We woke up to rain, something we have not experienced much in the last year or so. Our lifestyle pretty much prevents us being where it rains, when it rains. In any case, we decided to take a tour today and discussed it over breakfast Huevos Rancheros and waffles, fruit with yogurt (for Renee’, without for me). The couple at the other end of the table from us, were already booked for the tour and we were able to tag along.
The price for a 5 hour tour was 1000 pesos ($50) for the two of us, and was money well spent. Except, did I mention it was COLD!! Even in the van. We saw more rocks snapped like animals and things (Elephants, Eagles, Hawks, Mushrooms, Chi-Chi’s (boobs) and “Monks” which in the original language are penis’s). We also saw a fantastic waterfall (Cascade de Cusarare’, Eagles Nest Waterfall). The walk from where we parked the van to the waterfall was about 500 meters, and 450 of it was after we left the parking lot. Construction was nearing completion of a government sponsored improvement to this site. Which included new store fronts (about 400 meters long!) for the locals to sell stuff. Because of the inclement weather (still raining) crowds were down, and nobody was selling anything. We also saw a lake and the same mission we had seen the day before, which was ok, as the driver explained some of the symbols that we saw here. The monks had incorporated the sun and moon to match the indigenous people’s spiritual beliefs. We were also told about the boarding school next to the mission. This is a boarding school for 5 days a week and is government paid for school. The wife of our driver works periodically at the school making meals, I think that is there part of what they would have to “pay”. After the tour, we were back at the hotel around 2:30 or so, we ate our snacks and then walked across the square to the museum and from there the arts and crafts place. Both fairly interesting. Our tour guide George told us that Topolobampo means SEA LION, this is a new word for us!
Then back to our room for showers (to warm up) and a nap. Of course that is when we found out our ceiling had a leak right over the bed. I will have to look again, because this doesn’t make sense to me, we have a main floor room, and I believe that there is a room above us. In any case, they got us moved into another room within minutes. Certainly satisfactory to me, also on the main floor. (I think there are only two on the main floor).
Then out to dinner, to make a point here, I virtually never go to the same restaurant twice when I am traveling. Also, there are plenty of choices here. And OH YEAH! I am not a fan of generic beer. So, for dinner we went to La Estufa. This time Renee’ had the Chicken Fajitas and I had a Beef dinner that was served “on fire”. It was actually served in a steel cooking bowl (smaller in diameter and deeper than a wok) on a support over a chunk of varnished wood with a burning ember in a little pot. There was an avocado in the mix as well. This was another excellent dinner!
Tomorrow we will get a ride from the same guy who gave us the tour to our next hotel in Divisidora. We had planned to take the bus, the difference is 60 pesos ($3) for the bus (with a walk at both ends) and 500 pesos ($25) for the van which is door to door.
