Such is life in Mexico...

Our furniture is supposed to be delivered this weekend, and we need enough cash to pay them. The total bill is 31,500 pesos ($2,395 CAD, $1,733 USD), but we've already given them a 10,000 peso deposit. 

So we still need to give them 21,500 pesos in cash. The problem is that I'm only able to take out 6,000 pesos at a time with the limits on my ATM card. So it's meant a few trips into town this week to go to the bank.

Our home Wifi in Mexico

We hopped on the ATV and did a trip into town yesterday. Had some running around to do... go to the bank, do some shopping, etc.

And, we signed up for home internet WiFi.

Our furniture is almost ready!

We rented this place partially furnished. There was one good bed, some decent outdoor tables and chairs, a good fridge and stove. and a usable sofa. But that's about it. Very little in the way of kitchen accessories. No television(s). No closets.

And we knew that. In fact the price we're paying in rent is more reflective of a totally empty place that you would have to furnish yourself anyhow.

What's on the agenda for December?

On Sunday, we went for a long walk in the forest. We followed an old trail in the state park near Jiltotepec that wasn't showing on any of the maps, so we didn't know where it ended up or how far it went.

We ended up doing 13 kms (8 miles)!

November Expenses... pretty reasonable!

Our budget was $2.125 CAD ($1,522 USD) for the month of November, and we ended up spending $2,258 CAD ($1,618 USD).

And that includes the rent on our house!

Busy place! The parking lot is full!

We only made it out for a short hike yesterday, but it was a relaxing day overall.

Oh, I never told you about the problems with our gasoline furnace. A bit of a pain, but the fix is in progress.

There is a Mexican camper club arriving today

We got a decently early start yesterday morning, on the road at about 9:30am. Not the nicest weather though... it was raining pretty steadily when we left.

We had to drive 164 kms (102 miles), but most of it was on secondary roads and it's probably a 4 hour drive. Lots of topes (speed bumps) and built up areas. The choice was to partially take the toll highway (one section of which we had no choice but to do), but it really wouldn't have saved that much time, and it would cost more.

The Hacienda Santa Maria Regla

Looking down over the ridge from the park where Igor has spent the last two nights, we could see a large and interesting looking estate. Further research showed that it is an old silver mining hacienda built between 1760 and 1780 that has been turned into a hotel and event center.

They charge 100 pesos ($7.65 CAD, $5.45 USD) to access the grounds, and we thought it was well worth it!

Fantastic spot in Mexico rarely visited by foreign tourists

Of course most foreign tourists come to Mexico for the warmth and the beaches. But we found out early in our Mexico exploration that most of Mexico's best attractions are actually inland.

You would think that we have seen everything there is to see in Mexico, but not yet! In this instance, Ruth has had the Prismas Basalticos on her list for quite some time and we finally made it here. And, it is definitely worth a visit!

Interesting stuff... the English cemetery at Mineral del Monte, Mexico

I've mentioned in previous posts that mining specialists arrived from Cornwall, England to Veracruz, Mexico in the early 1800's. They had an arduous journey to get from Veracruz to the Pachuca area in Hidalgo dragging their steam engines along the way. Some died of yellow fever along the way.

There were about 130 men originally, followed by many more in the 1840's and 1850's. Eventually, about 350 men, some of whom had brought their families, had emigrated to this area of Mexico to work in the silver mines that had been bought by a British company.

No garbage cans... and yet no garbage!

Monday morning we drove up the hill from Mineral del Chico to Mineral del Monte. 

Mineral del Monte is a larger town, and at a higher elevation. Population about 14,000.

Back to Igor

We didn't have to be out of our room until noon, so we went for breakfast around 9:30am and then did some more wandering around in Pachuca. We had seen all the highlights, so weren't really looking for anything in particular.

Into the city of Pachuca for an overnight stay

We ended up having to move Igor. Not a big deal, but it certainly would have been more convenient not to have to. 

And then when we got to the new location a few minutes away, it wasn't the same guy and the price had gone up from 250 pesos to 280 pesos. Whatever. At least he's secure.

We'll be eating huaraches for the next few days!

Well, it turns out that we stayed in our spot for another night, which is convenient. They are cutting down some large dead trees in the area, and they started on the other side and likely won't even make it to our side until Monday. We might even be able to stay where we are for the weekend, but we'll find out this morning.

Oh, we never did show you a photo of where we are parked...

We need to find another overnight spot

Yesterday, I booked us a hotel in the nearby city of Pachuca. We're going to leave Igor here in Mineral del Chico, and on Saturday morning we're going to take the collectivo to Pachuca, do some exploring, spend the night, do some more exploring Sunday, and return to Mineral del Chico on Sunday late afternoon.

I had just booked and paid for the non refundable hotel room when our host came to tell us we won't be able to stay here on the weekend. 

Well that was an adventure!

Yesterday's blog was posted late because we got sidetracked into an adventure! If you missed yesterday's, here it is... https://www.travelwithkevinandruth.com/2025/11/the-cost-of-entrance-is-happiness-and.html

And now... the adventure...

The cost of entrance is happiness and a smile

We woke up Tuesday morning, and we were the only ones in the park other than a few employees cleaning up a little trash left over from the long weekend.

But it was time for us to move on as well. Just to another part of the park to access some different hiking trails.

Beautiful views, and some crazy rock climbers

We've pretty much exhausted the hiking trails that are within walking distance from where we are, but decided to stay another day anyhow.

And good thing we did, because we found a nearby viewpoint that wasn't marked on the maps... and only a half hour walk away!

Just another beautiful day in Mexico...

We totally forgot that this was a long weekend here in Mexico!

Today is Revolution Day... a federal holiday. So when we saw a few more tents set up that looked like they were staying the night, it finally clicked. 

It's actually quite busy!

The last time we were here in March of 2020 it was only a two night stay and those were Wednesday and Thursday nights. It was pretty quiet then, and our group were the only people here. 

But we arrived on a weekend this time, and it's actually been quite busy. There are even tenters braving the chilly overnights.

We have finally returned!

The last Mexico RV caravan that we did was just ending when Covid began at the end of March 2020. Hard to believe that was five and a half years ago!

Anyhow, one of our favorite campgrounds on the trip was in El Chico National Park.

Hiking in Parque Los Peñas de Dexcani Alto just north of Mexico City

We are about 70 kms (42 miles) as the crow flies north of the center of Mexico City.

Yesterday, we went hiking in the nearby state park. Uphill all the way!

Trip in to town, and good news!

We did the 6 km (3.7 mile) walk into the town of Jilotepec yesterday morning. It was an absolutely perfect day with mostly sunshine and a high of 21C (70F).

First stop was Parque Urbano Las Sequoias... a municipal park.

Felt great to get out for a hike!

This was only supposed to be a short stopover to break up the drive to El Chico National Park, but it turns out that this is a worthwhile destination itself.

Yesterday we went for a nice walk... about 6 kms (4.2 miles) through the forest in behind the campground.

First day adventures

I figured we might get on the road around 10:00am, but that turned out to be too ambitious. It was just after 12 noon by the time we got going! A very late start for us.

We weren't going that far... only 153 kms (95 miles), but it's a three hour drive!

Ran out of gas!

We're taking off in our campervan Igor for three weeks. We're heading to El Chico National Park in the state of Hidalgo to do some hiking. 

It's going to be cooler up there... calling for highs of 19C (66F) during the day and only 4C (39F) at night. Perfect hiking weather though!

Lots of visitors

We started loading everything back into Igor to get ready to leave tomorrow. A few more items to go, but it's mostly kitchen stuff that we need to use in the house as well, so that can wait until tomorrow morning.

The main job remaining is to give him a bath! He hasn't been washed since last May!