El Valle de Tacupeto

Adriana took this picture.
I can still see the room where my brothers' shoes were made.

Rome wasn't built in a day, neither was Tacupeto.com; we hope you can enjoy this site as a work in progress. We are thinking to include a link for posting comments, or even a chat room. Also, it would be appropriate for there to be more postings in eSpanish. We also need family and travelers to write down what they know, because the History of El Valle is in us, and the cuentos of our abuelos. We need to record dates and events, and relations, and we must also include our own impressions and experiences.

Tacupeto has changed relatively little in the last 50 years, but the highways and conveniences of the 21st century are fast encroaching. It's important to preserve the memories and anecdotes while they are still fresh in our minds.

The last two photographs that were posted came from my prima, Adriana. She was in El Valle last June. She went with her digital camera and a strong desire to capture the images that most strongly represent Tacupeto. This town is where her parents were born, and her grandparents and great grandparents. She lives in Southern California, but for as long as she can remember, Tacupeto has been the other half of her life. She and I talked about how profound the contrast is between these two worlds. In our beach city lives we are fluent in interstate driving, cell phone minutes and Costco pizzas; we run hot showers whenever we want, and have never been followed by a burro on our way to church. Adriana hoped her photographs could bring Tacupeto to her friends in California, so they could glimpse a place that is rural, rugged, reflective. The roads are dirt, and traveled by pickups and horses. The homes are adobe; in the worst heat of the Sonoran summer our Ma Juana's kitchen was a cool oasis.

Adriana wanted to post more historic facts with her photographs, but I would like to encourage her to write what she shared with me. I was completely enthralled with her memories of sitting on Pa' Chico's log bench, and of being served one of Abuela Antonia's corn tortillas, with Abuela's hand print still pressed in the hot dough.

I too have wanted to capture the elusive attraction that Tacupeto possess; it's not an idyllic place, or an easy journey, but it is a welcome and gratifying sojourn from the modern world. I look forward to talking with Adriana again. It's wonderful to realize that she and I share a passion for the details and connections, the thousand images and recollections that comprise Tacupeto.