Durango semi-weekly herald., 1906-03-15
INTO THE HEART
ART
OF OLD MEXICO

Ag,ias Caliente, Feb. 10.
Taking the train at Zacatecas at .
O'Clock In the evening we are landed
In this city at ~ midnight three
hours run Upon recommendation we
go to the hotel Belina, located about
within a block, by street railway. We
have been hers two days and find II
one of the really interesting points.
In fact, II is evident we nave been
directed to all the quaint. pretty and
interesting towns of the republic.
Aguas Caliente is charming and
beautiful place, and had we the time
would spend a week here, as the ho-
tel is run by an American woman
with fifteen or twenty American
boarders, who make 1t agreeable for
visitors, and the charges are reason
able-s350 per day Mexican money.
about SIZE of our coin. Aguas Cal
iente means hot water. In Mexico
the cart is always placed before the
horse. Instead OF saying Caliente
Aguas. hot water. it is reversed.
Aguas meaning water and Caliente
warm or hot, or In other words, wat
er warm. While Caliente is supposed
to mean not we have learned that It
when ordering hot water for washing
purposes. II we want hot water we
must say very hot, or "Muy caliente."
Aguas Caliente is n very attractive
city of about $4,000 people, being not
ed for its hot springs in particular
and healthy climate. street car
one and half miles to the springs.
where are located series of bath
houses. We walk back through the al
ameda, long avenue shaded by i'm.
mense trees, which form by their
limbs and foliage almost a continuous
green arch. aifording a fine walk and
driveway as we'll On one side of the
avenue is the ditch or narrow canal.
through which flows the water from
the springs to the new bath houses
near the depot. This canal is of solid
masonry, about eight feet deep. with
three to four feet of running hot
water, and about three feet wide. The
baths are fine. Each room is large
ana the bath tub is of polished stone
about IL feet square and entered by
steps. the water being about three
feet deep and running in continuous
ly from the springs. The water is
clear. the only objection being that
one is liable to battle partially In the
same water as the last one. as the
tubs are never emptied except the out.
flow, which is continuous, the same
as the inflow. Each bath has a sep
arate name. The baths are graded IN
warmth, the hottest being about 90
degrees. II is said until recently the
canal was used by the general popu.
lace for enjoying free baths and any
one who desired TO join was welcome.
but we saw nothing of this kind. and
we are told the custom has become
obsolete. The waters of the canal
furnish warm water for laundry pur.
poses.
Returning to the city we spend
some time In the main plaza. which
is the prettiest and best kept we have
encountered in the republic. splendid
taste being displayed in winding
walks. artistic grouping of flowers
and plants. Around the plaza are fine
buildings, the cathedral on one side.
the government building on another
ana stores on the remaining two
sides. One with a few hours to snare
VIII be greatly amused by the vendors
Oh mexican drawn work. as this is
said to be the headquarters for this
work, and without further investIga.
tion this apears to be true, as there
are dozens upon dozens of dealers and
several thousand women at work
daily. Then there are dozens OF street
vendors and no doubt they rope In
many suckers, especially at the trains.
where there is limited time to make
selections and bargains, but as this
point is the widely advertised Mexi
can drawn work city tourists are on
the lookout. The vendors in the
streets and surrounding the plaza can
see strange American face a block
away. and he is at once importuned
TO purchase. providing there Is a lady
along and you are taking il easy. And
YOU must learn to drive good bar.
gains. They will ask three to Ave dol.
lars more than seven or eight dol.
lar piece Is worth and 1t is generally
best not to offer more than half what
Is asked. The vendor will come down
gradually and rather than let you 20 |
Will generally sell If they can make |
small profit Some OF them have |
arge assortments. furnished by stores
md sold on commission hence
'ather than not make a sale IL some
AN make ten cents up they are will.