Travel Mexico - Hidalgo

Travel to Hidalgo, Mexico, the place where the first soccer club in the country, the Pachuca Athletic Club, was founded in the year of 1900. Today the Pachuca - Real del Monte District retains much from its period of association with Cornwall, England where pitched roofs of corrugated iron are not uncommon giving an almost English appearance.

Four Cornish Engine Houses, which once housed the great Cornish Pump Engines, still survive; at Pachuca, Hidalgo the facade of the English Company Office still stands proudly; the residence of Francis Rule of Camborne, the last Cornish Manager of Real del Monte, still bears his initials in its stained glass window.

Travel in time, the town clock of Pachuca chimes to the tune of London's Big Ben, the mechanism was made in England by that famous clock's makers and was a gift to the town of Francis Rule; the Methodist Church built by the Cornish miners shows how they took their religion wherever they went; and the Cornish Cemetery contains the graves of many Cornishmen and women who were never to return to their native land.

The social heritage of this district of Mexico also reflects the period of Cornish influence: “Pastes” are a local delicacy, Pachuca and Real del Monte, Hidalgo are daily producing as many as Cornwall but mostly with decidedly Mexican spicy meaty and sweet tropical fruit fillings.

Basaltic Prisims: The Basaltic Prisms are a natural and unique formation on this continent. Actually, there are only 3 rock formations of this kind in the whole world and this one is located in Hidalgo, Mexico. The prisms are geological formations of a singular beauty forming a vertical wall of about 140 ft inside a canyon. Its located 5 minutes from Santa María Regla’s Hacienda in the state of Hidalgo. There’s an impressive 90 ft waterfall running down the prisms to finally join the river that goes through the canyon.

You can travel to Hidalgo and enjoy a wonderful and relaxing picnic in one of natures most rare rock spectacles, there are tables, bathrooms and little “tienditas” stores to buy local food, soft drinks and refreshments. Horseback ridding is also available.

Santa Maria Regla Hacienda: The Hacienda de Santa María Regla is a beautiful hotel focused on guests looking to relax and contemplate the colonial experience. It is an 18th century construction, property of the Count of Regla, Don Pedro Romero de Terreros, who was said to have offered King of Spain a silver paved road from the city and port of Veracruz, Mexico to the Hacienda (over 250 miles). A gift granted if the King accepted Don Pedro’s invitation to Mexico. Surrounded by a singular and fascinating semi arid desertic landscape, the hacienda has a chapel, several patios, fountains, bodegas and rooms. It’s 110% worth spending a weekend if looking to read, walk, play cards, relax and contemplate. The weather in Hidalgo is between 80 and 90 at days and comes down to 60’s at night so dress warm and always keep an extra blanket in the room and something to put on besides your shirt or dress if necessary.

The standard room has colonial decor and attractive wood furnishings, as well as nice architectural features. In addition to offering comfortable beds for a good night's sleep, the room is cool and spacious.