🇲🇽 Valle de Bravo 2.0 - Cascada Velo de Novia - 04.13.2026

I’ve been told by many people that I need to visit Valle de Bravo. It’s beautiful, and cool… and so on… and all.. all tell me it’s gentrified.

We all want things to be the way they were. Untouched, authentic… and cheap. And we all love to complain… I know I do. And “gentrification” is the catch phrase here in Mexico… (and in the U.S. as well). Horrible foreigners… especially Americans, taking over… I don’t necessarily disagree… but there’s a bigger story… of progress and tourism… in the contemporary 21st century.

Listening to the perpetual whines of gentrification here gets old… for instance… if you are a Mexican sitting in a Starbucks complaining about Americans and gentrification… ??? If you are a Mexican sitting in a Starbucks… and often… and complaining about Americans and gentrification, and you are wearing Converse, Levi’s jeans, an Apple Watch… wearing a t-shirt from your favorite American rock band… and wanting cheap rent in a hip neighborhood… with cool (American style) shops, bars, restaurants, craft beer, funky people… and more Starbucks… you’re a “gentrifier” and an American want-to-be. La verdad!!!

I walked into Valle de Bravo on tianguis day… and at the ending of some festival. So… regular peoples hovering around. Indigenous dress, typical foods, old people doing old people things… but… it didn’t take long to see that this beautiful place is set up for the tourist dollar.

I walked down to the lake shore in late afternoon… and it was consumed with people holding brochures for tourists activities… para sailing, boat rides, casinos, noisy Rzr rental cars driving around, playing loud music, and lots of selling this and that. I tire of the tourist scene quickly… and selfishly prefer to be the lone traveler, and the only güerito in site… but… tourist places are popular for a reason.

I snapped some fotos… and wandered around… there are locals selling fruits in buckets… and I want some (and need some for my stomach flora). I stopped a gal and asked “¿cuánto es… para estas ciruelas minis?” I pointed at the tiny plums

“80 pesos por cuarto de kilo” as she smiles back…

“En serio… carnala?!?” 🤨 A quarter kilo is about 2 plums… $4 bucks. I once paid 300 pesos for 1 avocado and small bag of nuts in Mercado Coyoacán.

That’s gringo gentrifier prices… and that’s twice as much for small plums at the Mar Vista organic farmer’s market in Los Angeles. And that’s why I don’t dig on the tourist areas… and that’s when I’ll gladly sit down with people at Starbucks, wearing converse and Levi’s and complain about gentrification…

Today… I will make the rounds… I don’t think there’s a Starbucks here… but… I’ll find my rhythm… like I typically do… all is an adventure… and this is an adventure I have long been looking forward too…

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I stopped into an empanada place for brunch this morning. Freshly made everything. It was just me and the chef…. She had a Buddha on the shelf and I asked about it…. And if she’s familiar with the Stupa. She was… and we had a great conversation… and I acquired some good info. She had home-made tiramisu. I asked if I could have some to go. Nope… it’s in a glass mold. Ok… but I want one. She said I could have it if I bring the glass cup tomorrow. Deal!!!

After brunch snacks… la Cascada… no wait! first… buy a pinche toothbrush because I forgot mine… then… head to Cascada Velo de Novia for some nature and fresh air. It’s Monday… so it’s light on people. It’s lovely… but it’s difficult to escape into the depths of the landscapes. There are always people, tienditas, empty beer cans and Tokis bags… close in sight. I was happy enough.

When I walked off the trail I sat and had a drink… it’s the cool thing about Mexico… there’s always a place to eat and drink near. I asked about a taxi and they pointed to the roadway and said wait for a colectivo. I take them here and there… it’s a taxi or mini van… and they jamb as many people in as they can… you make new friends quick and easy. It’s cheap-ish… 25 pesos for a ride back to centro.

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