POZOS

(in Guanajuato, Mexico)

Last Sunday, Betsy and I went to see Pozos, a small ex-mineral city where gold, silver, and others were used.

It is about thirty miles from San Miguel.

I had been there before, but I had not seen much more than this picture.

This is what we say. It was not showing any of the following pictures, and had not heard of on any places.

We had come to see the book in 'lonely planet' that interested to see it.

(We had also seen the 'Real de Catorce' which I had not heard of elsewhere) and which you must see, also.)

Then, while she was back in New York, I had done again, but I didn't have a camera.

But was on Sunday, the mine was open, and I found it.

There was several young men showing us around and explaining what it was, and a group of man and wife and two children.

There's a book on Mexico written by LONELY PLANET that has a few things you should find those places I haven't seen anywhere. They tell me that POZOS is population on 130 (only), (could be, but this should be as well known as any others, but is not saved, as it should be. They say it is 2305 meters (how high up)

Less than a hundred years ago. Mineral de Pozos was a nourishing silver- and copper- mining center ol about 50,000 people, but as the minerals played out the population dwindled and abandoned houses, mine workings and a large but unfinished church.

Now visitors enjoy exploring the well-worn buildings, old mines and abandoned mine structure, and touring the surrounding area by horseback or mountain bike.

Replicas of pre-Hispanic musical instruments, including deerskin drums and rainmakers, are still produced here, providing a livelihood for some of the residents. The instruments are used to accompany the pre-Hispanic dances that feature in local fiestas.

Pozos is 14km south of San Luis de la Paz. a detour east of highway 57. To get there by bus from San Miguel, go first to Dolores Hidalgo, then to San Luis de la Paz, and then take a third bus from there to Pozos. (Or ask me - I still have a lot to see myself.)

I had seen this newspaper in the Atención:

A Short History of Mineral de Pozos

By Vicki Gundrum

A Short History of Mineral de Pozos

Mineral de Pozos lies in a range of mountains running from the state of Hidalgo to the south, across Guanajuato and Qu¬éritaro states, and ending in the north at Real de Catorce in the San Luis Potosi.

Along this range are numerous former and present towns and camps, the most well-known of which are Real de Monte, Mineral de Pozos. Xichu, and Real de Catorce.

Pozos sits on a gentle slope of the highest mountain in sight, Cerro Pel¬ón, in and around a protected cut create by eons of water drained from Pel¬ón's 8,200 feet (2.523m) elevation.

From many parts of the town, it's possible to see the Sierra Gorda Mountains to the east.

One of many curiosities regrading Pozos is the ever-changing name. Politically, present-day Mineral de Pozos -recently referred to as "Mineral de San Pedro Pozos" by the national telephone company-is part of the San Luis de la Paz municipality.
A small village called Misi¬ón de Chichimeca

During its heyday, however it was its own municipality. In 1897, in honor of the then long-time president of Mexico, the government of Guanajuato declared the rapidly growing mining center of municipio and renamed it Ciudad Porfirio Diaz.

Even now, it's still listed under that name in the telephone directory. But that name in was semi-officially shed when Diaz was deposed. Earlier. After the Palmar de Vega era, it was variously known as Real de San Pedro, San Pedro de los Pozos Reales, and the like. The names were not selected by chance - San Pedro (Saint Peter, in English) is the patron of miners, and Pozos translates into English as holes, wells or mine shafts.

The Chichimeca

The Mineral de Pozos area was mined even before the arrival of the Spaniards in the middle of the 16th century. The region was populated by nomadic tribes-the Pames, Jonases and Huapangos, among others-collectively known as the Chichimeca.
A small village called Misi¬ón de Chichimeca----- I'm workin g on this ---BJ