JOURNEY! - THE HIDDEN CITY
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This episode of "Journey!" is hosted by Jack Douglas and titled "The Hidden City". It follows Milt Farney and his friends on a Mexican vacation that becomes an exploration of Mexcaltitán de Uribe, a secluded island settlement hidden among the marshes and waterways near the Pacific coast. After flying from Southern California through Baja California and visiting Rancho San José, Bahía de los Ángeles, and San Blas, Milt discovers the village from the air and returns by way of Tuxpan.
0:00 Host Jack Douglas introduces the hidden Mexican island city of Mexcaltitán and welcomes Milt and Judy Farney.
1:06 Milt explains how spotting a mysterious village from the air turned their vacation into an adventure.
1:44 Concealed by swamps, the hidden city is nearly impossible to spot from land or sea.
2:18 Jack jokes about his role as godfather to the Farneys' five daughters.
2:43 The travelogue begins with the group departing Orange County Airport and flying into Mexico.
3:13 After Tijuana customs, the group flies to Rancho San José alongside traveling companions.
3:52 They visit the Meling family's long-established cattle and guest ranch in the foothills.
4:34 The party flies south, landing on a rough airstrip at Bahía de los Ángeles.
5:14 Milt highlights local sport fishing and a hand-built stone ranch church.
5:58 Refueling with a hand pump, the group prepares to fly across the Gulf of California.
6:14 Flying past Tiburón Island, the pilots spot a red-tiled village hidden inland near San Blas.
7:41 The group lands on a cow pasture airstrip in tropical San Blas.
8:03 Local children play behind the parked aircraft to enjoy the cooling propeller wash.
8:16 Milt inspects historic ruins in old San Blas, including an overgrown Spanish fort.
8:56 The visitors tour local plantations and take a canoe ride through mangrove tunnels.
9:36 Milt learns the mysterious island village he spotted is named Mexcaltitán.
10:02 Leaving their wives in San Blas, Milt and John prepare to locate the island.
10:57 The travelogue transitions to the second leg of the trip targeting Mexcaltitán.
11:09 Finding no landing spot on the island, the pilots fly to a crop-dusting strip in Tuxpan.
11:41 Father Preciado guides the men by tractor and dugout canoe toward the island.
12:02 Low water levels and sandbars slow their river travel past rural banks.
12:38 A routine trip lengthens into a six-hour struggle through narrowing, weed-choked waterways.
13:04 trapped in shallow bogs, the party fights through dense floating lily pads.
13:32 Passengers clear thick vegetation and push the heavy canoe into open water.
14:18 John Miller captures photographs as the canoe breaks free into open river currents.
14:34 Father Preciado cools off in the river as they pass local fishermen working fish traps.
14:57 Clam gatherers work the banks before the canoe rounds a bend, revealing Mexcaltitán.
15:40 Milt introduces the isolated island settlement, considered by some as the Aztec ancestral homeland.
15:55 The quiet island features electricity but lacks telephones, vehicles, hotels, or restaurants.
16:12 The visitors buy fruit at plaza stalls and set up cots provided by Father Preciado.
16:50 Milt watches fishermen return, noting mainland access involves a short bus and canoe ride.
17:25 Dugout canoes transport all island cargo, including furniture, livestock, and building supplies.
17:49 Fresh drinking water arrives from the mainland by canoe and is sold house-to-house.
18:22 Mainland vendors visit weekly while island children play games and navigate canoes.
18:46 Fishing dominates daily life, with residents drying catches and poling canoes through the delta.
19:24 Milt attempts canoe poling while keeping the camera equipment balanced and dry.
19:56 Fishermen mend nets offshore and use nighttime kerosene lanterns to scoop up surface shrimp.
20:20 Shrimp catches are iced on the mainland, averaging five to ten tons per night.
20:33 Father Preciado and local women prepare fresh seafood for the visitors.
20:54 Milt and John fly back toward San Blas to rejoin their families.
21:10 Milt calls the hidden island city one of the most remarkable sights he has ever filmed.
21:37 Douglas praises the expedition and chats with Judy and Milt as they introduce their five daughters by name and age.
22:57 Jack thanks the family, jokes about future wedding expenses, and signs off.
0:00 Host Jack Douglas introduces the hidden Mexican island city of Mexcaltitán and welcomes Milt and Judy Farney.
1:06 Milt explains how spotting a mysterious village from the air turned their vacation into an adventure.
1:44 Concealed by swamps, the hidden city is nearly impossible to spot from land or sea.
2:18 Jack jokes about his role as godfather to the Farneys' five daughters.
2:43 The travelogue begins with the group departing Orange County Airport and flying into Mexico.
3:13 After Tijuana customs, the group flies to Rancho San José alongside traveling companions.
3:52 They visit the Meling family's long-established cattle and guest ranch in the foothills.
4:34 The party flies south, landing on a rough airstrip at Bahía de los Ángeles.
5:14 Milt highlights local sport fishing and a hand-built stone ranch church.
5:58 Refueling with a hand pump, the group prepares to fly across the Gulf of California.
6:14 Flying past Tiburón Island, the pilots spot a red-tiled village hidden inland near San Blas.
7:41 The group lands on a cow pasture airstrip in tropical San Blas.
8:03 Local children play behind the parked aircraft to enjoy the cooling propeller wash.
8:16 Milt inspects historic ruins in old San Blas, including an overgrown Spanish fort.
8:56 The visitors tour local plantations and take a canoe ride through mangrove tunnels.
9:36 Milt learns the mysterious island village he spotted is named Mexcaltitán.
10:02 Leaving their wives in San Blas, Milt and John prepare to locate the island.
10:57 The travelogue transitions to the second leg of the trip targeting Mexcaltitán.
11:09 Finding no landing spot on the island, the pilots fly to a crop-dusting strip in Tuxpan.
11:41 Father Preciado guides the men by tractor and dugout canoe toward the island.
12:02 Low water levels and sandbars slow their river travel past rural banks.
12:38 A routine trip lengthens into a six-hour struggle through narrowing, weed-choked waterways.
13:04 trapped in shallow bogs, the party fights through dense floating lily pads.
13:32 Passengers clear thick vegetation and push the heavy canoe into open water.
14:18 John Miller captures photographs as the canoe breaks free into open river currents.
14:34 Father Preciado cools off in the river as they pass local fishermen working fish traps.
14:57 Clam gatherers work the banks before the canoe rounds a bend, revealing Mexcaltitán.
15:40 Milt introduces the isolated island settlement, considered by some as the Aztec ancestral homeland.
15:55 The quiet island features electricity but lacks telephones, vehicles, hotels, or restaurants.
16:12 The visitors buy fruit at plaza stalls and set up cots provided by Father Preciado.
16:50 Milt watches fishermen return, noting mainland access involves a short bus and canoe ride.
17:25 Dugout canoes transport all island cargo, including furniture, livestock, and building supplies.
17:49 Fresh drinking water arrives from the mainland by canoe and is sold house-to-house.
18:22 Mainland vendors visit weekly while island children play games and navigate canoes.
18:46 Fishing dominates daily life, with residents drying catches and poling canoes through the delta.
19:24 Milt attempts canoe poling while keeping the camera equipment balanced and dry.
19:56 Fishermen mend nets offshore and use nighttime kerosene lanterns to scoop up surface shrimp.
20:20 Shrimp catches are iced on the mainland, averaging five to ten tons per night.
20:33 Father Preciado and local women prepare fresh seafood for the visitors.
20:54 Milt and John fly back toward San Blas to rejoin their families.
21:10 Milt calls the hidden island city one of the most remarkable sights he has ever filmed.
21:37 Douglas praises the expedition and chats with Judy and Milt as they introduce their five daughters by name and age.
22:57 Jack thanks the family, jokes about future wedding expenses, and signs off.
Sources
- YouTube channel: PeriscopeFilm · video ↗ — title, description, video
Record added 2026-10-15 16:36:37