On my trip to the small town of El Quelite, about an hour from where I live in Mazatlán, I noticed several things. Obviously, if I compared a small town in the countryside of Mexico to a touristy beach city, I would find many differences.
For example, El Quelite was much quieter all around. There weren't bands playing their instruments walking through the streets. There weren't Pulmonías and Aurigas whistling at you or blasting their music with a bunch of tourists partying in the back. I won't say it was silent. There were vendors and tour guides offering experiences and souvenirs to remember your visit right outside of the main restaurant, but they're not all over town. There are areas of Mazatlán like this, however, it is not nearly as common.
Another major difference is the greenery. In Mazatlán, it's not a secret that there is a lot of concrete from regular homes to the condos that line the beaches. But the main thing that caught my attention in El Quelite is the authentic feeling that has been preserved.
Although people like ourselves travel there for a "tourist" experience, it isn't overrun with souvenirs and attractions. There was the main restaurant, Restaurante El Meson De Loslaureanos, and a few stands offering keepsakes. A few tour guides with their beautiful horses offered rides through the cobblestone streets. But other than that, it was just a town with families and friends living their lives.
It hasn't been overrun with the need to constantly provide some type of entertainment. It hasn't been taken over by big corporations. However, they recently added an Oxxo which is slightly controversial. For the most part, they have maintained an authentic community-based town with "tienditas" and fresh, delicious food cooked in grandma's kitchen.
Restaurante El Meson De Loslaureanos
Vendor stand
There were also many "street" dogs that greeted us. The reason I put quotes on the word "street" is because oftentimes, these dogs actually have homes they go back to when they're done roaming. It's just the way of life here. Many people let their dogs run free for hours and the dogs know where to return to when they're ready to go home.
All of the dogs we saw this day were staying relatively close to what was clearly their homes. None of them were aggressive or wild. Some were more timid than others and I couldn't get pictures of the super friendly ones since they were trying to lick my camera. Some were more curious while others kept their distance. They interact with each other well and recognize when they've overstepped boundaries. Some even tried to follow us for a while.
In the above photos, you can see a distinct difference. If you're not familiar with Mexico, it may surprise you that these houses are about three houses apart. They are on the same street, in the same neighborhood, in the same little town. One is clearly well taken care of and the other looks abandoned. While I didn't see any evidence of people currently living in the latter, it isn't uncommon for homes like these to be near each other.
In the US, I remember the areas deemed "lower-class" and "upper-class." You would be labeled based on where you lived and what you had. Since it has been ingrained in us, as a society, to categorize everything and everyone, it's not uncommon to have "labels". Here in Mexico, they don't separate you based on that. I'm not trying to claim that no one will label you or categorize you based on those things. What I mean is they don't create areas for certain "levels" of people. You could see two houses similar to the ones above, right next to each other, both inhabited by families just trying to live.
There are no HOA restrictions forcing a certain aesthetic or pushing people out of their homes for failing to meet their standards. For some people, these houses have been in their family for generations. It's the only home they've known and some are just trying to keep it standing. Some can't afford to move somewhere bigger or "better." Some are just trying to survive.
But from what I have seen and experienced, it doesn't matter if your house is seemingly falling apart. It is a shelter and a place to gather. It doesn't have to be pristine and enormous to be worth spending time in. In my opinion, the house is not what matters at all. It's the atmosphere of the home that matters. It's the people inside that are important, not perfectly manicured yards and fresh paint. So what if a house has a few "scars." What's important is coming together. When you really focus on the atmosphere of these homes, you won't notice the little cracks and missing paint. The concrete doesn't feel stiff. There's a welcoming feeling that comes with knowing the people inside a community.
After our tour of this small town, my friend and I ventured into the neighborhoods. We walked down the streets where many locals have likely spent most of their lives. We heard laughter and music and saw a birthday party in the street. We saw children running and playing. We saw chickens roaming freely. We saw a variety of homes in all shapes and sizes. We saw families coming together at the end of a long day.
Everyone we encountered greeted us with welcoming smiles and a cheerful "buenas tardes." Some even took the time to make sure we weren't lost. We walked passed the small baseball field. We walked through many quiet streets lined with colorful homes. We passed some houses that looked like no one had been in for decades. Through all of our exploring, I had this sense of familiarity come over me. Even though I had never been to El Quelite, the authentic Mexico feeling welcomed me in as if I had grown up there my whole life. The colorful homes and cathedral glowing under the setting sun created a blissful atmosphere. There was a sort of tranquility that I had not experienced before.
