Take a wrong turn in Mexico with a terrible map and this is what you might run into. Santa Maria del Oro - in the southern section of Jalisco. I was headed from Mazamitla in Jalisco to Los Reyes in Michoacan.
A number of friends were looking for the route I followed on good maps but nothing really close was found. This government web site had the best info and also shows that Santa Maria was recently called Manuel M. Diéguez.
Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México - ESTADO DE JALISCO
VALLE DE JUÁREZ
SANTA MARÍA DEL ORO
Valle de Juárez in Jalisco (near Mazamitla) is where I started on my way to Los Reyes in Michoacan - thinking there was a decent road between the two. Actually I had a lousy map and was totally lost. Anyway, up and over the mountains I went on a paved but very steep and winding road. As I came down the other side I saw my first view of Santa Maria del Oro - which is essentially the end of the road. Santa Maria is just about the friendliest town I've run into in Mexico. The first night I was invited to a fiesta of nearly 100 people (primary school graduation) and the second night invited to dinner with a young family (the horseman below).
There were lots of little pueblos, ranchitos and farms beyond Santa Maria that I didn´t take pictures of because I didn´t want to be driving in the dark and I hadn't made contact with the locals. Taking fotos of small places that you zoom thru is like eating and running
My first view of Santa Maria as I came down the mountain.
The main street thru town is mostly one direction at a time. There are very few side streets in this little hillside town of a few 1000 people.
Looking down on almost half the town.
The local corner hangout for Coke, beer and important small talk. The guy on the horse invited me home with him for dinner with wife and baby.
Another supposedly 'end of road' town - La Aurora - but I pressed on
One of the two major bridges I crossed and a little of the road I traveled behind and to the left.
This is the valley-gorge that was crossed by the second bridge.
After many ranchitos, pueblocitos, rough roads and some close calls - I finally came in the back way to Los Reyes. A great and kinda crazy experience. I'm sure if someone else was with me I would have been talked out of it.
A number of friends were looking for the route I followed on good maps but nothing really close was found. This government web site had the best info and also shows that Santa Maria was recently called Manuel M. Diéguez.
Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México - ESTADO DE JALISCO
VALLE DE JUÁREZ
SANTA MARÍA DEL ORO
Valle de Juárez in Jalisco (near Mazamitla) is where I started on my way to Los Reyes in Michoacan - thinking there was a decent road between the two. Actually I had a lousy map and was totally lost. Anyway, up and over the mountains I went on a paved but very steep and winding road. As I came down the other side I saw my first view of Santa Maria del Oro - which is essentially the end of the road. Santa Maria is just about the friendliest town I've run into in Mexico. The first night I was invited to a fiesta of nearly 100 people (primary school graduation) and the second night invited to dinner with a young family (the horseman below).
There were lots of little pueblos, ranchitos and farms beyond Santa Maria that I didn´t take pictures of because I didn´t want to be driving in the dark and I hadn't made contact with the locals. Taking fotos of small places that you zoom thru is like eating and running
My first view of Santa Maria as I came down the mountain.
The main street thru town is mostly one direction at a time. There are very few side streets in this little hillside town of a few 1000 people.
Looking down on almost half the town.
The local corner hangout for Coke, beer and important small talk. The guy on the horse invited me home with him for dinner with wife and baby.
Another supposedly 'end of road' town - La Aurora - but I pressed on
One of the two major bridges I crossed and a little of the road I traveled behind and to the left.
This is the valley-gorge that was crossed by the second bridge.
After many ranchitos, pueblocitos, rough roads and some close calls - I finally came in the back way to Los Reyes. A great and kinda crazy experience. I'm sure if someone else was with me I would have been talked out of it.
48 comments:
hi my name is sergio. i lived in santa maria del oro most of my life. i'm glad to hear that u got to expierence a day in santa maria. the best time to go is durring jan 3- jan 12. that is when they have las fiestas. i know the people in your pics that are standing in front of the store called "los cuetes" it's right next to the church. i believe the man on the horse is rafael, it's a little blury but i'm pretty sure that's him. did anyone tell u the history of santa maria? there is so much history for a little town. the town is the sites of a huge massacre durring the mexican revolution, and recently some locals unearth what is believed to be a buried church that was built sometime not long after the spanish conquest. santa maria used to be a spanish camp, but before that u it was an indian village. there is alot of buried tressure in santa maria. many people of accidently found many remains from indian times, along with there gold that they hid from the spanish. also many remains have been found from the mexican revolution. me and my grandfather recently found some burried indian artifacts. santa maria is also know for the paranormal activity that goes on at nite, with many sighting's of ghost. many are from the indian day's and some from the mexican revolution day's. i can say that because i have expierienced it. please contact me at my email so we can chat some more. my email is sergjul9@sbcglobal.net
I googled Santa Maria Del Oro Jalisco and found your article on your traveled experience. I was born in Santa Maria Del Oro, Jalisco, Mexico and immigrated to the U.S. in 1972 when I was 12 yoa. Your photos brought me special memories of my childhood. I invite you to return and visit during the town’s festival in honor to La Virgen de Guadalupe from January 3, 2006 thru January 12, 2006. Link to history of Santa Maria.
http://www.e-local.gob.mx/work/templates/enciclo/jalisco/mpios/14056a.htm
I would like to hear from the person that wrote the last comment. Both of my parents are from Santa Maria Del Oro, Jalisco AKA Manuel M. Dieguez. My mom is a Ochoa-Magana, my father a Mendoza-Sandoval. My father immigrated to US in 1975, my mother in 1980. So they have been here for a while know. I hear that it is a wonderful place to live.
Tere ... the problem is neither of you left your email addresses. I am the one that wrote the original article (my Blog). Yes it is a pretty, small and isolated pueblo. I would like to see it during or after the rainy season. It was very dry when I was there in April.
Hi, my email address is teresarocha714@hotmail.com. do you have any more pictures?
Hi my name is Esther and I was born in Santa Maria. I came to the U.S. when I was 4 years old. I have been back lots of times. I love going there. I am going back to visit the middle of December 2005. My kids just love visiting too. When I'm their I feel rested. We have real good friendly people. I still have lots of realives their. My husband is also from Santa Maria, but we met here. I have lots of pictures of my town. And I will take many more this month. The picture you took of the main street, you took it from right next to my parents house, but you can not see it. The guy in the horse is my relative. I can't beleive you made it to Santa Maria I'm glad you liked it. My email is viajar4@yahoo.com
Hello I also go to Santa Maria. Both my parents were raised in or very near the town. I regularly went to the town as a child and always love going there. It is a big difference from all of the commotion and stress of the US. I am proud to call it my second home and i attend the festivities that go on from Jan. 3rd to the 12. I think that it is good that more and more people have the chance to go and see that there is no need to have the best possesions to live the good life. I think that you should go back and join in the fun during the winter season. My e-mail is Soccerguy1020@yahoo.com
Hi my name is Osbaldo and I was born in santa Maria but was raised in "el tepehuaje". I came to the US when I was only seven years old, and I still miss Santa Maria becuase there I have most of my family and you don't really get as much stress as you get here in the US. It's amazing you made it all the way there, after trying to make it to Los Reyes. I hope you can go on Jan.3 - Jan. 12, that's when the fun begins and most people who live here that are from there go. I hope we can meet if you ever go once again. Do you happen to have any more pics?
My e-mail is osbaldo711@yahoo.com
I stumbled across this site after looking for a decent map to show my friend where Santa Maria del Oro was located. I am amazed that you found this rural mountain side town. My father grew up in Santa Maria del Oro, but was born in there mountain home (el Guayabo) surrounding the town. They would walk three hours from the mountain his 11 siblings and go to school in the town. They had a house in the town and would spend the rainy season in it when they could not plant corn and other crops. My father now 50 goes nearly every year sense moving to the US when he was 17. I continue to have many relatives living in this town and had the opportunity to visit once again in December 2005, and plan to return next winter; I hope to see you there. I am interested to hear more about your stay in the town and what you thought. Moreover, I am planning to travel through Mexico this December and would like to know what places you liked most. E-mail me back at makelovenottrash@hotmail.com
04/06/06 Wonderful pics and story and loved reading the comments. It truly is a small world.
I agree, its a wonderful town with many good stories and great memories. Both of my parents are from Santa Maria and I remeber going there as a child and feeling like I was in paradise. During LA FUNSION (Jan. 6-Jan-12) its like a family party that never ends. When you are in Santa Maria its seems like time stops, there are no worries. When you are there you really truly breath and enjoy life. There is nothing like!
Your story brought memories to my dad. he is from La Aurora. He was raised there as a child. I have recently gone there, because i have family there.
This place rocks during the Lady of Guadalupe week long festivity during the first week of January non-stop partying/drinking, the time of day is no limitation. You get locals coming back from the states with their families and friends. It's a meat market, if you looking for fornication thats the place to be, age is not a number as long as you are a prospective person with a job in the states. if you are married or involved with someone, dont bother messing around, you will be surprised how quick news travels then you are known.
A lot of my relatives (the medinas) still live there. Im gonna be honest with you, its the most boring place to be in during the year other than the January festivities. For entertainment during the non festivity, it is farming, or throwing pebbles across the river, or just hanging out outside staring at the sky wasting time. If you enjoy farm living, eating from your own crops, milking cows, etc, living the poor life this place is for you. The time period for most of the modern necessities like gas, is the equivalent to the late 1800's and early 1900's in the states, wood burning ovens/stoves if you have a shower, you are considered prosperous, if you have a decent toilet, you doing well othewise a la baranca con los puercos para cagar y con la mano o pierdas se liempe. This town also has a centralized pool/bathtub at the middle of the river, which I believe is the town's form of a single town bathtub. Its not sanitized don’t know if its still there. The river used to be about 20feet deep in the early 80’s, it is now ½ a foot or less Yes the town is wealthy with hidden riches from Indian gold mines and war treasures, search at your own risk. It is also a haunted town. Ghosts run wild here. Its great for a tourist weekend only, there is no motel/hotel. my email is bugz68@hotmail.com
Forgot to mention the main custom of this town, every local person inherits/are labeled with a nickname, with an "El" or "La" suffix, the nickname can reflect your own personality, an embarassing event or moment in your life, a job, a joke, your looks, or your family, only those close to you will know the meaning of that name. The guy on the horse looks like "La Cascara" means "The shell"
my family is from sanata maria...everybody in that town is somehow related....im a Barragan Rangel...who knows alot of us on here might be related....maybe we can meet up in jan3-jan 12...my email is action430@yahoo.com...... santa maria is a beautiful traditional mexican town
hey my family is from santa maria...im very interested in meeting some of you....everybody in that town is somehow related.... so some of us on here might be related...my family knows the ochoas. liceas, rangels...etc.........my email is action430@yahoo.com
HI
Wow it truely is a small world my mom was born in la aurora and raised there but i have many family members that live in Santa Maria, St. Maria is a beautiful place i love going there i went as a kid at the age of 4 for the first time and i loved it... i love the pix you took do you have any more? please E-Mail me Sturberry408@hotmail.com
My Name is Joseph Sandoval and my father, Ruben Sandoval, is from La Aurora. I still have relatives there and it was great to see pictures of the home of my ancestors. Some day I hope to visit there. E-mail jsandoval57@myway.com
Oh my God never in a million years would I think Santa Maria would be found on the net. Okay my name is Paula Rangel and was married to Salvador Rangel son of Fransica Sanchez the first time I visted Santa Maria Iwas 19 or so and it was the time of the fiesta Ilove the people there La aurora is where the Rangel family lives and the Sanchez tonight I was visted by Joseluis Sanchez and he said I could find Santa Maria on the net anyone fill welcome to email me it makes me happy
You know I was about 19 years old the first time I visted Santa Maria my inlaws live in La Aurora I have come to Love these familys so much . I never in a millon year thought I would see the on the net but Viva La Aurora Jal so yes this makes me very happy my emaily is comadrechingona@yahoo.com
Guadalupe Gonzalez here...I was born to Genoveva Valencia and Antonio Gonzalez in La Aurora in February of 1973. We Imigrated to Chicago Illinois in later months of 1975. I have always held very romantic notions about the place that witnessed my birth. My 1st trip there was a trip into a world never before known to me. A wonderful world with no street lights, no running water or electricity. I was so much closer to nature and its unfamiliar sounds and scents. I remember mi abuela Leonor waking me late at night with a flashlight at hand "hija, vamos a tirar la agua"......" my groggy response "que agua abuelita?"
Guadalupe (Gonzalez) Garcia my email is lupegonzalez55@aol.com - I'd be happy to talk to anyone about this area....I am looking forward to the day I can take my two kids Amanda 5.5 and Nicholas 5 months to La Aurora....I am on myspace and there are two groups that I belong to for this area ...one is sur Jalisco and one is La Aurora....
toxwkgoa said...(second comment from top) I am Maximiano Medina Sanchez.
email: maximiano@bellsouth.net
Hello all ... This is my BLOG and I would like to visit again ... however ...
During LA FUNSION (Jan. 6-Jan-12) it must be impossible to find a place to stay since there are only 2 hotels in town ... and the one for 50 pesos sounds too basic for me. Maybe I'll try a little earlier or later.
Thanks for all the great posts !!!
Orale the fiesta starts today in Santa Maria all the faithfull one's that go every year are their but it dosent rock till about the 11 or so oh my Lord the first time I went I never saw the husband they drank their ass away but it was so cool I had so much fun with las primas SAnchez now those women hell they could drink to the music the hole fiesta I met so many women and family that to this day I will always love them I would love to do a web site of familys from La Auora and Santa Maria who out here would like to help me do a web site in the 70's you all had a club called Santa Maria well why not with all you young people start one on the net you know picture's family where is everybody at so email me and let me know If this sounds like a good idea LOVE YOU ALL HERE IN GOODYEAR AZ
My name is Soila Gutierrez and my father was born in Santa Maria. His name is Pantaleon Gutierrez and just turned 84 years old on March 13, 2007. He talks so much about his town and has great memories and history. I will share these photos with him and I'm sure to expect a tear from his tired eyes. I really want to thank you for the pictures! It's amazing what they say about pictures "They are priceless!" To anyone who wishes to contact my father may do so by emailing: soila2000@yahoo.com and I will be sure to share any photos with him.
Sincerely~The Gutierrez Family Lake Elsinore, California
Eduardo Ochoa (Lalo)nieto del
finato Raul Ochoa Estoy bien
salutes a todos Santa Maria
me escribier por coreo electonico
eddieochoa1@gmail.com
Adios Chin y Rafal y clavo
Chini escribeme por coreo
electronico a
eddieochoa1@gmail.com
It is amazing that Santa Maria is given some credit. Most of the time people have no idea where Santa Maria is so this blog puts us on the map. I am Adriana Gonzalez,I was just there in july of 2007. I had so much fun all the people of this town are very friendly and will offer you what ever they can. I had no been to Santa Maria in many years and coming back made me realized how much I missed this small town. I was so impressed that I plan on going back in January.
My email is adgonzalez2000@yahoo.com
Chuyin ( pepinillo )
All you people suck at guessing who the guy on the horse is. His name is Daniel Barajas or known as el Charrasco. My father was born and raised in Santa Maria del Oro and he is known as el pepino. Santa Maria isn't really a boring place its just that you guys probably just stay at home during the day and only come out at night. Some things that you should do when you go to Santa Maria is juggle a ball of string that is on fire with your hands, go to the top of "las bufas", take a shower at "agua caliente", drink fresh milk in the morning, go to the paleteria and play futbolito, and go to the plaza at night and eat tacos con Jovita.
Ps. ( The picture that says that you can see half the town shows most of my abuelitas house )
Hola soy Lalo me puedes ercribir
Erica Ochoa del Tepehuaje y Danny
o clavo tambien el de mi tio
majafierros eddieochoa1@gmail.com
Hello, My name is Carmen (Connie) Maldonado, and my father was born and raised in Santa Maria Del Oro. My father Sotero Maldonado was running for town Mayor back in 2006. But because he lives in Valle de Juarez, it went against certain rules they have. I have visited Santa Maria and it truely is a very nice and friendly town.
hola!! yo me llamo lupita y soy de san juan de la montaña, aprox a 2 hrs de santa maria, mi mama es de alla, se llama maria maldonado..
yo fui a laas fiestas este enero pasado y estuvieron muy bien, estuve leyendo y me da gusto q gente q tiene tiempo sin ir pueda ver su pueblo a traves de la red...
saludos
Hola yo vivo en santa maria del oro y en muchos aspectos ha progresado pero aun se necesita mas por cierto el del caballo le dicen "El Charrasco"
Hola, buen noches soy "La Beba" de Gabriel Farias, who was born in Santa Maria del Oro !! I was raised in Chicago and have relatives and freinds that still live in Chicago. I have since moved to Texas and have lived here for years. I made my first trip to Santa(as my father affectionatelly calls it), at the age of 4!! We flew in to Guadalajara and took the bus to Tamazula, From there we were taken to the Montoso by jeep and dropped off there with a family that let us borrow a horse and a donkey. ( There was no thru traffic as far as cars go!!!Boy what a difference now ,I still recall that early morning that we arrived in Santa Maria 45 yrs. ago !!! It still is beautiful to me ,like the very first time and I still cry each and every time I visit and it's time to leave !!! I feel that strong connection to my town and usually yearn to return when the year rolls around!! It will always be a place I enjoy ,even though I have traveled quite a bit!!!Drinking Cafe de Mojo with my Tio Agustin Farias and listening to his wonderful stories about how the revolution was won and how much gold is buried around!!My email adress is AHDZ54@yahoo.com in case someone wants to write to me!! My tia was Maria Luisa Farias , many people knew and loved her.
Hi My name is Maria Torres and I am the daughter of Hermila Maldonado and my grandparents are Anita Farias and Jesus Maldonado they are both from Santa Maria. my mom and I read Your coments and are very excited to hear from so many people she knows I will be going for the first time to Santa Maria in Jan,09. If any one would like to meet up or hear from my Mom you could write us at:angieg.torres@gmail.com
Hi my name is Marlene Cardenas daughter of Gavino and Esperanza Cardenas.I'm amazed that someone has found and taken the time to write about Santa Maria.Its been a while sice ive gone, but like alot of people have commented the best days are the "fiesta day". If anyone would like to contact me please do so at marlene_c_gonzalez@yahoo.com...I would really like to chat with someone who knows The Cardenasd Family.
hola, mi nombre es Gonzalo Sandoval Barajas yo naci en la casa que esta detras de la iglesia enfrente de la casa de dona Librada farias soy hijo de Rafael Sandoval y de Eustolia Barajas y nieto de Abraham barajas del rancho la limonera, solo quiero decirles que no dejen de visitar su pueblo es muy muy bonito, y gente, sencilla humilde y amable como esa ya queda poca, el comentario de Alicia Hernandez yo conosco bien a tu tio Agustin el y tu tia Luisa son compadres de mi mama tu tia era una persona muy buena y muy educada como tu tio, tu tio le compro el rancho a mi tio Jesus Barajas hermano de mi abuelo, quiero desearles una feliz Navidad a todos, por haya nos vemos en santa maria a finales de diciembre, que dios los bendiga, muchas gracias
Hi my Name is omar and my mom,licha medina, is from santa maria del oro.its fun place to go to during december and january alot of family goes there.everybody there knows everybody and everybody is almost related.it gets beter every year like partys non stop but other than that it gets prety boring.nobody realy dont know about santa maria del oro but thats nice you been there expierence how people in santa maria live.santa maria has alot of history for alittle town like the one sergio said but thats the most known story.please contact me at my email so we can chat some more. my email is Dominguez442@yahoo.com
Hy my name is fabiola rangel and my dad is Audel rangel farias and he was born in la aurora my grandphather is David rangel R.N.P if somewan nose my dad please send a Email to fpfabiponce@gmail.com
hi my name is Lourdes Cardenas I just came back from Santa Maria del Oro I'm not from there but I have famaly at El Nogal it's a ranch closed to santa maria like 40mnts or so. I went on vacation for my first time to santa maria and we loved it. I loved the pelea de gallos I went almost every day I have uncles there Chavez family. And ur right that's the best time to go. Jan 03 to Jan 12 2009
hola mi nombre es Yaidra M. pues yo soy de el montoso jalisco muy sercas de santa maria del oro, me gustaria conocer gente de alla, y pues mi papa conose al guy del caballo es muy bonito alli conosco todo por alla voy segido a visitar a mi familia, tambien conosco a la familia barajas porque mi mama es pariente de ellos, ellos vivian en el montoso guadalupe mi emai es lacolors37@yahoo.com
Wow, bet you didn't think you'd have these many responses to your blog...
I agree with everyone, Santa Maria is a beautiful place to visit and to live.
My father is from Santa Maria. His name is Jose Vargas Cisneros. I have had the pleasure of visiting 5 times in my lifetime and only twice during la funcion.. I have so many wonderful memories of this wonderful town.
I have many relatives that i miss dearly, especially my tia Alicia and her family..
I'll be back soon, and if your ever in town again, i am sure anyone will gladly rent you a room if no hotel rooms are available.
I'd like to hear more stories about the history of Santa Maria that one gentlemen touched on earlier.
any family member can email me at gatita804@yahoo.com
or can find me at myspace.com/gatita804
Hope to hear from anyone
I currently live near Chicago, IL
Adios...familia.... Maria Vargas de Salazar
Hola! Mi nombre es Agustin Del Toro, Hijo de Agustin Del Toro y Clara Farias, Mis Abuelos los Sres. Margarito Del Toro y Fidel Farias (La Ficha.
Me da mucho gusto que por medio de este medio pueda estar en contacto con la gente de mi pueblo,Santa Maria Del Oro Jalisco.
Yo nací y crecí en ese pueblo maravillozo, yo solo tengo buenos recuerdos, de mi infancia fuí increiblemente feliz, veo los nombres y apodos de algunos amigos (casi Hermanos),porque crecimos juntos.
Que pena que el tiempo y la distancia nos haya separado, me gustaria mucho al menos estar en contacto por medio de este medio.
Un abrazo muy fuerte de mi parte.
dale mi correo a quien conoscas quiero enviarles una cancion muy bonita de Santamaria.
mi correo electronico es: gamadeltoro@hotmail.com (619)272 9367 San Diego Ca
god bless you who set up this page my name is rolando del toro and that town is a great town of memories some good some bad but the peace i expirience in that town i will never forget especially las caramicuas god bless the land of santa maria land where my parents borned and trully im proud of have part of that land o mother mary where all the people haves love to give i will be more than happy to chat with anybody from town my e mail is deltoro.rolando@yahoo.com god bless you all
hola saludos para la gente de santa maria del oro y municipios
Hi my name is Jovita Andrade Chavez one of the grandmothers of Santa Maria Del Oro Jalisco former (Manuel M Dieguez)I was born in las Minas and I grew up in Santa Maria Del Oro since was five years, I'm greatly surprised that I can see my home town in this website, I'm happy reading that all these young
people see Santa Maria as I do, beautiful, peacefull, and with very friendly people, It is like being in other planet, I thought that only I have that concept of Santa Maria, now I know that I'm right, because all of you are seeing it as I'm, my email is jovitaandrade@yahoo.com I would like to keep in touch with all of you to share more about Santa Maria Specially de la funsion. Bye
Jovita
from Chicago.
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