Summertime High in the Mexican Mountains by Art and Gloria Netzer

Most people think that Mexico in the summer would be very hot and humid. But there is a place high in the mountains called HACIENDA LAS TRANCAS that defies that misconception. First established as a presidio, or fort, along the silver trail in 1567, it later became a hacienda in the 1700's. To get there you have to fly to Leon, Mexico then drive 2 hours north. The 450 Year-Old Dolores Hidalgo Hacienda is situated midway between San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato in a very small village that consists of a church, 2 bodegas and about 20 small family homes, all right in the middle of what most would consider a desert.

About 8 years ago a young couple from the US purchased 10 acres which included the Hacienda. It was obvious from looking at some of the old photos that it was going to take a lot of money, work and sweat to make this couple’s dream come true. This dream was to renovate the old 3 foot thick adobe walled building into a place of paradise. As you drive up the gravel road to the HACIENDA you see the you see this beautiful and rustic building. When you walk through the front gate it is like entering a garden of Eden.. This was achieved by mixing the original rustic building with a riot of lush, luxurious and colorful plants, trees, arbors, and flowers.

The hacienda consists of 40 rooms 2 pools one heated with a dozen solar panels to assure year-round comfort, perfectly manicured gardens and enormous porches. There are ten walled-in private acres for guests to use for hiking, cycling, and horseback riding. If neither of these were of interest you could work out in the 17 piece gym or just sit by the pool and relax. It was like a step back in time to experience the elegance of another era.

The inside the Hacienda Las Trancas is comfortably elegant, furnished with colonial antiques and locally made pottery and ceramics. There is also a wonderful selection of local wines.

Hacienda Las Trancas has 10 beautiful suites, (each about 20'x30') with balconies, stained glass windows, beautiful views of the Sierra Madres, gardens, each with high-speed internet, satellite plasma TV, fireplace, and private bath with a terraces overlooking the gardens, stables and beyond the outer walls.

One could eat every delicious meal at the Hacienda and it proves to be gourmets delight. Or you could venture out to a restaurant in either San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato. The head chef even offers Mexican cooking lessons. Most meals were prepared with fresh organically-grown produce grown at the hacienda, depending on the season. All the meals are delicious with a choice of either normal, medium, hot or very hot salsas offered for individual appetites at the table. Every dish is better then the one before.

The two nearest cities are San Miguel de Alleged and Guanajuato both less than an hour away. San Miguel is a popular town well-known for it's art and language schools, gourmet restaurants, large expatriate population, and of course, it's shopping and museums with lots of history to soak up. Guanajuato is famous both for it's beautiful talavera pottery and for being considered the birthplace of the Mexican Independence movement.

Most nights are quiet and early to bed after a very full day. Most guests appreciate the quiet nights, peaceful days, and lack of auto traffic and fumes. Temperatures never vary more than 10 to 15 degrees and the humidity is very low. After dinner you can arrange for a local band to entertain. The Mariachi Band strolled into the dining room and entertain guests as they dine. The party move to the comfortable courtyard lounge for much singing and dancing,. Everyone was including help was invited.

A visit to this magic place is a step back time and an experience of the elegance of another era. It is a place filled with romance, tranquility, and laughter. Each guest becomes like family while enjoying the comfort and pampering offered at the private 450 year-old Hacienda Las Trancas. in the colonial heart of Mexico.