October 10th (dia dias) - Cerro de San Pedro
A quick breakfast, we finally hit an internet cafe and were able to let family know we were still alive and having a great time before jetting out of town for a rumored ghost town somewhere in the nearby mountains. Apparently this city was rich for its mining, but has since shut down the mines and left the town around it to rot...
And as Mihai wished, we received. Nothing but dirt roads out here as we sped down roads that weren't marked, in the vague direction of Cerro de San Pedro, the ghost town. Finding the town was not difficult, but instead of taking the normal road we sped off into the dirt tracks surrounding this town to explore. We found old mine shafts that have since been blocked up and locked down... explored a town full of old rotting buildings to explore, from old jails to churches. We couldn't put our cameras away for longer than a minute before we found something else exciting and interesting.
At the center of this ghost town there is still a few signs of life, the few caretakers and tour guides. We pull over for a warm coca-cola with a sweet old couple that show us old newspapers of other Canadians that they have once read about and ask us if we knew them.... Yes, yes, of course we do! Don't all Canadians know each other?
I'm again surprised at the reliablity of our bikes as we sped down small tracks full of pot holes and rubble that our bikes cleared by with ease. We follow roads that take us out of the town and into the country where only a few shepherds roam with their animals. We are again stunned by the beauty of the land that surrounds us and enjoy the feeling of just being free on these small roads that very few have ever seen.
We follow a donkey back into town that flees from us whenever we get close, so I shut the engine off and drift near to him as I fear he is stepping too close to the cliff and I may be responsible for his death.... But soon the donkey looks more aggressive than afraid and I fear I may be the one ending up off the cliff!
Back in San Luis Potosi we have a great dinner full of carne, and are thankful we are still in great health, besides a small sunburn, and that we haven't encountered any problems with the police that we've been told are corrupt. I have decided to call San Luis Potosi the city of young love. Everywhere we turn there are young couples together, walking down the street, wrapped together in small alcoves, in the shadows where they can be alone to kiss and enjoy each other. We fear we are falling in love with this city.
A few hours at the internet cafe at last to update a few days worth as I am falling far behind, however we don't have much time and it's not long until the owner kicks us out as he's closing.
Tomorrow we leave for one of the most dangerous cities in the entire world, with a population that might rival all of Canada. Our nerves are once again a bit on end, but fortunately we will be staying with a friends brother with many promises of safety for us, and our bikes. Thank you Liz!