Prior to catching the bus we decided we would eat at McDonald's for the first time while here. Ugh. Not only crap food but what an ordeal. No one spoke English, one person at the register with a crowd of people behind us and it is amazingly hard to order food in Mexico. All kinds of new words were being thrown at poor Jen. People were coming up and trying to help us. Again the friendliness of the Mexican people is amazing. The gal behind the counter had our order so screwed up, we only got enough food for three. Oh well. Our bad.
The bus ride was OK. We went to the wrong bus station and once we realized our error, it was too late to catch the First Class bus so we made do with Second Class. A bit better than Greyhound is how I would describe it. The roads were all smooth and fast. Security check point about half way had ALL the adult males get out and they went through random bags looking for drugs. The checkpoint had machineguns and KITTENS! All the kids got off the bus. Once back aboard it took another 3 hours and we were in Los Mochis. From there we had catch a bus to El Fuerte. Thankfully, my wife's ever expanding Spanish speaking skills saved the day and we managed to find the next bus station. 15 minute walk later and we got on another bus that was older but still comfortable. This bus stopped frequently and after 2 hours or so we rolled into El Fuerte.
Our host Chaz picked us up in the hotel's van. Chaz runs a small place on the river that runs through El Fuerte. Beautiful family run hotel. Geckos on the ceiling and a great view of the river.
Spent two days there and saw the town along with ancient Indian petroglyphs that are along the river.
A view from the fort located right next to our hotel
Sam and Julie
Hard to get a good shot of these
The next morning we got up and headed for the train station.
I hear the train acoming!
We stayed in a little town called Posada Barranca with the Diaz family. They run a small hotel that consists of a 6 small cottages all heated with fireplaces. It gets cold up here in the canyon area. Lower 40s at night. Sweaters were required and the beds had about 50 blankets on them.
We took our meals in the family house and the food was outstanding. Jen got to practice her Spanish constantly as NO ONE spoke English. She is getting really good. Amazing woman my wife. Everyone relied on her to translate.
The Diaz place is crawling with animals. Baby pigs, horses, and about one thousand dogs. Much to Sam's delight, they even had puppies.
Scrub board built into the concrete
Nancy, Julie and Jen made friends with ladies making us breakfast, lunch and dinner. Julie even got to learn how to make authentic tortillas.
I did go on an ATV though. That is my kind of horse power. Ben and I shared one while Max had Easton on his.
We also went zip lining. Mexico has some crazy zip lines. One of them was 1.5 km, that's right 1.5 kilometers long. Next week they open one that is 2 km long.
There are 7 lines and you have to walk between them. Sometimes you have to cross a suspension bridge. Like right out of Indiana Jones. Scary! I mean hands sweating, heart pounding scary. Damn bridge is swaying and it is just nuts. Never ever could you have this in the USA.
You slip, you fall. Hundreds of feet. You do have safety line but....I don't know. Hard to convey the scariness of it. I loved it!
Did I mention the Mexico has a bunch of dogs? They do. Everywhere. Especially up here in the mountains. Some are family pets but many more are just....around. Not threatening and actually quite friendly. But just so many of them.
This dog I named Goblin. She followed us everywhere. We walk up to the hotel overlooking the canyon, Goblin followed us. We have a drink and a snack, come out the door, Goblin is waiting for us. Then while walking home, Goblin would run ahead and warn the other dogs to stay away from us. We were hers. We all loved her and would have taken her home but I think she would be happier running the show in her native Mexico.
Here are pictures of Goblin
After about three days, we loaded up the vans and left for Creel. We stopped at a couple of places before we got there.
The rock formations were made by lava we are told.
We left the Sand Dollar crew in Creel and headed on the train for Chihuahua. 6 hour train ride. Train was late getting into the station so we finally left at 430 in the pm instead 3.
The train was spectacular. Sun setting with the train pulling us along through sun drenched vistas...had to be there. I'm no photographer but with the light from the sun and the scenery, you can't go wrong.
Love this one.
We spent two days in Chihuahua and found it to be a lovely town. Great place. Heard a lot of scary stories about the city but we enjoyed it.
Fountain outside of the church.
Cathedral of Chihuahua
We also saw General Fransisco "Pancho" Villa's house and the car he was gunned down in way back in 1923.
I am writing this blog on the bus right and will be able to post. Wicked fast internet in Mexico...on a bus. On the boat...crap internet. Go figure.
This is our bus that we got on tonight-
We caught the 1015pm bus and will be on this sucker till 1000am. The spare driver sleeps in a special compartment and they switch when we get into Durango, Mexico. Two bathrooms and touch screens for every seat, all 24 of them. You can lay your seat almost flat. Of course the roads are pretty bad traveling down through the center of Mexico. Sam slept almost 9 hours though. Go Team Appa!
I'm anxious to see Appa and how the work is coming along. JC checked on her and took some pictures.
Rick also tightened the keel bolts. CSR did this in June last year. Suppose to have 250ft/lbs on each bolt. Mine? 80! What the hell!? So they are all tightened and we should be good to go. Not impressed with CSR.
Going to sleep now. More after I get back to Appa.
No comments:
Post a Comment