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  It’s hard to imagine that about 50 years ago, this building was a sugar plantation.  This region used to be wet, and now it’s just arid desert and some mines.  The Hacienda Del Muerte (Plantation of the Dead) is located outside of Miña which is about an hour Northwest of Monterrey, Mexico.  For the climbers out there, it’s not a very far drive from El Potrero Chico.

The towns of Miña and Hildago seem quite poor by US standards.  The houses are simple concrete cinder block houses, usually built by the owners.  The eye opener however is traveling Northwest of these towns into the desert.  There are small villages that appear to be built by wooden pallets strung together fighting not to be blown away by the wind.  The landscape becomes stark as there is little vegetation and likely no water.  In places along the road, children set up road blocks to beg for food or money.  So how do you make the choice to not support children asking for handouts, yet at the same time perpetuate a bad situation.  There is no right answer.  You give them some money, hope your conscious is OK with the decision and drive on.