We watched the Superbowl over at our new friends R and L’s house in Bahia de Kino – great game though marred by a poor call on the 49ers last play – the 49ers should have won! Hopefully we will see R and L in New Mexico on our way back to the US.
Campsite at Huatabampito
Our next stop was the beach “town” of Huatabampito – the town consists of a string of vacation homes, mainly owned by Mexicans, and a Hotel / RV park / restaurant: El Mirador. The economic crisis in the US, in addition to the barrage of bad news in the US about the violence in Mexico, has severely curtailed the amount of American and Canadian snowbirds traveling to Mexico. And it’s undoubtedly hurting the local economy; we were one of just two campers at El Mirador, a shame as it is pretty and undisturbed. Karen and I walked 4 miles each morning along the beach, our footsteps were the only ones in the sand.
Karen gathered shells – I gathered Tecate
The park has room for 60 campers: just two of us there.
View from our window.
Though Karen was mumbling something about staying at Huatabampito for the next three months, I dragged her away from the beach – time for some culture. Thus we went to Alamos, a colonial silver town about 60 km inland.
Alamos is one of 83 towns in Mexico designated as a Pueblo Magico – a magical city. Alamos was designated partially due to its number of colonial mansions, many of which are apparently owned and restored by Americans. Though so far, we have yet to see many gringos on the streets.
Walking down the cobblestoned streets, the outsides of the mansions are not always well restored, but you get tantalizing glimpses of the courtyards inside.
Streets of Alamos
The arroyo is currently dry, no wonder, Alamos has 360 days a year of sun
From a vantage point above the city, you can see how the mansions are built in a square around a courtyard, and some of the beautiful gardens in the courtyards.
Center of Alamos
Zooming in on one mansion, and its courtyard – wish we could walk inside.
Great town to stroll through, and a well-done museum, on the local history, as well.
Karen enjoying a cappuccino in one of the courtyards, while dreaming about buying a mansion.
Our next stop will be Mazatlan where it is Carnaval time. Supposedly Mazatlan hosts the 3rd largest Carnaval in the world. Should be fun.
On a music and Mexico related note: as we were enjoying the view over Alamos, a school class of roughly 14 year old kids joined us. One of the kids was carrying, and playing, an accordion as they strolled around and took in the views.
An accordion? Even worse, 14 years old and carrying / playing an accordion? In my day, that would have been an invitation to an a..kicking. In Alamos? He was cool…
The schools class
Well played, sir. Well played.
lifes2shortnot2 
Sounds totally relaxing!
If you go through Culiacan, be careful.
Fifty plus years ago I and three others had a run-in with banditos there at a one-lane bridge where we had to stop and ease up onto the wooden trestle–we were lucky. I hear the bandito tradition lingers.
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