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Pueblo Magico Alamos Revisited

PostPosted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 8:26 pm
by asirimarco
Saturday we took a drive to one the Pueblos Magicos. The colonial town of Alamos. Lots of history there and the old buildings have been restored and maintained so it is like stepping back in time. Silver was discovered there by the Spanish in 1683. One hundred years later the population was over 30,000. And it was made capitol of Occidente (the combined states of Sonora and Sinaloa.) By the early nineteen hundreds the mines had played out and the town was on the verge of becoming a ghost tow. In the 1940s the Americans and Canadians found it and began moving in and bought up the decaying mansions and restored them.
We’ve been here a couple of times before but it is always fun to go back to. The main plaza has the beautiful church of Nuestra Señora de la Concepión. This is looking up at the bell tower that was bathed in sunlight. Construction on it began in 1786.
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Another view of it from the side. We didn’t go in as a Mass was in progress.
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A couple of the vendors around the plaza. The flower man.
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And this young man who was sell a mixture of things – among them – hot sauce, a couple different kinds of hone, some spices and quince paste (which Bill loves.)
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From there we walked up a bunch of steps (puff, puff) passing this old falling down hacienda on the way. One of the front rooms, see the beam ceiling, or what is left of it.
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Then this was the next room, at one time painted a hot pink.
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As I stepped into the next room I interrupted a very involved couple. Beat a hasty retreat and don’t think they noticed me. This is the back of it
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Continued on up towards the old Jail. The jail itself is in ruins but there has been a new section added to it as a cultural center of some sorts. It was closed.
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But there was a group of teenage boys. They were a band and were practicing – wonder if their Mother told them to go someplace else and play where they wouldn’t disturb anyone.
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These are a couple of pictures from up there of the town.
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This one has the church in the background. The town itself is kind of in a valley. Very pretty setting.
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Back down the hill, much easier, and through this narrow street to a municipal building.
It’s the brick one.
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It is now a theater – very pretty. A shot of the stage
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And one upstairs.
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Just some street scenes as we walked around. Just thought this was pretty, with the white building and the green plants.
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An then around the corner a building that hasn’t been restored yet.
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Some of the plants around one house.
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One of the real old houses by the church. Check out the roof.
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A close up of the roof. Lots of work to make it.
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Another one had this tile trim at the bottom next to the sidewalk.
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Outside the door to a restaurant. Almost looks real.
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Then back through the downtown district
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Saw him on our way back to campground. I think that poor truck needs some TLC
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It was a beautiful day. We ate in an outdoors restaurant and enjoyed the scenery.
I hope I managed to straighten this out - no duplicates or forgets.

Re: Pueblo Magico Alamos Revisited

PostPosted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 8:51 pm
by Cedar518
Thanks Carol, I absolutely love seeing Mexico through your eyes .... what a beautiful and interesting country.

Re: Pueblo Magico Alamos Revisited

PostPosted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 9:17 pm
by AlmostThere
Carol, I attended mass in that church with our hostess, Erindira and her sisters Sochi and Alexandra. It was standing room only. I remember the lively music and singing. The municipal building is where the main evening music entertainment was during the music festival. I sat in one of those chairs, just two seats down from the mayor of the town. The ladies really dress up for the occassion. My hostess wore a long black velvet dress and the mayor was in a tux. Me? I wore my jeans. No one told me about the dress code. :lol: But no one even gave me a second glance. All very friendly, gracious people.
The home of our hostess is in the outskirts. Drive out past the graveyard and keep following the path/road through the gully. People threw their garbage in the gully, too. Some of it was smoldering.
We visited the sister of another one of our Alaskan neighbors that lived there. I remembering climbing many stairs up to her house. She was writing a cookbook that was to be sold at the Costco stores.
Thanks for the pictures!

Re: Pueblo Magico Alamos Revisited

PostPosted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 9:57 pm
by Liz
Thanks again for the fascinating tour and great pictures. Almost as good as being there, but without the "puff puff." You were pretty high up above the town. You do a nice job of taking us along and explaining what we're seeing. Thanks for taking the time to do that.

Re: Pueblo Magico Alamos Revisited

PostPosted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 10:07 pm
by Sparkle
Super tour, Carol. How come every time we see Bill he is either eating or thinking about eating? :D

Re: Pueblo Magico Alamos Revisited

PostPosted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 10:17 pm
by Bethers
Great pictures. I didn't even mind that you somehow doubled them up - gave me twice the pleasure in viewing. I, too, noticed Bill in line at the one vendors. Did he purchase?

Re: Pueblo Magico Alamos Revisited

PostPosted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 10:42 pm
by snowball
Thanks Carol for the tour and the pictures....really enjoyed the visit totally gives one a different perception of Mexico
Thank you for all your efforts
sheila

Re: Pueblo Magico Alamos Revisited

PostPosted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 5:16 am
by Nasoosie
Thanks, Carol! It's so wonderful to have the Mexican Tour guide come to life again! My fears about Mexico fade as I view your beautiful pictures. But I am still not sure if I would ever go there without a Spanish-speaking tour guide. It will be interesting to see how Beth and Sparkle and Chris make out with their winter tour. I've been from Mexico to Alaska and back to Mexico this year with many great pictures and comments by our touring members! What a wonderful opportunity.

Re: Pueblo Magico Alamos Revisited

PostPosted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 9:24 am
by retiredhappy
I love your narratives and pictures. Have you guys ever thought of leading a caravan for us?

Re: Pueblo Magico Alamos Revisited

PostPosted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 9:57 am
by Sparkle
retiredhappy wrote:I love your narratives and pictures. Have you guys ever thought of leading a caravan for us?


Not while they still have their sanity! :lol:

Re: Pueblo Magico Alamos Revisited

PostPosted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 10:01 am
by asirimarco
Bill bought some quince paste - ick- he likes it with cheese. We met the other couple in Huatabampito in the campground. They have done a lot of traveling in Mexico. Going to put the pictures I took of a little hotel we toured in Alamos in my blog today. ONe part of it is from the 1680s - one room we saw rents for USD 900 per night! Very pretty place.

Re: Pueblo Magico Alamos Revisited

PostPosted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 10:18 am
by carold
Just love going on tour with you. What a charming town. Love all the details on the buildings. Hasta manana. carold

Re: Pueblo Magico Alamos Revisited

PostPosted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 10:38 am
by asirimarco
Sparkle wrote:
retiredhappy wrote:I love your narratives and pictures. Have you guys ever thought of leading a caravan for us?


Not while they still have their sanity! :lol:


Sure come join us. We'll wait for you in Mazatlan

Re: Pueblo Magico Alamos Revisited

PostPosted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 10:47 am
by sharon
Awesome Carol, thank you sooo much! Love your tours!

Re: Pueblo Magico Alamos Revisited

PostPosted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 5:35 pm
by mtngal
Ditto what everybody said Carol! thanks, as always, for taking us along. Your pics are great. Looking forward to more!