Not quite live Explorer Mazlatan to Vancouver.

[drron29]

The dam went for miles.

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Even a former town exposed by the low water levels.

[drron29]

The dam extends up the canyons.

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A farmer takes advantage of the lower water level.

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[drron29]

Slowly working our way higher.

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As you get higher the vegetation changes.

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[drron29]

In places the line winds back on itself so you can see where you are going-

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and where you have been.

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[drron29]

In most cuttings plants are growing virtually on the stones.

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[drron29]

The country is becoming much more interesting.

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[drron29]

Levelling off and seeing more signs of habitation.farmhouses often with rock walls.

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Rough roads and a pipeline-the wide area.

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And a few towns.

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[drron29]

Wonder what this fellow is thinking?

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We reached the last station before we were to get off.It is where the trains change crews.We were now over an hour late.The train coming the other way was on time so we passed here.That brought out the basket sellers.

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[RachelG]

Ron, we did this train trip last year. A very long day, but worth doing once. Staying overnight in the canyon would of course be better.

On our trip, an elderly lady developed acute altitude sickness going up. I was called to attend to her. They do have bottled O2 and a pulse oximeter on the train. And it earned us a dinner invitation with the CD and captain later in the cruise.

[drron29]

We thought it was frantic when staying a night.At present it would be impossible to do it as a day trip due to train scheduling.

But back to the last of El Chepe.

More of the people.

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It really made me feel safe that our carriage had stopped next to this tanker when I read it had passed a safety check......in august 2000.

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Some different rocks up here.

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And glimpses of a canyon.

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[drron29]

We did try to join the selfie phenomenon but with cameras and no selfie stick.

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[drron29]

The program had us arriving at the Copper Canyon around 1.30pm and have lunch at the Hotel Mirador at 2pm.The train was just over an hour late so we arrived at the hotel for lunch at ~ 3.15pm.We were expecting them to have lunch ready but nothing served until 4pm.A soup,salad and small dessert.We were seated at a table with 6 vegetarians but 2 of them were extremely fussy vegans.One complained loudly about the poor meal so they brought out another meal but based on pasta-I dont eat pasta,I hate it.We just kept quiet.

There were 2 local beers to choose from.I made my choice but instead brought me a Corona.Rojaan got 1 glass of sauvignon blanc but after that a choice of a chardonnay or a merlot.

We were also required to order our main course for dinner.Given a choice of chicken,beef or mushroom.After that given the keys for our rooms.8 were assigned to a second hotel.It was then found 5 had no rooms at all so eventually sent to a third hotel.

We were at the Mirador.Room Ok but the view spectacular.

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[drron29]

After getting our rooms there was to be a cultural performance by the Tarahumara-local indigenous people.This occurred on the front steps of the hotel by these 2 hotel employees.One turned the boombox on and off and the other danced.

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He did two 2 minute dances.One the chicken dance,the other the donkey dance.No discernable difference as he shuffled around in a circle.And that was that.

Many locals at the entrance selling their wares.

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[drron29]

Hotel decorations.

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Rojaan wanted to rest but I wandered off to walk the canyon edge.

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[drron29]

Even walking along the cliff edge you come across people selling "crafts".

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I hope no one has bought those fabric bags as Mexican craft.Seen everywhere and occasionally someone has forgotten to cut off the made in Thailand or China label.

Looking across to the cable car.

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[drron29]

The views are stunning.

Interesting trees.

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Views back to the hotel.

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And a funny construction beyond the hotel.Possibly a disguised water tank.

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[drron29]

I then had a couple of interactions with local animals.There were quite a few dogs walking around the hotel.At this point a brown female dog went past me followed by a large male dog whose intentions were obvious.He looked like a wolf and had steely blue eyes.The lady was not interested.She noticed that the male gave me a wide berth so she became my companion for the rest of the walk.

Also I could hear a bird singing.I sang a few notes and this bird flew down and sat just above me.

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Another of those trees-

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Looking down you could see many tracks made by the locals.

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[drron29]

Now for the food.A real failure.The hotel could not cope with the 124 SS group.

Dinner-

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The beef dish was poor quality ground beef held together by bacon and quite burnt on the bottom.Chicken OK.

There was a lentil soup and this dessert.

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The best part of lunch the next day-

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Main was lasagna.This was how my plate went back.No idea what they had done to it.

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[drron29]

The next morning we were not quite in the right position for sunrise.

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Things look different at first light.

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[drron29]

At the front of the hotel a reminder of mining-though not copper mining which is only found in small amounts here.

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The sellers are already here.

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You see different things in the morning light.Housing stands out and the light catches zip lines that some locals use.

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[Stumblefoot]

Love [emoji177] the selfies! Glad the views have made up for the food. Shame on SS for arranging a tour where some people were shoveled between 3-hotels.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[drron29]

We now are taken on the cable car ride.Great views.Rojaan and I picked different sides to cover the views both ways.

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Also bridges as part of the locals pathways.

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[drron29]

Impressive.

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That last picture gives an idea of the vastness of this canyon.The hotel can just be made out in the top right part of the picture.And this is just one of six canyons.

Then we pass the other car coming back.

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[drron29]

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[drron29]

Looking down on the locals pathways and farms.

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