Visit to Empalme, Sonora, Mexico

Another beautiful day in Paradise – the San Carlos – Guaymas area of Sonora, Mexico.

Yesterday we took a drive to a town south of Guaymas. Ever since the time we were here in this RV park several years ago and our neighbor at that time was making wind chimes with shells she found on the beach in Empalme I’ve wanted to go there. So we hijacked our present neighbors and headed over there yesterday mid morning.

We took the road along the Sea of Cortez [Gulf of California for you gringos] instead of the main highway inland. It is a pretty drive. We passed the Delfinario on the way. Beautiful facility. I’ve got conflicting information about it this year. So don’t know if it is still open or not. There were cars and people there but maybe just maintenance staff. In the past there were shows and a program for children with difficulties to swim with the dolphins. 

Then into Guaymas – just a picture – of swimming pools for sale.

And a vendor at a tope. Selling fruits and vegetables.

Through Guaymas and across the bridge into Empalme. It’s a city of about 50,000 now. It was originally built by a foreign construction company (Utah Construction Co) for the Southern Pacific Railroad to provide repair facilities for SP operations in Mexico. The shops and roundhouse still exist today but are falling apart.

But the first thing we saw were all the docks with many many pangas tied up at them.

To get in and out of the area where they dock the fishermen have to go under a couple of very low bridges – so they have to time the tide right and stay in dredged channels. Or bonk!

He probably just came in and is unloading. The fish are kept in coolers until sold or…

Down at the end of the docks was this shrine.

Heading back the other way we stopped to watch this net fisherman. Didn’t get a shot of him throwing the net. Just getting it ready to throw. They were catching bait.

Hummm? Lunch in a bucket.

Just going into town an old railroad engine.

Still a lot of railroad activity going on. Lots and lots of tracks and trains. Finally had to build a bridge to easy the auto traffic.

Luckily our neighbor knew where the shell beach was – with out him we probably wouldn’t have found it. Like most beaches here during the week it is deserted. Lots of restaurants and palapas along it.

Walking up along the beach I spotted this rock with these shells attached to it. Look like they were put there on purpose. Forming a little shell flower. Didn’t disturb them just took a picture.

Lots and lots of shells along here. But I didn’t pick up any. Aren’t I being a good girl. We still have bags of them at home from other times. Amazing how many designs and colors shells come in. I take that back I did pick up a pretty pink one.

Like this bright yellow one. If it had been whole I might have been tempted to grab it. It almost looks like a weaving.

Going back through Empalme near downtown we passed a wall that had some magnificent graffiti on it. But there was too much traffic and too many trees to get any good pictures. This is the only decent one I got

After getting back to San Carlos we went out to lunch – at an Italian restaurant – Pasta Fasta – pretty good spaghetti. Nice outing and good company who could ask for more.

Spent rest of day doing not much, reading, knitting, visiting and watching a movie. Hard life.

Going to put a small load of laundry in to see how it goes. Then later today we’re going out the small fishing village north of here. 

San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico - Pretty and peaceful

Beautiful day yesterday – perfect weather. We took a drive to El Mirador – the view point. To get there we passed near the north very exclusive end of town. Lots of big new homes there and a small marina. There used to be a big RV park up there but it is closed and going to ruin and for sale. Too bad it was nice. The views are spectacular. Ocean, rugged hills, cactus and beaches. The water shades from turquoise to dark blue depending on what direction you are looking.

There are several vendors up at the view point. This one was sweeping the area around his booth – and it was already clean.

Just pictures of the cactus against the blue blue sky.

And a short fat weird bush.

Then we drove down to the beach and just listened to the birds and small waves.  This van was there but no one was around it. I think they were out on their kayaks.

Did find these pretty golden shoes though – no one around – wonder where she went? Is she swimming or did she go home and forget them?

Just as we were leaving this area a crew cab pickup pulled in and unload the WHOLE family. There were 17 of them!

Over to another part of the empty beach. A shrine that has been here a long time. Who put it up there and why?

Just a look down the beach. Just us and the birds.

From there we went to visit one of the marinas. It is always pretty there. Lots and lots of very nice boats. And it is decorated real pretty. The bougainvilleas were blooming in abundance. 

  And I like the sidewalks. Lots of work in them.

And even entertainment. Playing guitar and singing. The music floating out over the water.

And then home. Such hard work we do.

Had a surprise yesterday – a good one. While we were in Amado the washer/dryer didn’t want to work. So we just forgot about it. Well yesterday as I walked by it I decided to see if it would come on. YES! It is working again. Ghosts? A loose plug? Didn’t like Amado? Who cares it is working again.

Well we are going to stay in San Carlos another day. The sea gulls in Huatabampito will have to wait for Bill another day.

I wish I could share the beauty and peaceful of this place with everyone. The pictures don’t do it justice. So what will we do today here in paradise? 

A day in Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico

Hummm. Got up this morning and turned the fire place on to take the chill off. The sun is out and there are not clouds in the sky. Maybe the no clouds is why it seemed to get colder overnight.

This is the campground we are in. Been coming here for years. But this year it is not as full as it usually is – maybe we are here too early. I just like the mural.

This is a really pretty area the Sea of Cortez on one side and rugged rock mountains/hills and desert on the other. Took a ride north of town and found an area [planted by a hotel I suspect] of huge cactus. They are so stately looking.

We took a ride down the road a few miles to Guaymas – it is a pretty big town and gets bigger every year. A view of the older downtown section from the harbor.

Parked downtown and walked over to the plaza and church to see if the repairs had been completed on the church. This is the 13 of July Plaza – the designer of the kiosk  - the gazebo – designed the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

A close look at one of the lights in the Plaza. Little dragons with wings.

It was severely damaged in a storm a few years ago and when we were here last year they were repairing it. Repairs complete and a Mass was going on. Very interesting – it was for children. Wish I’d thought to record the Priest when he was singing – what a beautiful voice and the acoustics were great. Unfortunately if you look in the upper right hand corner you can see new rain damage to the ceiling. The original church was built here 250 years ago. Has been rebuilt a couple of times.

One of the older buildings downtown. Now it houses Public Defenders.

A block further and we see the Municipal Palace built in 1899 – still looks good.

Noticed this but don’t know the why or where for of it. Seems to be on the rear of an apartment building. Colorful.

Couldn’t resist taking a picture of this advertisement on a health food place. Tells it all - apple vs chocolate.

We were driving along the water front and came to this fish vendor. He just bought the fish hanging in the plastic bag, from the guy on the bike. We asked him about it. It weighed 9 kilos – roughly 18 pounds and he would sell it for 36 Pesos – US$2.75. That’s a lot of fish for less than $3.00 – don’t remember what kind he said it was.

Before going home we stopped in WalMart – this is something you don’t see too often – a bride and groom in their wedding clothes shopping. Wonder if they needed something for the wedding or were already spending their wedding gifts. She was looking at bathing suits…honeymoon wear?

The produce looks great and smells so good. Red, orange, yellow and green peppers. The most expensive the yellows are about US$2.30 a pound. We weighed them you can get about five per pound. So that’s about 45 cents each.

A whole section of shelving of shelf stable milk. It is vacuum packed and doesn’t have to be refrigerated until it is opened. Great if you don’t have lots of refrigerator room.

And when was the last time you saw Tang – all kinds of flavors of it.

Heading towards home we passed this pickup truck. A comfortable seat for mom and grandma in the bed.

No more squeaks or groans from Willie and no red light lit up so guess he is happy.

Then last night we went to dinner at the restaurant right next to the RV park. It is on the top floor in the picture. 

We sat outside [by the satellite dish] so we could see the sunset but it didn’t turn out to be anything to write or take photos about.

Had a good meal. I had quesadilla – without chicken - and Bill had Chicken Cordon Bleu. 

This morning Bill is going to cook breakfast - yesterday in WalMart he bought some of his favorite Mexican sausage type stuff that he likes to put with scrambled eggs and veges. Yum. Don't know what we'll end up doing today. I have a few suggestions but.......

Willie was squeaking and groaning yesterday

Lots of gray clouds in the sky here in San Carlos this morning. No wind though. Yet. Some blue sky out over the Sea.

I didn’t mention that we had a scare with Willie [well I had a scare – Bill didn’t seem too concerned] yesterday after we got here. When we took him to get washed he had a terrible growl-groan-squeak coming from his rear end. Especially when turning or going over a tope. No warning lights on, no problem in handling, just grrrrreeek. Bill backed up a few times and it got a little better so we went on to the car wash. Ate lunch and came home. By then it was more squeaking and less groaning and growling. Bill pondered on it bit – anyway that’s what he said he was doing while flat on his back with his eyes closed.Well that was an exhausting drive can't blame him for relaxing.

As the sky cleared a little we took Willie for another drive – a couple of squeaks and he was fine. Near as we can figure either mud/gravel/bush or something got up under him and just had to be dried up, loosened up and/or fall out. He is fine now.

We talked about going out to dinner but decided to stay in and cook again. Chicken with vegetables and Angel hair pasta.

There is a restaurant right next to the campground that we’ve gone to a lot. Last year we went there for dinner one night and thought we’d have quesadillas. We asked if we could get chicken quesadillas – even though the quesadillas on the menu didn’t include chicken. The waiter said he’d check with the cook. He came back and said yes – so we ordered. When they came they were very good and we enjoyed our meal. Until we got the check – it was about three times what we thought it should be. Bill called the waiter back to question it. The waiter went back to the manager then came to explain it to us. The restaurant didn’t have any chicken but they did have Cornish Game Hens so that is what they cooked for the quesadillas. AND that is what they charged us for. OMG! I’d have eaten slower and relished it more if I’d known that. Any way they reduced the check some – but after all we did get Cornish Game Hen.

Had some hard rain last night for a little bit. Reading the internet I see Arizona and TX are getting rain too. Must be part of the same system.

No plans for today. Depends on the weather some. It looks like this system might stick around for a few more days. If so we’ll just stay hunkered down cause not too far down the highway is another city that we have to drive right through – prefer it to be dry when we do.

Last night was the first night since leaving home that we didn’t have to turn on the little heater. Guess we’re getting far enough south. And Bill loves it and is happy that we’re at sea level again.