Cablebús La Pastora

La Pastora Cablebús Station seems to be precisely when passengers begin to understand what a trip they’re in for. By now the mountains, the Sierra de Guadalupe, are visible in just about every direction. Line one of the Cablebús goes right into the heart of the northern Sierra.

La Pastora is a colonia, a one-time town, that climbs the formidable Cerro del Chiquihuite. That’s the mountain to the right (east-northeast) when traveling toward Cuautepec. The station you’re arriving to marks just about the western border of that neighborhood.

Quick Facts on the Area:

• The Cerro del Chiquihuite, at 2730 meters above sea level, marks the border between the City and Tlalnepantla de Baz, in Mexico State. It’s an exogenous volcanic dome. Historically, it was well-known for a number of fresh water springs. Numerous human settlements have been recorded here.
• El Chiquihuite is probably best-known for hosting the array of television and radio transmitters. No fewer than five FM radio stations and 11 television stations, share space with microwave dishes and similar telecommunications equipment.
• On the far side are the La Presa / Lázaro Cárdenas neighborhoods of Tlalnepantla, some of the most densely populated neighborhoods in Latin America.
• During the 15th century, the slopes of the hill still reached the edge of Lake Texcoco. At that time much of the stone was quarried for use in the Templo Mayor and other sites in ancient Tenochtitlan. The stone was called Tenayocátetl, that is Stone from Tenayuca.
• Upon arriving at La Pastora, you’ve passed over the Naucalpan-Ecatepec highway. It runs just about directly east west in this area. You’ll also see the Cuautepec General Hospital.
• The station logo, designed by Lance Wyman, depicts a sheep with a bell. This is a reference to the area’s history as a sheepherding area. Wyman designed the original Metro logos in the late 1960s. This was after the acclaim he received for the logo of the 1968 Olympic games.

Take heart. Passing La Pastora Cablebús Station, you’re heading into Mexico City territory that even many Mexico City residents have never seen. It’s a quickly growing area, and the views are only going to get more spectacular.