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