Me and You and a Dog Named Boo: Cindy's 70th

We started Cindy's celebrations by taking a 4 day trip to Alamos, which is about 3 1/2 hrs away from San Carlos, through Cuidad Obregon and Navajoa. Alamos is an old silver mining town which we have been to several times and just love the ambiance, the architecture and the culture of the town. Even though it is in the mountains, it was near 100 degrees most days, although the nights were pleasantly cool.

Our first stop was Teresita's, a wonderful little restaurant, for lunch.
From left to right-me, Kaari, Doreen, Margene and Cindy

It was so hot, we literally lived in the pool when we got in and settled.
At the end of the pool is the yoga studio. To the right is an outdoor
living room with fireplace-fires not needed this trip!

We stayed at a wonderful nature retreat called El Pedregal. This is Margene's
and my cabin in the woods.

So cute-2 queens and a spacious shower and vanity area with a fridge
(to keep the Don Julio cold!)

Kaari was our driver. She is from Chico, California but lives in San
Carlos most of the time.

The infamous Margene

Doreen is from Edmonton, Alberta.
She still works in Canada but has
a house in San Carlos.

Our first night was delightful as the
staff prepared a wonderful meal for
us at the retreat.

Old man cacti stand guard at the gate

That's Jennifer Mackay, the owner, masseuse and yoga instructor. We
loved her gentle but invigorating style of yoga. She is so fit-look at those
arms. She used to run a bike touring business with her husband.

Breakfast was served in the main lodge building.

SOME OF THE GLITZ IN THE DINING ROOM

OUR TREK INTO TOWN

Long, narrow streets and houses right at the curb belie
what you find behind these walls-true mansions. The
white one to the right is owned by the Hershey family.

The kissing alley which leads to market

All the produce is so nicely presented.

And, I just love the altars in little
niches in the walls around town.

Happy Hour at El Pedregal

Kaari's significant other is good friends and business partners with Polo, who owns a beautiful hotel in Navajoa and a dove hunting ranch southeast of Alamos. Kaari was going to drive us there but Polo hired Pepe, his nephew, to pick us up and drive us there-good thing!! I'd say about half the trip was on pavement and half on dirt/rock roads. It was so far out in the middle of the country that it would have been difficult to find our way, let alone negotiating the roads.

The road

House along the way

An old abandoned tequila factory

Typical village school

Someone actually lives here

These were not Polo's but he raises Charolais beef cattle on his ranch.

Entrance to Polo's place

This appears like an oasis in the desert

3 margaritas with Polo!! (Glad we are not driving)

Polo does not advertise for his dove hunting packages-it is all word of mouth.
Apparently, during milo season, millions of doves descend on the rich Yaqui
Valley and feast on the millions of acres of wheat that farmers use for tortillas.
So, dove hunting is very popular here. Polo's ranch serves as an
elaborate luxury B and B for the hunters. Bedrooms
line the great courtyard.

Being here is a special treat for Cindy's birthday!

Dining room
We had a wonderful lunch of steaks and potatoes and veggies with a
fabulous red wine.

A picture of our host

Polo creating paella, for which he is famous among friends
and clients

Love all the wonderful artistic touches

After leaving Polo we inquired if he knew where we could buy some of the wonderful handmade Mexican wire baskets we had admired at El Pedregal. He instructed Pepe, our driver, to take us to a little village down the road a bit and ask the locals who might be selling the baskets.

Along the way, we encountered this cute couple in their hay wagon.

I really didn't know where we were and these towns are not on the map
I have of Mexico.

Pepe stopped the car to ask this man who might sell the wire baskets. He
told us of someone who sold them. A few minutes later, he flagged us down
on his motor bike to tell us of a better place where they had all kinds of
wire baskets.

This was the house he led us to.

Pepe negotiating on price with the woman's daughters
looking on

Grandson was very interested in us

Happy me with a wire basket for me, Margene and Diane

We bought almost everything she had. We made her day!

She brought out her very own personal one
for Kaari as the rest of us had bought her
out of this kind.

Beautiful countryside

Iffy roads, even if paved

Back to Alamos for sunset and a wonderful dinner at
Charisma

We discovered a new by-pass around Obregon on the way home, so made it home before dark, always a consideration when traveling in Mexico.

We made an appearance at the Beach Club for the Rescate members.
We are now members, too as, if you get sick down here, you can access an
ambulance to the good hospital in Hermosillo.

Many a wedding takes place here.

The ladies took Cindy to the Soggy Peso for
lunch the next day-her actual birthday.

This guy rode by and ordered a beer from Luis!

And downed it before taking off down the beach.

That night, Cindy hosted a fabulous dinner party for about 25 of us at Colibri, which means hummingbird in Spanish. Margene, Doreen and I decorated the tables. I've got to give it to the two others for all the artistic touches.