As the town of Pozos
continues to rise from the ashes, it has a lot going for it. Dramatic mountain
vistas, remarkable ruins, charming cobblestone streets, and a growing art
community are breathing life back to this once thriving town. Recently, over 30
km of well marked mountain bike trails cut through the cactus and sagebrush
surrounding the town and allow bikers to visit the ruins while enjoying the
incredible scenery. We were lucky to spend our second day here soaking up the
past and the future of Pozos!
After a filling breakfast of eggs (cooked to your liking!), beans,
orange juice, and coffee, all included in our modestly priced and beautiful
room at the Posada de Las Minas we headed out for another day of exploration.
One of our first stops was a street that houses some of the small
artists’ studios, several of which offer a fascinating array of Pre-Hispanic
musical instruments. We spent some time with Luis Cruz, whose shop was lined
with an incredible selection of drums, flutes, and stringed instruments. Luis
was happy to play them for us, and the melodic sounds of instruments long
forgotten, individually crafted from local woods and materials including
mesquite, cactus, and cow bone, were a joy.
The growing mountain biking scene in Pozos has blossomed recently,
thanks to the completion of over 30 km of well-marked trails. There are trails
for all skill levels, and a well equipped bike shop near the trail head offers rentals
and other services for visiting mountain bikers. The scenery here is
breathtaking, and you can visit some of the abandoned mining sites as you make
your way through the rugged countryside on your bike. Part of the trail is even illuminated at night with solar powered lighting! There is a great
deal of hiking available as well, but make sure you wear sturdy shoes and watch
out for mine shafts!
As we wandered about town the first day, one of the many
local dogs that wandered the streets decided we looked good, and followed us
around for part of the day. On our second day, we encountered him again, and although
he seemed to ignore everyone else that passed by, he wagged his tail with joy when
he saw us and once again accompanied us on our walk for awhile. Not sure what
the attraction was as we never feed the dogs, but I guess he just sensed we
were dog people!
There are spectacular ruins everywhere you go in Pozos, and
we covered a lot of ground exploring them. Once again we were struck by the
thought of what it must have looked like here during its hay day.
All too soon, it was time to meet our driver for the ride
back to San Miguel. We are looking forward to returning to Pozos when the
street projects are completed to spend a little more time getting to know
this lovely town!
Click on any photo to enter the gallery!
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