El Fuerte

Day 6: We left our hotel in El Fuerte, a Spanish colonial town founded in 1563. We were given a quick look at some of its Spanish colonial buildings.

Mayo Indians

A short distance from the town, we visited a Mayo Indian farm. The Mayos are distinct from the Mayan Indians. Mayo means “people from the river bank.” They settled near the Mayo and Fuerte rivers, with their first settlement going back at least to 180 A.D. We had very warm weather for our trip so far but here it was especially humid, so humid my camera lens kept fogging up.

Tortilla-making Demostration

We were given a tortilla–making demonstration by this Mayo woman. Later on, we were each given a thick tortilla with cheese.

Charly, Our Tour Manaager

Charly, our excellent tour manager, is in the middle of the photo and a musician is on the left and a deer dancer is on the right.

Mayo Deer Dancer–MOVIE

The Mayo Deer Dance was performed for us. The dance re–enacts a deer hunt to honor the natural world. Rose petals are scattered on the ground to attract the deer and the dancer puts on a deer mask.

Youtube: https://youtu.be/1jSR4niB62s

Sinaloa to Sonora

After leaving the Mayo Indians, we traveled from the Mexican state of Sinaloa to the Mexican state of Sonora. We had to go through an army checkpoint. All our luggage had to be hand–searched, but this time they had tables to put our luggage on to do the search. After the luggage search, the army asked for 10 volunteers to have their backpacks searched. We all passed the check––no firearms, illegal drugs, or too much money on us.

Lunch in Navojoa

We stopped in the town of Navojoa to have lunch at this large house.

Lunch in Navojoa

Most of the furniture in the house, surprisingly, was what I think is called American Queen Anne antiques, though the floors were covered in Mexican tiles. We were allowed to roam through the house.

Lunch in Navojoa

We ate our lunch of large salads in this long hallway.

I have put my photos of El Fuerte, the Mayo Indians, and our lunch in Navojoa on a slideshow. Go to http://www.peggysphotos.com/el–fuerte–mayo–indians–navojoa/ (Slide Shows, Central America, Mexico, Copper Canyon Tour, “El Fuerte; Mayo Indians; Navojoa”).

Alamos

We made it to our hotel in Alamos where we would spend two nights. Photo: our hotel’s patio. Alamos has been designated as a “Pueblo Magico,” a place that would give one a magical experience. It was founded in 1685 by the Spanish and its architecture is Spanish Anadalusian. It is the best preserved Mexican colonial town in northern Mexico. Alamos as well as El Fuerte are important historical towns in regard to the first settlement in Los Angeles in 1781 as some of the first families of 44 settlers came from both Alamos and El Fuerte. All of the first families were from Mexico (most from the Mexican states of Sinaloa, Sonora, and Jalisco) except for one who was a native of Spain.

La Ciudad de los Portales

Alamos is also know as La Ciudad de los Portales for its many tall, arched, covered verandas and walkways. We arrived in Alamos in the afternoon and were given an option of taking a $5.00 trolley ride around Alamos with a driver/guide. He pointed out the Casa del Chocolate, which our guide told us is owned by someone from the Hersey chocolate family and also that the casa is for sale.

Alamos

More of the colonial buildings in Alamos. Alamos was a silver mining town which came into ruin when its silver mines closed in the early 1900s. But in 1946, foreigners came to Alamos and started restoring its homes and mansions. We were told that one foreigner was Carroll O’Connor of Archie Bunker fame. Other famous foreigners also came. Today, its silver mine is again open and also a copper mine.

Alamos

There are still old colonial buildings left for sale that are in need of renovation.

Welcome Drink

This evening we had a welcome drink at our hotel served with tortilla chips, guacamole, and salsa.

Mexican Singers–MOVIE

The entertainment for tonight were two Mexican singers and also a large group of singers/dancers dressed in colonial costumes. It was too dark to take a movie of the latter but I did take a movie of the former.

Youtube: https://youtu.be/FQKBUrD–bgQ

Walking Tour of Alamos

Day 7: This morning we went on a walking tour of Alamos and viewed more of its colonial buildings.

Walking Tour of Alamos

We visited a large casa. Photo: its patio.

Walking Tour of Alamos

One of the artworks at the casa.

Palacio Municipal

We walked past the Palacio Municipal––the city hall.

Plaza de Armas

We viewed the bandstand (gazebo) on the Plaza de Armas, the main square.

Community Center

I believe this to be a community center.

Paintings

The center had many paintings of Mexican life on its walls. Photo: one of the paintings.

Church of La Purisima Concepcion

The Church of La Purisima Concepcion dates back to 1826 and it is across from the Plaza de Armas.

Church of La Purisima Concepcion

Inside the church.

Church of La Purisima Concepcion

Inside the church: a painting of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patron saint of Mexico.

I have put my photos of Alamos on a slideshow. Go to http://www.peggysphotos.com/alamos/ (Slideshows, Central America, Mexico, Copper Canyon Tour, “Alamos”).

On the Road

We left Alamos after lunch to drive to San Carlos on the Sea of Cortez. Photo: a mountain behind Alamos.

On the Road

A scene on our drive.

On the Road

Driving through a town.

On the Road

A sculpture that we passed.

On the Road

A mural that we passed.

Deer Dancer Sculpture

A deer dancer sculpture that we passed.

Deer Dancer Sculpture

A close–up of the top of the deer dancer sculpture.

Sea of Cortez

Our first view of the Sea of Cortez (the Gulf of California). We are getting close to San Carlos.

San Carlos

A view of the sunset from my hotel room window at San Carlos with the Tetakawi mountain in the background. We would stay at San Carlos for two nights.