All language subtitles for Amazing.Railway.Adventures.With.Nick.Knowles.S01E06.1080p.HDTV.x264-CiTiDeL

'I'm travelling the world
by train...

on a series of incredible journeys.

HORN TOOTS IN DISTANCE

Right on cue.
'There'll be spectacular scenery.'

It's absolutely stunning,
I genuinely can't believe I'm here.

Somebody pinch me.
'I'll meet amazing people...'

I've brought
some rope and some fruit.

'..Who push me to my limits
in extraordinary places...'

HE YELPS

'..and show me astonishing sights.'

HE LAUGHS

Oh, my word, look at that.
I'm holding a piece of real artwork.

That's ridiculously good.
CH UCKLES

I discover
incredible feats of engineering.

HORN TOOTS IN DISTANCE

I have a feeling
this might be another switchback.

'And I'll go
beyond the tourist trail

'to find out
what life's like along the track.'

I'm very rarely stuck for words,
but, I have to say,

this is one of the most gobsmacking
places I've ever been.

SkoL everyone'.
THEY CHUCKLE

'These are
my amazing railway adventures.'

So, sit back, put your feet up,
and enjoy the ride. All aboard!

It's just so much fun!

HORN

TRACK RATTLES

HORN

'This time, I'm in Mexico,
taking a very famous train journey.

'On the way, I'll discover the many
faces of this incredible land.

'In the North, it's cowboy country.'

But if I'm not gonna look like
a fool,

I've gotta get it this time.
Three...

H E CH UCKLES
Ah!

'And home to
the local Raramuri tribe,

'who still live
in a traditional way.'

It's a house in a cave,
there's a wardrobe, that's a bed.

'But first, there's the remarkable,
Copper Canyon Railway itself...'

I can't imagine
looking at it and saying,

"I'm gonna put a railway
through there."

'..Ieading to one of the most
beautiful regions in North America.'

The reason people come up here
is cos of this view.

Come and have a look at this.

The Copper Canyon Railway
is an engineering marvel,

also known as the Chihuahua-Pacific
Railway, or El Chepe.

It was the brainchild of an American
engineer, Albert Kinsey Owen.

Said to survey possibilities
for a new railroad,

he discovered
this stunning bay at Topolobampo,

on the coast of
the state of Sinaloa.

This may seem like
a strange place to start,

but this port, Topolobampo, is
where the rail line actually began.

The idea was to take all of
the cargo coming off the big ships

and put it onto the railway line,

which they could then take
into central Mexico and beyond,

up into the heart of the USA.

My passenger train starts

a few miles down the road from here
tomorrow morning.

But I couldn't start my journey
without seeing where it all began.

Next morning, it's an early start
for me in Los Mochis,

where I'm boarding
the El Chepe Express.

HE CHUCKLES
Oh-ho, look at this.

What a fantastic train.
Look at how long it is!

Stretches all the way to the other
end of the platform there...

...and all the way down there,

so two engines,
a total of 5,000 horsepower

on those two engines
to pull this train along.

It's got
a Pullman carriage for dining,

it's got a glass roof carriage,

so you can see the sights,
and it's gonna be beautiful.

I can't tell you how excited I am
to go on this train.

My journey will take me 220 miles
from Los Mochis in Sinaloa,

to Creel in Mexico's biggest state,
Chihuahua, stopping along the way.

HORN

We're moving very slowly,
I hope it picks up speed...

HE CHUCKLES
..cos we've got a long way to go.

To be honest, if you think about it,
the length of this train,

the weight of those engines are
pulling, no wonder we start slow.

But the adventure begins.

The whole trip will take
nine and a half hours,

so there's plenty of time
to get settled in.

Thought I'd give you a quick tour.

So, this is the Standard,
or Economy Class.

You have to go through
the baggage car to get to the rest.

One of the kitchens.

So, this here...

...is business dining.
There's many different dining cars.

There's more than one bar.

Look, there's banquettes here
to sit in. How lovely is this?

It's like a town on wheels.

Oh! Look at this, this is fantastic.
This is a viewing car,

where you can sit here
and look out and see...

At the moment,
it's flat countryside,

but once we actually get
into Copper Canyon,

this'll be the place to sit.
Hi, morning.

This is my carriage.
First Class. I've been upgraded.

But it's the very back
that's my favourite.

Look at the views you get
from back here.

Isn't that wonderful?

The other great thing
about having open windows like this

on a viewing platform is the sound,
listen.

RATTLING

The sound of the train
on the tracks. Isn't that lovely?

After 50 miles,
we're coming to our first stop,

where El Chepe takes
a 15-minute break.

BRAKES SCREECH

We've just pulled up
at the town El Fuerte,

home of
a very famous resistance fighter.

The town's name comes from a fort
Spanish settlers built here in 1610

to ward off
attacks from the local population.

Ancl the town claims
a connection with that hero

of multiple Hollywood movies, Zorro.

El Fuerte is proud of
this Mexican Robin Hood.

There's even a statue of him here.

So who was Zorro?
Well, he was a made-up character,

in a book, 1919, an American writer,

all about this character
Don Diego de la Vega.

Although interestingly, it's claimed
that there was a person by that name

born in a hotel room
just down the road here.

And it's claimed that he did fight
in resistance for the downtrodden

against the Spanish.

You can, in fact, stay
in that room now.

What is true, is that this area

was a hotbed of resistance
against the Spanish, so who knows?

Back on the train,

we're speeding through
the fertile plains of Sinaloa.

And soon, crossing the state border
into Chihuahua.

The engineering
of the Copper Canyon Railway

is quite remarkable.

It climbs from sea level
to over 8,000ft on this journey.

Crossing 37 bridges,
and going through 86 tunnels.

Viewing car's got quite busy.

The scenery's starting to get
really interesting.

We're about to go
up into the mountain,

and that's when
it gets very special.

I think that's what he's announcing.

ANNOUNCER
CHATTERS INDISTINCTLY

OK, so, we're going over
Aguas Calientes Bridge,

it means "hot water",

and it's the longest,
at almost 500m long.

Ancl that's just
the beginning of the challenges

the people
who built this line faced.

The mountains come next.

Hello.
Hello.

What's your name?
Elizabeth Jennings.

Where you from, Elizabeth?
Western Canada. Oh, are you?

In the Rocky Mountains.

Oh, so you like mountains?
I do love the mountains.

Is that why
you decided to come on this train?

The countryside is beautiful, and
we get to see unparalleled views,

and an open-aired train.
Yep. Doesn't get much better.

Hello. Who are you here with?

I'm Juliet, I'm here with
my husband, Alex. Nice to meet you.

So you're from the UK, obviously.
We are. Where?

Marlow in Buckinghamshire.

This train's a bit special,
have a quick look over there again.

Unbelievable. It's lovely
when you turn the corners,

and you can actually see
the train ahead of you, can't you?

I'm a bit of a train geek. We've
clone trains all over the world.

And coming to Mexico,
I had to do this one.

Yes, it's a bit special, isn't it?
Yeah, exactly.

'And so far, absolutely brilliant.|.

But it's all the engineering
that's gone in,

going up through the mountains,
it will be interesting to see...

Yeah. ..how they've clone that
and engineered that.

I mean, it's just amazing.

Whilst the tunnels and bridges
are a huge achievement,

what comes next is almost a miracle.

El Chepe must now gain
700ft of height

in a short stretch of track.

This famous feature is known as
the Temoris Loop.

At the lowest point,
the train has to cross

the sweeping semicircle
of the Santa Barbara Bridge.

The track curves here,
round to the left.

We've actually clone a huge loop.

You can see the yellow bridge
in the background there.

Then, to gain height,
the engineers devised

what is surely the crowning glory
of the whole railway,

it's called La Pera, or "the pear".

Ancl then
we disappear into the mountain.

It's what happens in the mountain
that's a bit special.

The train manager, Mauricio,
is on hand to talk me through it.

So, we can see the line where
we came along here, a big loop,

so we have to gain
a lot of altitude now, yes? Yes.

It's 100m that we climb up
from this track to this track.

So will make a U-turn
inside the tunnel,

so when we enter,
we are looking to the south.

When we exit the tunnel,
we're gonna be looking at the north.

So we make the loop
inside at the same time

we climb up one track of level.

After its first 180-degree turn
at the base,

the train enters the tunnel.

Inside La Pera, it takes
another sweeping curve upwards.

On a half-mile stretch of track

that had to be blasted
right through the mountain.

Why does it come in and loop
and come out the same side again?

Why didn't you just go
the round the mountain?

Oh, well, because the geology
of the place, the mountains,

they have very short space
to climb up 300m.

E That's why they have to
do he tunnel inside a mountain.

So we've come back out
into the sunlight now.

We are coming out now, the tunnel.

So the view that we have
in the left side,

now we have it in the right side.

That's amazing,
looking at that loop, down there,

that we came round, all the way in,

inside the mountain,
and then back out.

It's such an ambitious thing
to do... Yeah, yeah.

...to try and get a railway
through this scenery.

Actually, it's pride to work
for this railroad

because not only is it
one of the most amazing in Mexico,

but it's the only one
that is still working,

and it's working because of
the people that lives here.

It is the only way of
transportation for them,

so it is amazing to work on.

I like that a lot.

Really lovely.
Thank you.

HORN

The line is hewn through
rock faces and then tunnels,

and then, just there, we were
right on the edge of a huge drop,

then it's dug through
another side of a mountain.

All I can think of is
the effort that it's taken

to hack a rail line
through this landscape.

I think it's about as impressive
a railway as I've ever seen.

Just around the corner,
is the view I've been waiting for.

The spectacular Copper Canyon.

The reason people come up here...
HE CHUCKLES

...is cos of this view.
Come and have a look at this.

Ancl I meet
Chihuahua's famous cheesemakers...

They make about
1,300kg a clay of cheese.

...and get to taste it.
Cheers.

Cheers.
H E CH UCKLES

I'm in Mexico
on the Copper Canyon railway,

one of the most
spectacular train journeys

in the whole of North America.

Now I've seen what it took

to get the railway
through the Sierra Madre mountains,

I'm in awe of that
visionary engineer who started it.

Albert Kimsey Owen.

As it turns out, Albert wasn't
just thinking about a railroad.

He had another dream -
to found a community here,

based on socialist principles.

In a region now notorious
for drug-related crime,

this piece of its history
is surprising.

I'm joined by Claudia Arana,

a local actor who performs
a solo puppet show about Albert.

I keep hearing
the name Albert Kimsey Owen.

What was it about his story
that made you want to represent him?

Era un personaje que tuvo un sueno,
que vivia una utopia.

To establish his ideal community,
Owen advertised in America

for like-minded people
to come and join him.

Construyamos juntos Pacific City.

Tenemos sus casas, caminos,
escuelas, y hospitales.

He attracted eager artisans,

farmers, teachers, scientists
and many more,

promising there would be
no private ownership

and no currency in this new land.

His dream was always to build
the railroad...

but within a few years,
conflicts broke out.

The community
boarded ships bound for home,

and Albert was left
a disappointed man.

That's the first time I've watched
a puppet show on a train,

I've gotta say.

It brings it to life, though,
doesn't it?

Albert's name is still known,
because a street, a park

and a beach in Topolobampo
are named after him.

But few remember his deeds,

which included a vital
irrigation canal for Sinaloa.

There are many things in the history

of Europeans
coming to other countries

which is not so good,
but this sounds like

a European bringing
something that was positive

with a positive attitude.

SHE SPEAKS SPANISH

It's a...
It's a really interesting show,

and one that actually tells me a lot
and brings to life

Albert and the work and
the early settlement, so thank you.

Gracias a ti.

And also thank you to Albert.

Ah. Thank you.

HE CH UCKLES
That wasn't weird at all.

Sadly, Albert never saw
the fulfilment of his railway dream.

After years of campaigning for it,

by the time construction began,
he was no longer involved.

But Albert Kimsey Owen
left his mark on Sinaloa,

and this train
is a tribute to his vision.

After 190 miles,

at last, we're entering one of
Mexico's most spectacular regions.

The Copper Canyon.

In the middle of the legendary
Sierra Madre mountains,

it's known as
the Grand Canyon of Mexico.

It covers 25,000 square miles.

And the gateway to the canyon
is the town of Bahuichivo,

where I'm hopping off El Chepe
for a while.

Chihuahua is
home to an ancient farming community

of around 90,000 Mennonites.

Like the Amish in America,

they adhere to strict
religious beliefs and practices.

I've arranged to meet
three generations of the community.

The first, Susanna,
has brought me to a Mennonite farm.

So, Susanna, who are you bringing me
to meet today?

We're going to be meeting
Mr Abraham Peters

from Camps Las Pampas.

OK, and he's a farmer here?
He's a farmer, yes.

He has his own homestead
with some animals,

he has some fields that he works,

and he's been a farmer
all his life.

Hello.
Hello. Hello.

H E SPEAKS PLAUTDI ETSCH

Hi, I'm Nick.

SH E SPEAKS PLAUTDI ETSCH

England is far away, isn't it?

It is very far away, yes.
SHE CH UCKLES

Well, I understand
you know about the history,

so can I come in and chat?

Come in.
Thank you very much.

The Mennonites originated
in Holland.

To escape religious persecution,
they migrated across Europe,

then North America, before settling
in Chihuahua 100 years ago.

They still speak Plautdietsch,

a German dialect that's been
passed down the generations.

Thank you very much
for inviting us into your home.

Erm...
How long has your family been here?

H E SPEAKS PLAUTDI ETSCH

In 1922, his grandparents came
with their children.

There was nothing here.

Just a field.
That's all there was here.

Unlike the Amish,

Mennonites are permitted to use
motorised vehicles

but use horsepower where possible.

Abraham wants to show me

a piece of history
he's kept in his barn.

In his youth...
Yeah.

...he would go and visit
his girlfriend

in this buggy and horses,
and it would take him two hours

to get to the village
where his girlfriend lived.

H E SPEAKS PLAUTDI ETSCH

Up until 1983, he used this buggy...
Is that right?

...to travel.

So this will have
many, many memories for you.

Good memories.

Good memories.
Good memories.

And does anyone in the community
still use this

as a method of transport now?

Not... Not here.

I think this is a lovely thing.

I'm kind of sad
that that's not running any more,

but I can understand why not.

That's why he likes to keep this
as a keepsake.

Yeah. I can understand that.

As well as farming,

Mennonites are celebrated
for their cheesemaking.

MARIACHI MUSIC

Mexican Queso Chihuahua

is also known as Queso Menonita
after them.

This small dairy
still uses traditional methods.

Susanna's daughter, Italy,

represents the younger generation
of Mennonites.

She offers me a taste
of the famous cheese whilst we talk.

Cheers.

Cheers.
H E CH UCKLES

They say when it's squeaky,
it's very fresh.

So this must be very fresh cheese.

And it is very nice.

So, I've met
two generations of Mennonites,

but you're much younger,
you're... in your 20s?

Do you think
your generation is different?

We got something very interesting,

which is the rise of social media,
the internet, you know,

so we got a lot of world
in very little time,

when they had to kind of seek out
the world,

and it just
kind of naturally came to us.

Are there favourite things
you watch around the world you like?

I like Love Island.
I know that's...

I shouldn't like Love Island,
but it's just so addicting.

I see, OK.
Yes.

Do you think that
this community can... er, continue?

Well, I think
it's kind of up to my generation

to conserve the traditions
that we think are important,

like the language I think
is so important, for example,

cos if we don't learn it,
it's just going to die out.

Do you feel like
you live in a sort of...

A little pocket in Mexico
that's different?

Well, for me, it always felt
so normal to live here. Yeah.

It wasn't until I left the community
to go study where I was like,

"This is so strange."

Like, I thought the whole world
was like this little bubble,

and it's not, it's so different.

Also, it's really nice
that the community

want their young people to go out
and do other things. Yeah.

To learn more and then come back
and be part of it,

and enrich your community
by knowing more about the world.

Ancl it is very, very good cheese.

It's pretty good cheese,
I gotta say so.

Before I leave,
Italy takes me on a quick tour

of the cheesemaking process.

They make about 1,300kg a clay
of cheese,

depending how much milk they get in.

So, when will they start to scoop
out to put in the dishes?

It takes about an hour,

cos they have to wait
for it all to drain,

and then they have to let it rest
for about half an hour,

and then
they still mix it around a bit.

Back on the train,

we're nearing
the heart of the Copper Canyon.

Ancl the highest, longest,
wobbliest bridge I've ever been on.

They do say don't look down,
but I think I ought to, so...

Ooh, that's not good.

Ancl I'll get to meet

the Copper Canyon's
indigenous residents,

who are generous
with their favourite tipple.

She says it tastes like apple.

Tastes like apple vinegar.

El Chepe, also known as
the Copper Canyon railway,

took more than 60 years
to construct

and was finally completed in 1961.

So, look down here,

there's a whole bunch of kids
and people.

These are the Raramuri,

who actually are indigenous
to this area.

Make their lives in the hills here

and have some crafts for sale,
so I might buy one.

Let's have a look.
Er, can I have a look at this?

Yeah? Let's have a look
at one of those. Gracias.

There you go.

Little beautifully made little pots,
aren't they?

They're really nice. I like those.

Erm, how much?

70?

There you go. Bought some apples
as well. Muchas gracias!

That's actually really important
to them up here,

that the train comes through
and brings tourists

to be able to buy the things
that they make. Apple, anyone?

HORN

BIRDS CHIRP

After winding through the stunning
scenery of the Sierra Madre,

my next stop is at the highest
railway station in all of Mexico.

7,900ft above sea level,
in the heart of the Copper Canyon.

So, this is Divisadero.

It's a beautiful place with
incredible views of Copper Canyon,

and there's a wealth of things
to do here.

But I think I can smell gorditas,

which is a local delicacy
I wanna try.

Come and have a look. She's flipping
those in here and warming them.

Gracias.

Gorditas translates literally
as "little fat",

cos they're little, chubby pasties.

This is a meat one.
You can have them red or blue.

Blue gorditas are made
with blue corn

and red with,
yes, you guessed it, red corn.

That one's very lovely.

This is made by the Raramuri.
Doing a little bit of street food.

I recommend you try it
if you come here.

They've also set out craft stalls
for the tourists here.

All kinds of jewellery,

these little boxes,
sort of wicker things.

But the reason
people come up here...

HE CH UCKLES
..is cos of this view.

Come and have a look at this.

DRAMATIC MUSIC

'The magnificent Copper Canyon
derived its name

'from the green colours found
along its steep walls.

'It was formed
during volcanic activity

'around 40 million years ago,

'which triggered deep fractures
in the Earth's crust.

'I hear one of the best ways
to see it is on a cable car

'that spans one of the valleys.

'The only problem is,
first, I have to cross a bridge.

'A very wobbly bridge.

'Which is disconcerting
to say the least.'

But you don't come to
a place like this

and not take on
at least some of the challenges.

Now, I'm concentrating on you
at the moment,

because I'm walking over
a very rickety, very high bridge.

Actually,
my knees are going all weak...

HE EXHALES
THROUGH HIS LIPS

just in case you think
I'm making a big deal of this...

This... is what I'm walking over.

They do say don't look down,
but I think I ought to, so...

Oh-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-hoo!

Ooh, that's not good.

Ohh...

Right, the end is over here.

'Made it!
Now it's time for the cable car.

'This one has
an almost vertical drop.

'My guide here is Sergio Barrera.'
Gracias.

I'm looking forward to this.

'Known as "Tiny".

'The ride is nearly two miles long

'and coasts along
650ft above the canyon floor.'

Gotta say, the view of the canyon
here is absolutely stunning.

'Tiny runs
the Copper Canyon Adventure Park.

'As we descend, I can see
people canyoneering, climbing

'and swinging over gut-wrenching
and vertigo-inducing heights.

'Me, I'm a lot happier in here,
with Tiny.'

That river's called
the Urique River,

and it's
one of the longest rivers here.

So this river has actually cut
one of the canyons...

There are six different canyons,
I know, so...

But it's the rivers that have made
this extraordinary landscape.

This is the best season
to visit here.

Cos we have
the rainy season going on.

So you can see
all the valley turning green.

There is a community living
down here... ls there?

That we're crossing right now.

So there's people living down
the cable car.

The name of the local community here
is Raramuri.

So, a good thing that
we do in the park here is

we don't charge them to use
the cable car.

So they can use the cable car
for moving from the bottom part

to the upper part, get stuff,
and then come back to their houses

without walking all the way up
and down. That's great.

You'd have to think about it before
you popped out for a pint of milk,

wouldn't you?
THEY LAUGH

'I'm curious to find out
more about the Raramuri.

'I picked up a gift for them
along the way, which is heavy.'

The Raramuri
are an indigenous people to Mexico

who, many, many moons ago,
escaped into this valley...

and lived in caves.

That became a way of life.

And, although most of them
don't live in caves any more,

some still do,
and I'm going to visit one now.

I'm bringing gifts -

a grinder and some corn in return
for Petra, who I'm meeting,

showing me round her house.

'When the Spanish discovered
the rich mineral wealth

'in the Copper Canyon,

'they forced the Raramuri to work
as slaves in the mines.

'Now they're semi-nomadic

'subsistence farmers, like Petra,
who's 86.'

SHE CACKLES

THEY CHUCKLE

I said I was coming to meet people
who lived in caves.

Can I move you along there?
THEY SPEAK SPANISH

But it's a house in a cave.

I mean, I know that sounds obvious,
but it's...

I mean, there's, you know,
there's a wardrobe, there's a bed.

But who are we looking at?

'My translator, Kath, explains.'

So, she's her... er... Tu meta'?
meta. "granddaughter. OK.

How long have the family
been living here?

SPEAKS SPANISH

Ah, it's that picture over there.
That's her mother.

Ancl they used to live here and...
SPEAKS SPANISH

Si.
And she inherit from her mother.

So, when you see
other people living now in houses,

do you not want to give up the cave
or you like living in a cave?

SHE SPEAKS SPANISH

SHE CHUCKLES

She says because it was inherited

by her mother,
so she wants to stay here.

You're a grandmother yourself.

There are
all the women working in here.

What are the Raramuri men doing?

SHE SPEAKS SPANISH

"Only drinking."

LAUGHTER

PETRA SPEAKS SPANISH

"They work, but they drink more."
LAUGHTER

'Petra's asked us to stay for lunch.
That sounds lovely.

'Not least because
the heavens have just opened.'

I'll tell you what,
when it rains here, it really rains.

Suddenly, the cave is seeming
very attractive.

They've got some beans...

Salsa.

You eat it on one side.
So you start... Yep.

KATH SPEAKS SPANISH

It's very good. Very tasty.

Erm... that salsa is hot.

H E CH UCKLES

Very hot.

But it... H0h!

But very enjoyable.

'Lunch is washed down with
their favourite corn-based beer -

'Tesgllino.'

THEY SPEAK
IN NATIVE LANGUAGE

Here we go.

She says it tastes like apple.

Tastes like apple?!

Tastes like apple vinegar.

Usually, they drink it
as soon as it's made.

Gracias, muchas gracias.
Gracias, gracias, gracias.

SOFT CHUCKLING

Well, several firsts there for me.

First time I've ever met people
who actually live in a cave.

First time I've had
a meal prepared in a cave.

And probably the worst drink
I've ever tasted in my entire life.

But what fabulous people.
just goes to show -

you live in a cave,
you live in a house,

all the same, really, aren't we?

'It's time for
the final leg of my journey

'on the Copper Canyon railway.

'El Chepe is making its way
slowly out of the canyon

'and across the state of Chihuahua
to Creel.

'It's only 36 miles
but takes a full hour and a half.

'The light is falling,
as we leave the Copper Canyon,

'but there's just enough time to see

'the last great engineering feat
on this line.

'This is what is called El Lazo,
the lasso.

'You can see why.

'The train turns a full circle,
as it climbs.

'One of only three such loops
in North America,

'it's another ingenious means
of gaining height quickly.

'Sunset in this subtropical region
is very speedy

'and is over in minutes.

'The views have ebbed away,

'so I'm spending the final leg
in my carriage,

'where I've been invited to try

'one of Mexico's
most popular board games, Loteria.'

La Rosa!

'Brought here by the Spanish elite,
it soon became popular

'and was spread
through travelling fairs.'

Enrique here has been good enough
to let me join in

to explain how it's played.
What sort of game is it?

OK, so, erm, Loteria is kind of like
a board game with a bit of luck.

The way it works is that
you have a deck of cards. Yeah.

Each card is going to be called out.

For instance,
they would call La Sirena,

and if you have La Sirena...
you grab the bin...

And put him on there.
Exactly.

Ancl you win
when you get a full card? Yeah.

The pictures in the Loteria,
some of them are Tarot-based,

and some of them are just
very traditional Mexican kitsch.

'Using beans as counters,
we're soon deep in the game.

'A picture-based version of bingo.'

Er, La Sandia!

El Pescado!

Yeah, I got a bean. OK... La Arana!

El Borracho. El Borracho.
I've got one of those as well.

That's amazing, I'm doing great.
You're doing great. Er...

El Violoncello.
Ah, there you go, I have this one.

I've got that one as well.

El Valiente.
That's one of the favourite ones.

Right. And you've got him as well?
Yes.

You're... You're beating me
really comfortably here.

Erm... El Paraguas.
Yes. Again, thank you.

How are you doing this?

That's the thing with Loteria,
you have to be really attentive.

La Garza. That means Loteria.
So I have to squeal, "Loteria!"

Really?
Yes.

I'm miles out.
That's quite good fun, though.

And actually,
on a long train journey,

like, you learn
a bit of Spanish along the way.

I like that. That's quite good fun.

And finally,
we're rolling into Creel,

where I'm staying for the night
after an amazing journey.

There were times on that train

where I felt like
I was riding some giant metal snake,

winding its way through the pews
of a natural huge cathedral.

Copper Canyon really is
something else.

Next, I'll be heading
for the high chaparral...

What do you think?
Full ranchero outfit.

What's not to love about this?

...and join the local
musical maestros in a nortena band.

TH EY PLAY
MEXICAN SONG

I'm in Chihuahua, Mexico.

The El Chepe express train

delivered me here to Creel
last night.

Morning brings me
the chance to see the town,

which is in the heart
of Mexico's cowboy country.

Time to saddle up,

because I want to go
where the train can't travel-

into the hills.

I've arranged to go horse riding

with the strong, but almost silent,
Jose Luis Carrasco,

a local cowboy, or vaquero.

First things first...

What do you think?
Full ranchero outfit.

Well, everything except the boots,

cos it turns out
the Mexicans aren't as big as me,

they don't have boots in my size,

I am literally too big for my boots.

Right, alll need now is a horse.
Vamanos. Huh.

We headed up to his ranch
outside the town.

Jose just needs to sort me out
with one more must-have accessory.

Hey.
Oh-ho! The chaps!

This is the final touch, obviously.

So, this is the first time
I've ever worn chaps.

Other than that nightclub that time.

Chaps were developed to protect
cowboys' legs against the chaparral,

the thorny trees
that cover the landscape.

What do you think?

Yeah, I feel the part now.

Feel quite restricted as well,
but...

They're all right, OK.
JOSE CH UCKLES

Before he allows me near his horse,

Jose wants to check out
my ropemanship.

One of the key skills of a vaquero
is to lasso cattle.

"Lass-o", as they say.

And he's showing me
how to do it now.

Vaqueros' legendary lasso work

also helped shape
American entertainment...

and would later become
the foundation of the first rodeo.

How hard could it be?

So, one, two, three...

Oh!

Everyone gets one miss.
I mean, you know, first time.

But if I'm not gonna look
like a fool,

I've gotta get it this time.
Three...

Ah-ha!
He-he-he-hey!

Whoa'.!

Have I got a job?

LAUGHTER
Si!

Yeah, I think
he's being very generous.

So I'm an apprentice vaquero.
OK.

THEY CHUCKLE

Finally, Jose leads me to my mount.

What's this horse's name?
Revolver.

You're called Revolver?
That's not encouraging.

So, let's see how we go, shall we?

This feels so natural
in this environment,

and the horse is doing all the work.

What's not to love about this?

It's such a beautiful setting.

Beautiful.

A little bit right.
A little bit left.

It's just so easy!

And we're off for a gentle amble
in the rocky hills above Creel.

HORSES WHINNYING

It's my last clay in Mexico,

and before I leave
this amazing place,

there's one last thing
I want to do -

join a band.

TH EY PLAY
MEXICAN SONG

In the UK, we've mostly heard
of the mariachi bands of Mexico,

but there's different types of music
all over Mexico.

This is nortena...
# Hi... #

...andjorge's band is playing it.

HE SINGS IN SPANISH

Very different, isn't it?

They have said
I can join in and have a go.

This is a song about
a woman who blows hot and cold,

leaving her lover confused.

Muy bien, muy bien.

May I interrupt for a moment?

Muy bien. Very good.
Thank you very much.

So, can I have a go at joining in?
Yeah.

I'm gonna borrow your guitar,
thank you very much.

OK.

TH EY START PLAYING

HE SINGS IN SPANISH

NICK STRUMS ALONG
EXPERTLY

THEY CONTINUE TO PLAY

That's a good C!

SONG ENDS
Thank goodness we stopped!

It was getting worse and worse,
but thank you!

Muy bien, muy bien.
Thank you very much.

Well,
I murdered the second half of that,

but nonetheless,
that was extremely enjoyable.

Thank you very much.
Gracias, gracias.

The Chihuahua Pacific Railway,
El Chepe,

has given me
a host of unforgettable experiences.

I've loved every minute.
MEXICAN SONG PLAYS

I think there's
a bit of a stereotype with Mexico.

We all have an idea of what it is.

But in actual fact,

when you come here and meet
the Raramuri,

who hid in the caves
away from the Spanish,

and the rancheros,

who work so hard
in the valleys here,

and the Mennonites,

who have set up
their own little enclave,

you realise there are
many different types of Mexico.

What's not to love about this?
TRAIN TOOTS

And I've come to the end

of one of the most enjoyable
train journeys ever.

I think it's about as impressive
a railway as I've ever seen.

And, then, of course,
you've got this,