Sunday Away from the Beach in La Aduana

It's about 6:30 Sunday evening and we've had a busy day. We went to Alamos and La Aduana today. Had a good time and took lots of pictures. I still have to figure out which ones to post and write my blog but don't think I'll get it done tonight. I'm tired. Haven't slept well the last three nights in a row. First the heavy rain and last night lots and lots of wind.
Ate big lunch in Alamos so no cooking tonight either. Tomorrow we've either got to get someone to do the laundry or I need to do a few loads.
Remembered something else missing from Willie - the fire extinguishers. Want to be sure to replace them.
So will work on update and pictures and probably post first thing in the a.m.

Sunday p.m.  got this much done – will do Alamos later for tomorrow.

Saturday night the wind was blowing so hard we were rocking and the covers over the slides were just flapping and banging all night. So got up before the sun rose again. Feels like everything is covered with sand.
The birds were waiting for Bill again this morning. All lined up in a row looking at our front window. When he opened the door they started to fly and squawk. He gave them one kilo of tortillas just to shut them up. While he was out there he said he saw the dolphins swim by. Dang I missed them. And most of that time I was sitting there looking out the window. 
We drove inland today to visit the little town of La Aduana. Had never been to La Aduana. It is about two kilometers off the main road and is a very old mining town – mostly going to ruin now. The silver and gold mined there made the town of Alamos rich. It was founded in the early 1600s. In colonial Mexico the ore from the mines was taxed as it came out of the Quintera Mines. Because highway robbery was the norm the Spanish Crown levied the taxes at the mines before loading it up to travel to town. Thus the name of the town La Aduana – the Customs Office.
Just one of the ruins we saw as we drove into the town.

A close up of the hand made adobe wall.

In spite of it remote location and because of the wealth of the mine La Aduana eventually had a population of over 5000. Life expectancy was short due to the chemicals used in the refining of the silver. And Colonial life was hard and dangerous. The mines closed in 1906 after long labor strikes. Squatters and pirates looted and destroyed most of the mines and the town’s buildings. In 1978 La Aduana was ceded to the few surviving mining families and squatters as an “ejido.” [The ejido  (from  system is a process whereby the government promotes the use of communal land shared by the people of the community. This use of community land was a common practice during the time of Aztec rule in Mexico. They are registered with the National Agrarian Registry (Registro Agrario National]

The church dates from 1630 – Nuestra Senora de la Balvanera. The east side of the church

The front.

A “miracle cactus” grows high on the west wall of the church. The stones beneath are covered with wax from offering candles.

Across the street stands what is left of the rectory.

Next to the church everyday life goes on. Laundry on the line. There were a surprising number of houses with satellite dishes too.

This is the Casa La Aduana built originally in the 1630s out of double adobe and native canyon stone. Interest roof structure.

Through its 370 years it has seen many uses first it was the tax collecting office for the Spanish Crown. Now it is an Inn.

The road/river bed that runs through town. There is a foot bridge that crosses it in the distance.

Another look at the foot bridge from the main plaza.

Driving up the road/river bed towards one of the old mines

More river bed than road now. Wouldn't want to try this in a rain or even right after a rain.

Some of the tailings from the mine.

This was as close as Willie was willing to go to the old mine.

This was a very interesting place. More ruins than occupied buildings I think. Would like to spend more time there and really poke around. But we wanted to get to Alamos too.

How we spent Saturday .

Saturday p.m.
Well afternoon anyway. Didn’t go to Alamos today – we’ll go tomorrow. Instead just hanging around beach. It would be absolutely perfect here if it weren’t for all the flies.
Did go into town to market again. Saw a couple of interesting things on the way in. First this crop duster – a bi-plane no less. Couldn’t pay me enough to do this job.

And then we passed these guys playing basketball.

All in wheelchairs - a fast paced game

Further into town they were erecting a bunch of pavilions right in the center of town. In fact right in the street. Don’t know what will be going on.

Then to the Leys Supermercado. They have pretty much everything in one of them. From Christmas trees outside to octopus inside. Here is a short clip of some of it. Turn your sound on to get the full effect.

 

Bill buying tortillas to feed the seagulls. About 50 cents for one kilo of corn tortillas and a little over a dollar for one kilo of flour tortillas – don’t know why the difference in price.



And on the way home we ended up in a funeral procession. They walk all the way to the cemetery clear across town.

Right now the beach is filling up with families out to enjoy the sun and sand. And cars driving up and down and ATVs buzzing around. Lots of music and laughter.

Bill just dug one of his kites out. There is plenty of wind to get it flying.

Alfie watching the kite fly

Getting another one out and ready to go up

Pretty when it is flying

The sun has set for the day - no pretty sunset. Time to cook dinner and then read my library book. Tomorrow a trip to Alamos and I found something new to do on the way there.....

Lazy Friday in Huatabampito

Saturday a.m.
The sun is up and it looks like it will be a beautiful day again. Last evening and night we had pretty strong winds, sand blowing everywhere – covered all the foot prints on the beach. Maybe I’ll have to dust today – will think about it.
Another rig pulled in yesterday so now there are four of us here. One couple from Canada is making

their first trip to Mexico. So far they are enjoying it. We had “take out” from the restaurant last night for dinner. Didn’t decide I didn’t want to cook until almost too late. They were getting ready to close but fixed us something. Bill had Chili Rellenos I had quesadillas.

Yesterday we relaxed most of the day. Took a walk up the beach a ways.

Bill and his shadow

Found lots of sponge type things little ones and pretty big ones. Of course I had to pick one up and bring it back.

Going to see if I can clean some of the sand out of it. Then watched Bill feed the seagulls and the pelicans fish. They are amazing the way they dive into the water. Also managed to sunburn my face. All my sun lotion was in the Jeep and of course is no longer there. Need to replace it soon.
Went into Huatabampo, the little town near here, to the Leys market to get some more tortillas for the birds! some bug spray (gone from car), eggs and some icky looking sausage stuff that Bill likes scrambled in his eggs. Noticed this year they have rib eye and New York cut steaks in the meat market. This is new.
And last night I borrowed a book from our home town library to read. Isn’t technology wonderful! The only problem is it’s not a very good book. But will read it anyway.
Maybe today we’ll take a ride up to Alamos.
Whoops Just realized I'd screwed up the settings on my camera. Glad I noticed - all fixed now.

Locking the Barn Door after the Horse is Gone

Friday a.m.

Had a big rain storm with thunder and wind last night. Kind of a surprise. This morning the electric was off but just needed an adjustment at the outside plug. Everything fine now.
Yesterday during our drive in Navajoa – more about that later – we were talking about the Nogales city police, the people that helped us so much. They told Bill that they make 120 Pesos a day for an eight hour day. That amounts to about US dollars $9.50 a day – that’s not a mistake they make nine dollars and 50 cents a day. But they do get extra, not overtime, pay if they work more than eight hours. They are provided two uniforms and their guns. If they want more uniforms or a better quality they have to buy them their selves. If they want to practice with their guns they have to buy the extra ammo to use. Would you risk your life for US$9.50 a day? However they do get medical for their families and the government pays for college if they want to go. The police man who was driving us around is going to college studying law. He said the state police make more money and the Federales make good money. They are a very close knit community and more and more the corruption is stopping.
He also told us that a construction worker and factory workers in and around Nogales make about 8 to 10 pesos A DAY. That’s less than a dollar a day for 12 hour days. Last night while eating dinner Bill was talking to the manager of this campground – he does everything around here and also works in the restaurant. He makes 600 pesos a week – about US$45.00 – but he and his family live fine.
As I said we drove into Navajoa, city about 30 miles from here, yesterday to try to buy some of the things taken out of Willie. Found a big Auto Zone there and lucked out. We got locking hitch pins, exterior signal/stop lights for towing, a new mallet for thumping the tires, fuel additives and a bunch more little stuff.

So feeling better about that. Especially the hitch pin and lights. When we get to Mazatlan and can go to Home Depot, Sam’s Club and WalMart we’ll get the rest of the stuff. It’s funny but every time we get in the car we think of something else that is gone – like a box of Kleenex, a bag of hard candy, change for tips. Replaced all of that yesterday.
Just took a few pictures of the ride into town. Almost had chicken dinner here.

Sharing the road with the cows and cowboy. They'd been grazzing along side the road.

And the horses. Just a reminder to drive slow, careful and ever vigilant.

On the way home we took the dirt levee road that runs along side the irrigation ditch. Saw this spoonbill.
By the time we were back on the beach it was shorts and t-shirt weather. Ate dinner in the restaurant again – I can get used to this! Bill had pescado ajo – garlic fish. He got lots and lots of garlic. Think he’ll sleep outside for a while. Sunset was nice but not great like some of them here are.
Once the sun goes down it gets more than cool fast. One more rig came into the campground yesterday afternoon. So now there are three of us.