Real Del Monte Silver Mine - Feb 2005
Early in the 19th Century a large group of Cornish tin miners descended on Real Del Monte to help rebuild the silver mining infrastructure that was so badly damaged following the war of independence with the Spanish
They left behind them pasties (pastes) modified a little to a mexican palate, football and a town with a slightly British feel.
Luis hiding behind the electric motor that drives the winches in the winchhouse.
The pit head. You can't help but feel the history standing at the gates of the vertical shaft.
With Speedos at more than a meter in height, the winch operator has no excuses for driving too fast.
The train in the mine is run from an electric cable suspended from the ceiling. Here you can see the driver driving. Really this is how they do it. Sparks and all.
Liliana and I in the pityard.
Team Photo here of all of us in our mining gear. The equipment is real. The lights are the same lights used by the miners at the time of closure charging in the same racks.
The winches that drive the elevator, I believe to a level of 800m. In our case a paltry 400m!
That's me on the right with a member of the village people.
Liliana and Luis looking almost like real miners.
I need to write much more about this trip and help to promote an incredible tourist attraction, perhaps the best I have ever visited. So watch out for more soon, or if you get a chance to visit Real del Monte. I guarantee you will not be disappointed!
