Surrealistic Sculptures in a Mexican Jungle

I was stunned by the strange beauty of Las Pozas. The place was the creation of Edward James, a British poet and art collector. He moved to Mexico in 1947 and began work on a surrealist garden, inspired by the works of Dali and Magritte. Wandering through the lush vegetation, I saw remarkable concrete sculptures covered with moss and plant life. Staircases to nowhere, giant flowers, and twisted structures stood in pools and cascades of water. I explored for hours, taking in the fantastical shapes and colors of the jungle garden. It was unlike anything I had ever seen before. Beyond the beauty of the sculptures, James' history adds an additional layer of intrigue to the place. He fled England after a scandal that involved his homosexuality and drug abuse. He found a haven in Xilitla, where he could escape from the conservative society that had condemned him. The surrealistic sculptures he created seem to reflect his alienation from society and his retreat into a world of imagination and creativity.