The Town of Mexquitic

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

(We have been without internet for a few days.   Traveling to Villa de Reyes and staying at a balneario.  It was a typical Mexican Semana Santa but I'll tell you all about it next.  This is Mexquitic)

History is amazing.  No matter what town you visit in any country there is a story.  The same is true here in Mexquitic.  It looks like any other Mexican town.  It has a church, town square, old cobblestone on some parts of the streets, old men sitting around chewing the fat, and kids playing in the street.   Venders are ever so present and they sell just about everything under the sun.  

On this day in Mexquitic the venders were selling pan para bendicion or bread for blessing.  It´s a round bread, not very sweet and the town´s people carry on the procession through the streets as they stop at each of the stations of the cross that have been set up in front of people´s houses.  You can eat the bread but it is more of an offering.   We were there as the town passed along the streets.   A monstrance is carried on a litter (like that used to carry a pharoah)  The priest leads the group and at each station he removes the monstrance and places it on the small altar.  He begins to pray and the crowds follow along.  He then spreads the smoke from the incense burner.   

The back part of the church which was the original part of the convent.  Makes you wonder what went on 350 years ago.

Funny how culture and lives can be changed by the invasion of a few Spanairds.   The town of Mexquitic was ¨founded¨  (if you can call it that) by a group of nuns.   Founded in 1590, a convent was the new beginning for the Chichimecas.  Also, Mexquitin is the home of the first constitution of the state of San Luis Potosi.

The walkway across the dam.

We bought some veggies at a local store (aborrotes) and went for a walk to the dam that crosses the now dry presa or reservoir.   The presa is dry because they discovered a huge crack in the dam.  The dam was built in 1928 as part of the reconstruction after the revolution.  

This is the lake today.  Empty and dry.  You would think it to be full of junk and trash but it isn't.

Not a lot to do in the little town but it deserves a walk through.  It´s obvious that most if not all of the town is indigenous and they live, work and also die there.  I was told too that when the presa was drained they had to remove sand and dirt to make it deeper and also get to the bottom of the dam.  The local indigenous people said it was their dirt and refused to let them continue work.  After some months of negotiations they agreed.  That said, they lost out on valuable rains that would have helped considerable to fill the lake again.  Now, the businesses that relied on the lake to bring tourists on local holidays are all closed.  Just like the rv park, it´s empty now.

Beautiful sunset on our 6 km walk around the outside of town.