Alamos - Day One

After a fairly uneventful three hour drive south from Guaymas (although we did stop in Navajoa to eat lunch where Mom and Dad stayed on their honeymoon 48 years ago so that was cool) we got to the quaint little town of Alamos. Upon entering the area, it looks like any other Mexican town I had pulled into the last several days: lonely brick houses amongst large desert trees, piles of trash with lines of laundry drying in the 106 degree wind. But after passing the grand arches that welcome you to the city, I could tell it was going to be a little different than I expected. After a quick call to the woman that oversees the house we will be staying at, we were on our way to see the place we would call home for the next three days.

Upon entering the city, the streets became very narrow and the buildings on each side very tall. Two cars could barely pass each other on the cobblestone or tile roads. Buildings that look like they are from the 1800’s line the streets. The sidewalks are easily 2 to 3 feet higher than the street – not for water when the hurricanes come, but for the horse-drawn carriages that used to carry the townspeople. Most of the city’s business signs look as old as the city itself – established in 1682. The old church in the town square towers over all other buildings in the vicinity – there are very many old buildings here.
We winded through town, driving at a crawl sometimes, to take in the many buildings and eateries we saw while driving in. Finally we arrived what we were to call ‘casa pastoral’. It was a house that looked not like many of the other houses we passed on the way in. A white one-story house with large beams keeping the roof in place, it had a large front porch, bars on every window (more common than not in Mexico), a large drainage canal passes across the front of the property making it necessary to pass over a bridge to get to the house. It is situated directly below a mountain called ‘El Mirador’ which has a lookout area and restaurant on top from where you can see the whole city and mountains for miles. The housekeeper let us into the house.

It was an old-style home inside – one I could see the army using in the Mexican Revolution hundreds of years ago; archways throughout and visible crossbeams holding up what looked to be like tile or bricks. The ceiling was slanted but was easily 15 feet high at the highest point; tile flooring throughout the house. The kitchen sat at one end with the dining room next to that and then making an L shape were the bedrooms and bathrooms. Most of the bedrooms opened up to a common plaza area where the local flora and fauna grow and are tended to. We are told that while there is no air conditioning, it does get ‘fresco’ (cool) at night. We shall see.

So after grabbing some dinner at El Mirador (and getting rained on right after moving our table outside for a better view of the city), we grabbed some water and cookies and sat at what would be the city park, a rectangular shaped park about ½ mile around surrounded by most of the shops in the city. It seems there would not be much to do in Alamos for the townspeople. Because on a Wednesday night, the popular thing to do seemed to be driving around this park – over and over and over again; cruising, if you will. It was people of all ages, with the best Mexican music blaring from many. People-watching was the best it had been in a long time!

Finally after an hour of that we came ‘home’ and are now settling in for the night. I have already spotted a few cockroaches elsewhere in the house (which has all its doors open to let in the cool night air) --- I am just hoping they decide not to bed down with me. It’s still pretty hot in my room but I was able to find a fan in the living room. I quickly moved it to my room so I could actually sleep tonight. Oh and none of the outlets have a third prong plug-in. Yay! But luckily Dad had an extension cord I could jimmy-rig so I could charge my camera, laptop, and cell phone. Ah, technology. Even with the fan I’m still hot. Do I leave the light on so I’m not surprised by any many-legged intruders? I haven’t decided yet. Does the large white armoire in front of me lead to a magical kingdom with beasts that are half man and half horse? I’m afraid to open it and see. Is this the fresco night air? Lord I hope not! Tomorrow - our first full day.