Valle De Bravo, Mexico

Valle feels like so many mountain towns around the world. With cobblestone streets and colonial architecture, there is a quiet, slow pace here and a magic all its own. With inviting restarurants and small shops, the businesses in the center of town cater to weekend visitors, and most of the little stores and eateries are largely empty except for breakfast and dinnertime. Even then, I wouldn’t say business is exactly booming. Most working folk eat at stalls on the street, milling about and socializing in the central plaza. The result is absolutely charming.

Several hours from the big metropolis of Mexico City (CDMX), Valle de Bravo, sits nestled in a verdant valley in the mountains of central Mexico. There is a grand lake here which serves as the main water reservoir for most of the City of Mexico. A high valley, surrounded by mountains, Valle de Bravo is revered by paragliders for the thermal air currents rising from the lake in the late morning and afternoon, drawing thousands of gliders from all around the world each year. At any point during the day, their parachutes can be seen circling the highest peaks around the lake.

It is also one the most lush and fertile valleys for growing vegetables. They say, “everything grows in Valle.” Avocados, greens, corn, lettuce, berries, fruits, it’s always available in both seasons, due to the ample supply of water.

Guitarist extraordinaire, Morgan Szymansky, invited me to perform at his ranch, El Carajo, built by his father in 1970s. At Rancho El Carajo, he now hosts musicians, performs concerts on his fantastical amphitheater and grows lettuce for local restaurants.

From Mexico , Morgan has a well-established career as a classical guitarist in the UK, Europe and Worldwide. Several years ago, Morgan moved back to Valle de Bravo, and established his foundation, Prisma Mexico, which brings instruments and music lessons to children.

As part of my concert and visit, he suggested I meet with Lavinia Negrete, a wonderful singer and guitarist from the region, who also has a foundation, Fundacion Valle de Paz, that brings music and instruments to very young kids in rural mountain areas. Lavinia, an accomplished musician, with guitarist Andrea, and I traveled in a 4x4 through the mountains to a small village called Villa Rica, and for the afternoon we performed music for the children at several of the schools.

I wasn’t sure about what awaited me, but if I had known the joy and enthusiasm with which these 5-9 year olds would embrace the music, I would have run up the mountain. It was one of the most rewarding moments of my entire journey.