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Benito HernandezFamily living in a house under a huge rock
Country:
 Mexico |
Content:
- Biography of Benito Hernandez
- A Childhood Dream
- A Dream Come True
- A Simple and Cool Home
- A Modest Lifestyle
Biography of Benito Hernandez
Benito Hernandez is a Mexican man who has been living with his family in an unusual place for the past three decades. They reside in a house built under a gigantic rock, with a diameter of nearly 40 meters and a large hollow interior where the living rooms are located. Benito and his wife, Santa Martha de la Cruz Villarreal, originally from the state of Coahuila, Mexico, settled in this peculiar dwelling about 30 years ago.
A Childhood Dream
Benito first laid eyes on this massive boulder 55 years ago when he was just eight years old. At that moment, he decided that one day he would make this enormous rock his home. As he grew older, Benito would occasionally visit the site and dream about the unique and simple dwelling he could create there. Eventually, when he had the opportunity, Benito acquired the rights to the land where the gigantic rock stood.
A Dream Come True
Once married, Benito decided to turn his childhood dream into reality. The construction process was relatively straightforward. He built brick and cement walls attached to the boulder and installed doors. The floor of the dwelling remained naturally earthy. The house does not have electricity, and the cooking is done on a wood-burning stove, skillfully managed by Santa Martha. Interestingly, the couple has raised seven children together, with the older ones already having families of their own and living nearby. Unfortunately, the house does not have plumbing or a bathroom.
A Simple and Cool Home
Despite the lack of modern amenities, the Hernandez family finds comfort in their stone home. Even during the hottest days, air conditioning is unnecessary since the house remains cool due to the stone's natural insulation. They joke that in the 30 years they have lived there, not once has the roof caused them any problems. Not far from their dwelling, there is a spring with pure drinking water. However, it freezes during the winter months.
A Modest Lifestyle
Inside the house, the furnishings are minimal, consisting mainly of beds and essential furniture. The Hernandez family lives a modest life, working hard to make ends meet. They cultivate and harvest candellila wax, a type of herbal wax, to sustain their livelihood. In late 2013, the Hernandez family's home was chosen as the "Best Story" in the Yahoo Homes editor's pick project, exposing their unique stone house to millions of Internet users.
