Following the Congresswoman from town to town

To continue with yesterday’s adventure. First let’s see if I can make some sense of the map. [Made with combination of Streets and Trips, Snipping Tool and Photoshop Elements – obviously there was some infighting going on. And none of us really won - but this is as good as I could get it. Most of the roads we took aren't on a map.]

We started out at #1 the RV park in Mazatlan and of course ended up there #9. First we went to El Quelite* – the #2 is kind of behind the #3. *See previous  post. I’ve already posted about El Quelite so let’s go on to #3 El Quemado. This town is just west and south of El Quelite – off of the same highway. As we were driving into the town we noticed a lot of people – mostly women and children walking towards the center of town.

So we had to check it out right? They seemed to be congregating around the pretty orange and blue gazebo in the middle of the tree shaded plaza. 

We parked and got out to investigate. This poster was hanging on the Gazebo. Seems like the district’s Congresswoman Francisca Elena Corrales Corrales was going to give a speech or something. The banner says “Paquis” that is the nickname for Francisca.

Parked next to the plaza was this truck loaded with plastic wrapped bundles of…?

Nice wool blankets. Lots and lots of them. One for every person in town. By now Bill was getting information.

Some of the people waiting to listen to Paquis and for their blankets.

The Congresswoman – in the white blouse with the long dark hair – talking to the people. Notice she is not up on the gazebo she is standing in the plaza with the people.

Some of the faces in the crowd. Listening intently. 

All the time we were there Bill was talking to Paquis entourage and her husband. He found out so much about her and her caring for the populace. She and her husband bought all the blankets and are providing the gasoline to visit all the villages. She is also talking about new government programs as she visits the villages. Hopefully the government carries through. One of the programs is to make sure every home has indoor plumbing.

Here is Bill talking to her – just after they had a great big hug. I missed getting a photo of that. Somehow during this conversation we were invited to follow along with her as she visited the other villages. So we loaded up and were off to a very interesting but long day.

Leaving El Quemado I saw this horse waiting patiently for his rider who was collecting his blanket.

A couple of typical El Quemado homes. This is an agricultural town as were most of them we visited.

Off to #4 - back down the road to a small town located right on the Libre (free road)– Highway 15. Del Puente del Quelite. The truck with the blankets was already at the tiny plaza just off the main highway. People were starting to gather.

While the speeches were being made I walked around the plaza. One street with colorful homes and lots of plants.

Another street. The bottom half of this building held a small store. The rest is a home.

Back in the plaza the people were listening intently.

Especially this older woman. 

Speech ended, blankets given out – time to hit the road again. The blanket truck had already left for the next stop so we followed one of the cars. Off across the main highway onto a paved road –  well it was paved for about 300 feet then it turned to dirt, rocky, dusty, washboardy dirt.

And then it got narrow and inhabited by very big bulls.

MOOOOO

Don’t loose sight of the dust cloud in front of us! We'll never be heard from again! And where was the GPS - in the RV of course.

We continued to head west and a little ways further we passed over the toll road 15D! And kept going towards #5 Marmol. Finally an arch.

We’d arrived and the street turned to cobblestone. Please notice how clean this little town is. I get ssssoooo MAD when I hear people say "that dirty little Mexican town." Look around your own lives folks. The streets may be dirt but they are not dirty. 

One of the homes we passed.

And finally the plaza.

From the plaza we could see this old painting so of course had to walk over and check it out. The building it is on is no longer in use. But by the way it was set up kind of with stalls with plumbing and the big water tank next to it we guessed it had something to do with either laundry or showering. Strictly a guess.

Another home across from the plaza.

Just behind and across the street from the plaza was a large new looking elementary school.

After the ceremonies we jumped back in the car to head to #6 Camacho – Finally a town I kind of knew where it was. I’ve seen the sign for it when we go to El Quelite. The road out of Marmol was paved. YES!

It wound through desert and farm land until we arrived at the toll road at KM25. We took the toll road a few kilometers then exited it on another dirt road heading east again. The exits to the small towns off the toll road are kind of interesting. You wouldn’t know they were there if you didn’t travel them. Basically they are just dirt paths off the highway up a hill to the paved overpass then back on to dirt. But it works. Heading into Camacho.

An interesting home in the little town. The girl is running towards the plaza.

Some older residents taking in all the excitement.

A home about to get an addition. In the background two men are working on the second floor to another home. 

A younger part of the population. They weren’t too interested in what was being said.

And then on to #7 Camacho. Finally a town I kind of knew where it was. I’ve seen the sign for it when we go to El Quelite on the free road. More dirt farm road. Lots of fields with green fields. Sorghum, chili, and chick peas.

The road got congested for a bit.

Arrived at Camacho just as the blankets were being unloaded.

Bill talking to residents. He is so shy. From the amount of laughter I think they were telling jokes.

Finishing up in Camacho we headed to #8 El Zapote. This was our last stop for the day. I had just been watching and I was tired and ready to go home. The group continued on to three more villages from here – finished up in the dark of night in La Norfia.

This is the church in El Zapote – we walked up there as nature was calling loudly and one of the ladies in the audience was nice enough to let us use her facilities. She lives in the house next to the church. Wonderful woman.

Bill making more friends with suckers.

This man was on his horse listening and a young boy kept zipping by him on his Quad ATV. The old and the new. Mexico never ceases to amaze and surprise us.

I have purposely left out any political talk. This blog was just about our day and who we met and what we enjoyed. Sorry it is so long but it was a great day. If you want to check out her facebook page it is right here. There are pictures from the day there.