culture, National and City Museums
Monterrey: Metropolitan Museum
Monterrey: Mexican History Museum
Monterrey: Museo del Noreste
Monterrey: Palace Museum
Castles, Palaces, Forts
Monterrey: Palacio de Gobierno (Nuevo León)
Monterrey: Palacio del Obispado
Art Museums
Monterrey: Centro De Las Artes Pinacoteca De Nuevo Leon
Monterrey: Museum of Contemporary Art
Architectural Delights: Monterrey: Torres Obispado
Religious Temples
Monterrey: Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Roble
Monterrey: Catedral Metropolitana de Nuestra Señora de Monterrey
Monterrey: Templo Dolores y Perpetuo Socorro
Natural History and Earth Museums: Monterrey: Museo de la Fauna y Ciencias Naturales A.C.
Science, Technology and all Industry and Mining Museums: Monterrey: Museum of Steel
Religious and Sacred Art Museums (including Islamic and Jewish Museums): Monterrey: Museum of Mormon Mexican History
Monuments
Monterrey: Arco de la Independencia
Monterrey: Faro de Comercio
San Pedro Garza García: Monument to the Alliance
Malls/Department Stores: Monterrey: Metropolitan Centre
Pedestrian and Historical Bridges
Monterrey: El Puente del Papa
Monterrey: Paseo De La Mujer Mexicana
Museums – Decorative Arts, Design, Fashion: Monterrey: MUVI Museum of Glass
Sports Museums: Monterrey: Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame
Museums – Various
Monterrey: Muscera
Monterrey: Papalote Museo del Niño-Monterrey
Trails 2 – Hikes: Monterrey: La Rayita La Huasteca Hike
World of Nature
Cumbres de Monterrey NP
Potrero Chico Protected Zone
Waterfalls
Chipitin Waterfalls
Cola de Caballo
Caves, Sinkholes and Saltmines
Bustamante Caves
Grutas De García
Laguna de Labradores: Pozo del Gavilán
Trails 2 – Hikes
Cerro de la Silla Hike
Zoos: Montemorelos: Bioparque Estrella
Planetariums: San Pedro Garza García: Alfa Planetarium
Railway, Metro, Funiculars, Cable Cars: Grutas de Garcia Cablecar, Monterrey Metro
History, Culture, National and City Museums
General Escobedo: Escobedo Historical Museum
Religious and Sacred Art Museums (including Islamic and Jewish Museums)
Montemorelos: Museo Del Cristo Gigante
Science, Technology and all Industry and Mining Museums: San Nicolas de los Garza: Museo San Nicolás (MUSAN)
Villages and Small Towns
Linares
Villa Santiago
MEXICO – SONORA (Hermosillo)
El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve (World Heritage Sites). The 714,566-hectare site comprises two distinct parts: the dormant volcanic Pinacate Shield of black and red lava flows and desert pavements to the east, and, in the west, the Gran Altar Desert with its ever-changing and varied sand dunes that can reach a height of 200 metres. This landscape of dramatic contrast notably features linear, star and dome dunes as well as several arid granite massifs, some as high as 650 metres. The dunes emerge like islands from the sea of sand and harbour distinct and highly diverse plant and wildlife communities, including endemic freshwater fish species and the endemic Sonoran Pronghorn, which is only to be found in northwestern Sonora and in southwestern Arizona (USA). Ten enormous, deep and almost perfectly circular craters, believed to have been formed by a combination of eruptions and collapses contribute to the dramatic beauty
Tentative WHS: Historic Town of Alamos (20/11/2001)
Tiburón Island is the largest island in the Gulf of California and the largest island in Mexico, with an area of 1,201 square kilometres (464 sq mi). It is uninhabited and it was made a nature reserve in 1963. Tiburón is Spanish for ‘shark’.Part of Sonora, The island has a prominent mountain system of volcanic origin.
Tiburón Island is part of the traditional homeland of the Seri people, for many centuries if not millennia. The Mexican government gave the Seri “recognition and title of communal property” to Tiburón Island in 1975.
The island is currently uninhabited (except for Mexican military encampments on the eastern and southern shores of the island) and is administered as an ecological preserve by the Seri tribal government in conjunction with the federal government. Bighorn sheep were introduced to the island in the 1980s, hunting is managed. A subspecies of coyote and mule deer are endemic to the island.
Transportation. The island can be reached from Punta Chueca, inhabited by members of the Seri tribe, and from Bahía de Kino, a non-Seri community 34 kilometres (21 miles) to the south. The distance is three kilometres). The channel is Canal del Infiernillo (“Tiny Hell’s Channel”) because of the strong tidal currents.
Recreation. Two permits are required for day hiking and overnight stays on the island: one from the Seri Governor’s office in Punta Chueca and another from the ISLAS office in Bahía de Kino.
HERMOSILLO World Cities and Popular Towns
Art Museums: Hermosillo: Sonora Museum of Art
Zoos: Hermosillo: Centro Ecologico de Sonora
CIUDAD OBREGON
Military, War and Police Museums: Ciudad Obregon: Sonora in the Revolution Museum
GUAYMAS NAVOJOA
NOGALES
SAN LUIS RIO COLORADO
Villages and Small Towns: Álamos
Airports: Ciudad Obregon (CEN), Hermosillo (HMO)
World of Nature
Alto Golfo de California y Delta del Río Colorado Biosphere Reserve
El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve
Beaches
Bahía de Kino: Bahía de Kino Beach
Puerto Peñasco: Playa bonita
