Alone in Mexico: The Astonishing Travels of Karl Heller, 1845–1848

Chronology

Chronology 1824 November 20 Karl Bartolomeus Heller is born 1845 August 9 Heller departs from Vienna August 10 Reaches England October 11 Reaches Madeira October 25 Reaches Barbados October 30 Reaches Jacmel, Haiti c. October 31 Reaches Jamaica November 9 Reaches Cuba c. November 14 Reaches Veracruz, Mexico November 16 Reaches Mirador November 30 Begins life in his hut December 9 Trip to Tiger’s Cave December 15 Trip to San Bartolo December 25 Christmas in Mirador 1846 January 5 Earthquake in Mirador January 18 Departs for Huatusco February 15 Trip to El Fortín February 23 Trip to Los Baños March 12 Returns to Huatusco March 23 Departs Huatusco for Orizaba March 25 Climbs Orizaba March 28 Returns to Huatusco April 27 Journey to Pueblo Viejo mid-May Returns to Huatusco May 20 All Mexican ports blockaded by U.S. Navy June 5 Maritime trade closed off July 2 Heller departs for Orizaba, reaches Acatzingo c. July 7 Reaches Puebla July 11 Departs from Puebla, reaches Mexico City July 30 Departs from Mexico City; passes evening in Lerma July 31 Reaches Toluca August 10 Departs for volcano Toluca August 12 Reaches volcano August 14 Returns, passes evening at hacienda Cocustepec August 27 Departs for south of Toluca; passes evening in Tenancingo September 5 Departs for Zacualpan; reaches Los Arcos mine September 10 Departs Los Arcos to visit other mines September 14 Visits La Golondrina mine September 16 Departs Zacualpan for Toluca September 18 Reaches Toluca September 21 Departs for Mexico City October 5 Returns to Toluca October 15 Departs from Toluca October 16 Reaches Mexico City October 18 Departs from Mexico City; reaches Perote October 23 Departs from Perote; reaches Zacuapan October 29 Departs from Zacuapan; reaches Veracruz port November 2 Departs from Veracruz port November 3 Reaches Alvarado c. November 8 Sets sail for Campeche November 13 Reaches Campeche November 14 Comes ashore in Campeche December 25 Christmas in Campeche 1847 January 21 Departs for Champotón January 26 Begins travel up Champotón River January 28 Begins return journey February 2 Sets sail from Champotón to Campeche February 14 News of the wreck of the Tweed April 2 Holy Week in Campeche April 4 Departs for Uxmal April 10 Returns to Campeche May 22 Departs for Mérida; arrives the following day June 14 Returns to Campeche xviii / Chronology July 1 Departs for hacienda Chivic, visits dyewood forests July 6 Returns to Campeche September 5 Receives instructions from Europe, with half his stipend September 14 Fiesta of San Román; Mexico City falls to U.S. forces November 3 Sets sail for Tabasco c. November 11 Sets sail upriver into Tabascan interior November 20 Departs Villahermosa c. November 22 Reaches Teapa December 25 Christmas in Teapa 1848 January 16 Visits Cueva del Tigre January 21 Departs for Chiapas February 21 Travels in Pichucalco area March 5 Reaches Pichucalco April 19 Easter in Teapa May 15 Departs Teapa for Tabascan coast June 6 Boards Arietes in Frontera June 19 Reaches Havana, Cuba July 6 Boards Lyre for the United States August 5 Leaves New York for Europe September 4 Reaches Vienna 1857 Heller joins faculty of Theresianum Academy 1864 Heller’s son Karl Maria is born 1880 Karl Bartolomeus Heller dies in Vienna Chronology / xix Alone in Mexico ...