Las Pozas. Mexico

Las Pozas is a fantastic place in Central Mexico, impressive for its strange concrete sculptures set in a wonderful natural environment and expressing the surreal art of its creator, Edward James. Born in Scotland and the heir to a vast fortune, he became fascinated by the new movement in art at the beginning of the 20th century, which united the quest to resolve the contradictions between dream and reality of a number of artists, thinkers and explorers.

Determined to create his dream Garden of Eden, Edward James went to Los Angeles, California, but on the recommendation of friends he visited Mexico, where he discovered many more romantic places. James hired Plutarco Gastelum as his guide on his journey, and in 1945 they stopped in the village of Xilitla, San Luis Potosi, which captivated the eccentric Englishman with its charming scenery. And the rich Englishman chooses this part of the world to fulfill his surreal dream.

Las Pozas is situated 610 meters above sea level in the subtropical rainforest of Mexico's Sierra Gorda mountains and is a seven-hour drive north of Mexico City. The great variety of animal and plant life, the steep mountain terrain with rugged beautiful canyons, the waterfalls and natural lakes were enough to prompt Edward James to begin the creation of Las Pozas as his own expression of surrealism. He himself often stressed that this part of Mexico was "naturally surreal".

Las Pozas covers an area of 32 hectares with natural waterfalls and pools interspersed with towering concrete sculptures. The surreal concrete structures bear the quirky names of "The House on Three Floors," "The House with a Roof Like a Whale," and one of the most popular-"Ladder to Heaven." It is composed of columns imitating James's favorite flowers, orchids, and the two staircases are spirally arranged and connect at 20 meters high. Many flower beds can also be seen at Las Pozas, including the collection of 29,000 orchids.

An animal lover, Edward James also built many niches and pens for exotic birds and wildlife from around the world. The Garden of Eden has many paths with steps, plazas and romantic bridges over streams and amazing views of waterfalls and beautiful valleys. Las Pozas cost Edward James more than $5 million dollars and to complete his fantastic project he auctioned off his collection of surrealist art.

Las Pozas has been under construction for more than 30 years and involved many carpenters, masons and blacksmiths, most of them locals. Experienced Mexican carpenter Jose Aguilar played a significant role in creating the concrete sculptures. Using the sketches of Edward James, the talented craftsman made wooden forms into which the concrete was poured. Edward James' desire was for his structures to merge with the incredible nature and he achieved this with his sculptures, resembling plants, flowers, mushrooms and birds made of concrete that seemed to have always been there.

After his death in 1984, the tropical vegetation grew out of control and all the beauty created by the talented artist began to deteriorate, although the Garden of Eden was opened to tourists in 1991. In 2007, the Fondo Xilitla Foundation took control of the garden, restoring and caring for it. And in 2012, the Mexican government declared the Gardens a National Monument of Art.

Las Pozas is a wonderful place, combining something new, moving between fantasy and reality.