A Little Trip Around Alamos

Buenos dias!

 

 At least every other week I ask Senor to go on a drive. Sometimes, I think we are really limited in places to go, because Alamos is somewhat on a dead end street. But going up to the Mirador always reminds me that there are dirt roads everywhere, especially on the east and north sides of town. Sure, some of them go to remote areas, but almost all of them are great for an hour or two of driving to an unknown destination.......or as I say, the drive to where ever. Usually these dirt roads are filled with light traffic coming and going to the market or to visit family, or say, to buy tecate, and we are guaranteed a lot of cows, horses, goats, snakes, roadrunners and jack rabbits.

 A week ago, on Sunday, after leaving the Mirador, we drove about an hour toward the town of Masiaca, The road, which is partially paved, is edged by roaming goats, overgrown trees and vines of pink and purple flowers. 

In these first three photos, taken from the Mirador, you can see some of the dirt roads that lead away from Alamos. You can also see the town's beautiful colonial Spanish and Moorish architecture, especially in the historic downtown, centro, district. You can see archways, several long portals, lush inner courtyards, and endless roof tops. There are narrow streets that connect, leading eventually to the caraterra, the highway, as it snakes off to the west, on its way toward the Sea of Cortez, and some of the mountains that surround us. In the second photo, looms the large Palacio, where the government offices are and the Mayor's balcony, directly beneath the tower, with the arched window. And, at the top of the first photo, the airport runway is in distance. You can also see, in another photos above, the single tower of the church, the two domes, and the lush, palm filled Plaza de Armas square in front of it.

Below we are looking toward the Panteon and a few of the dirt roads that we often take to somewhere, and the distant shadowy mountains that surround the western edges of the Copper Canyon.

 Some of the beautiful pink vines, the San Miguelito, that are in bloom everywhere now in Alamos.

More of the shadowy western mountains of the Copper Canyon can be seen below.

Just a few days ago, on Sunday, when we were in the upstairs of the Palacio, I stepped out onto the balcony that is off the vestibule outside El Presidente's, the mayor's, office. This is what he sees from his balcony. Beautiful lush hill sides, the church steeple and domes, and the Mirador.

Well, there it is, a brief round trip around Alamos, seen from the Mirador and the balcony of the Presidente. Now, Senor and I are over due for a drive on the Ruta Sierra Mar which will take us to the beaches, or maybe it is time to head up to little Lake Tetajiosa, up in the hillsides or maybe to Rio Cuchujaqui, which should be filled with flowing water from our rainy season. I will have to think about where I want to go. The really nice thing is....Senor always says.....sure, let's go..........que tengas un buen dia! linda lou

Dia de La Independencia in Alamos

 Independence Day arrived on the heels of  'el grito' from the new mayor of Alamos, and a colorful midnight fireworks show. The grito is 'the cry' for independence from Spanish rule, first made in 1810, on September 16, by the religious leader, Father Miguel Hidalgo. This proclomation began the war by Mexico, for independence, which lasted against Spain for another eleven years. Each town in Mexico has its own celebration, its own ceremony and its own proclamation for freedom. Ours coincides this year with a new government and a new mayor.

We have never stayed awake long enough to make it to 'el grito', but every year the fireworks wake us and we watch the display from the portal. Then it is always hard to get back to sleep because now, the fiesta really begins.

This is the 5th Independence parade I have shown you and by now, you are probably used to the marching school children, the drums and bugles that practice for weeks before the parade, the horses and the gallant white hat men, the balloons and candies, and the festivities that erupt at dawn and continue through out the day.

So Senor and I chose a new street from which to watch the parade, to take our photos, so you can see a little more of Alamos and a small portion of its captivating beauty.

Although the photo above is basically a blur, that is really what it was. A blur of skirts and sombreros to finish the Palacio festivities for the new mayor.

Below the drummers are spaced far apart from the rest of their school mates and their trr-i-ip, trr-i-ip, trr-i-ip echoed through the narrow street, setting the perfect stage for their classmates who followed behind with their festive ribbons. This street, Juarez, has beautiful views of the Palacio, the church steeple, the dome and then the mountains behind.

After the parade we celebrated Independence Day by eating at our favorite carne asada stall in the morning. Then a little gamisa cake, a kind of twinkie sized cake, topped with strawberries, cream and dark chocolate, then a few walks around town, and a quick trip to the arroyo where the tecate stands and music arenas were being set up. Late in the afternoon, after a short siesta, we returned to town where we caught the last of the new mayors inauguration and the performances in the Palacio and then we ate at yet another of our favorite taco stalls.
nothing fancy...............nothing late.................nothing too big...........walked back home..............listened to the street parties and the music from the arroyo for awhile........went to bed early because Monday morning was supposed to be a big work day here........................

No Humberto.
So, Senor went and mixed the cement and poured all morning, working alone on the area below...........the game room as we now call it. I like that, the game room. The niches in the wall will hold our games and one day we will have a nice round table in there and play..........games. This room will be on the back side of the kitchen wall, accessible by a short hallway that will go to the guest room/ library, a bathroom and the game room. A french door will open to the portal.
 
So, there you have the days, yesterday and today. And I suppose one of these days I will be into a blogging sort of mind and I will tell you more. For now I have to go, Senor is playing bridge and I have finally figured out how to work the dvd player...........going to watch 'the curse of the black pearl'....................
linda lou