Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
DAY 8
The Road to Batopilas, Arrival at the Bottom of Copper Canyon
I woke before the roosters crowed because my sleep was broken multiple times throughout
the night by barking dogs. I left my modest hotel and arrived before Carmen and Einar at
Hotel Margarita, a beautiful western-rustic lodge, which had the only restaurant open for
breakfast at 7 a.m. I had time to appreciate the brilliantly colored murals, scenes depicting
Tarahumara dances and tribal life, which decorated the dining room walls.
We toured the sites outside Creel the day before. Today we were headed deep into Copper
Canyon. We caught the Transportes Turisticos de la Alta y Baja bus on the main street.
Transportes ran a daily service for 170 pesos ($15), but the schedule varied.
It was a short bus, twenty-four seats, ideal for the mountain's sharp curves and switchbacks.
There were fifteen passengers. I sat in the rear and faced forward. An American priest, Fath-
er Dominic, whose parish was Batopilas, was reading the Bible. A Mexican construction
worker was reading Shakespeare's “
Othello
” in Spanish. “What are the odds?” I wondered.
I asked Father Dominic, “What's the weather likely to be in Batopilas?”
