Petroglyphs, Cows, Goats and Lizards OH MY

Saturday p.m.
Feb 10th – we left home three months ago– Nov 10th. Sometimes seems a lot longer and others seems like we just got on the road. Guess it pertains to how the days have been going. Interesting or boring.
Yesterday we had another interesting excursion –went off roading - visited a deserted beach – viewed petroglyphs – and herded goats. Intrigued?
I had discovered another place to visit while searching the Internet Las Labradas about 30 miles north of here. I thought I got the directions on how to get there. But later found out we couldn’t get there from here. But if nothing else The Driver is persistent.
So we started north on 15D the Autopista within a few miles we were at a toll booth US$7.50 – and we had to come back through it and pay again. Better be an interesting day.

93 Pesos for an auto

I have to explain something about the “off ramps” on the Autopista – basically there aren’t any unless you’re at a big town. If you live in a little town you kind of make your own off ramp from the highway. After enough people pull off in the same place there is a dirt trail there leading to the village. And another dirt trail on the other side leading back to the highway. But the government has been real nice and built one lane bridges over the highway connecting the dirt roads. Was that explanation necessary – well yes.

dirt road off ramp

I had programmed the town of Dimas (where the directions said we had to go) into the GPS. According to the GPS we had to make a big out of the loop to get where we wanted to go – It was right we found out.
Any way I was looking at the countryside and saw church steeples in the distance – Ah Ha!  Dimas. Didn’t see any off ramps coming up. But just as we passed under a little bridge I saw a dirt road leading to it. Oops – think we should have taken that. Had no choice but to keep going. No turn arounds, no off ramps. In the distance we saw a little overpass so slowed down and sure enough there was a dirt trail – off we went up the trail to the bridge – over and down the dirt trail on the other side. Headed back towards Dimas. This time we were watching for the dirt road. Found it. Drove into Dimas – just a little village with a blue and white church.

Dimas Church

As we were looking for a road heading towards the beach we saw this big old brick building. Wonder what it was.

Very big old building in Dimas

Finally asked a girl walking down the road about where the petroglyphs were and how to get to them.  Humm not sure. Maybe that way. She pointed back the way we'd come.
Back through town we went and found a semi-paved road heading the right way. [As you've probably guessed my directions weren't too clear.]

Probably original Highway 15

We figured out it used to be the highway before the Autopista was built. In fact it was probably the very road we drove on thirty some years ago. Up ahead of us we could see some surveyors so we stopped and asked one of them. He knew what we were talking about and gave us excellent directions. We could turn around and go back to the Autopista the way we had come or continue two kilometers straight ahead- but the road would get a little rough - and we would end up back at the Autopista. A little rough? No problem that’s why we drive Willie. So we went straight ahead. Soon there was less pavement and more dirt – then the dirt narrowed down.

Getting less and less a road

Then the dirt disappeared into a small river. [My written directions didn’t say anything about this!]

OH OH

Oh well –

Now Willie needs a bath

Through the water we went up the other side and finally came to the main highway again. The surveyor told us to watch for the retorno and the road we wanted was right there to the right. We found it – another dirt off ramp but knew it was the right one as there was a symbol type monument there.

Las Labradas at last

We just had to follow the road lined with white rocks through a small village, under the railroad tracks to the beach.

Follow the White Rock Road

We made it – the beach with the big black rocks actually exists. There was even a sign to prove it.

And a small museum. The outside of the museum building fascinated me more than the few items inside. Can you imagine how long it took to build something like this?

A close up of the outside wall.

Stick by stick and sealed with mud

And there was a real pretty party/rest area too – out here in the middle of nowhere.

We were the only people around. So we followed the sandy trail to the beach. Very pretty area.

Beautiful black rock beach

Off I headed towards the rocks in search of the petroglyphs. And we found some. They are thought to be over 1,500 years old and of Toltec origin.

Reminds me of a happy face

They are associated with the supernatural and are believed to have been a method the Totlecs used to communicate with their gods.

A figure and other drawings

The represent the dreams and visions of the Toltec priests,

Very intricate drawing

The are the oldest pre-Hispanic art in northwest Mexico. And they were fascinating.

Spiral

This one was interesting – very deeply etched. Just think how many years these have been here with the ocean waves and winds battering them.

There were a lot more but couldn’t get very good pictures of them. You have to go see them yourselves.
And then I saw this guy just sitting there watching me watch him.

Hello there

And lots of crabs scurrying around – had to be careful where we walked and put our hands.

See them on the rock

Really enjoyed walking around there with no sounds but the wind and the waves. Beautiful day for us.
We of course took the same road out – poor Willie really needs a bath now.






Came across this guy – he wasn’t impressed with us.

Then ended up in a herd of goats.

We found our way back to Mazatlan with no problem. And I threw out my directions – talk about no help at all.

Later we took a ride along the Malecon to watch the sunset.

Great end to a great day

An OH MY GOD Bridge and Different Laundry Facilities

Thursday p.m.
Been working on my photos today setting them up to put on DVDs so we will be able to watch them on the TV when we get home. I know we brought some blank DVDs with us but have been gone through Jennie end to end and can’t find them. Grrrrr……
Didn’t do much of anything yesterday – have those days every once in a while. Didn’t even update the blog so figured I’d best get with it now.
Tuesday was another day of pleasant surprises in the countryside. We headed south through Mazatlan on 15 Libre and as we passed the area where I could see the harbor I noticed that a big cruise ship was in. Hopefully all the problems are now solved with the cruise lines and they will start coming back.
Soon we were on MX40 the road to Durango. We were heading to the little town of Chupaderos – kind of knew where it was but couldn’t find it on any maps. Somewhere after Concordia before Copala. Bill was looking for the person who carves the faces in the wood like he bought in Malpica a week or so ago.
We made a quick stop at one of the wood shops in Concordia to look at these coat trees again. These still need to be stained and varnished.

This one was getting its final sanding.

We found Chupaderos and stopped at a house to ask for directions to the carver’s house. Bill was asking I was looking around. And noticed some inventive ideas. This young woman came outside to get some water from the water tank. The tanks are usually up on the roof…..

And across the street was this house up on the hill. Ingenious use of tire to make a retaining wall.

And a little further down the road – roof hay storage. Keeps it out of the way of wandering livestock I guess.

We were close to the house we were looking for. We could see it down a ravine and across a small river but couldn’t get there from where we were on the main highway. Had to take a small dirt road down through the little village. Stopped and asked this guy to make sure we were going the right way.

Steep narrow dirt road leading to river

 Yep we were – it’s the orange house right there.

Very nice and interesting home

Got to the bottom of the road – there was the house across the river. Hum…..there was a bridge – an OH MY GOD bridge crossing the river. Made of concrete almost one lane wide - no guard rails.
Or we could go down the bank and ford the river. The Driver stopped and considered his options. Then he shrugged and very slowly inched Willie out on it.

Another name is Oh Sh*t Bridge

 I closed my eyes. Well I didn’t really but I wanted to. But then I just had to take this picture out of my window – looking down. Notice there is NO BRIDGE showing.

And after we got across the bridge and I started breathing again we discovered there was no road to the house on this side of the bridge! EGAD!

My thoughts were there better be a place to turn around cause no way was I going to stay in the car while it backed over that bridge. Oh phew! Yes there was a wide place in the road to turn around. But that again left us with the same two choices – Over the bridge we went again. The helpful young man was waiting patiently on the other side to tell we couldn’t get there from there.

We had to park by the river walk down a steep dusty trail and take the stepping stones across the river to get to the house. WHAT??!! Who would build a house you have to walk across the river to get to. And we found out the person who carves the faces [he was an American from Sacramento] – had died. But his widow still lived there.
So off we went down the hill, across the stepping stones and up the hill. I'm glad I wore my tennis shoes not my sandals.

Did get a good view of the bridge from there. In June and July when it rains the water almost covers the bridge.

Willie waited safely and patiently for us on the other side.

The lady of the house very graciously gave us a tour of her home. It was amazing. It is carved right into the rock side of the hill. The first room we went into was her husband’s work shop. Where he carved the faces. The back wall of the shop was the rock of the hill.

Work Shop - back wall is part of hill

As we came in the door we were in huge informal living area. The outside wall was all open - windows without glass. The back wall was rock.

There was a very modern kitchen, a small living room, a den/workout room and three bedrooms. The den/workout room was at the back of the house and again carved out of the rock of the hill.

back wall is the hill

It was almost cold in there (about 90 degrees outside.) The bathrooms were completely built of rock – very unusual and exotic looking.
Then she showed us some of the carvings she had left. Some really beautiful ones that she is keeping for herself. This is one of the carvings Bill bought.

She told us that her brother – who also was the one who built the bathrooms in the house – lived in Concordia and also does the carvings. She told us where we could find him.
So back across the river and into the car heading down the highway to town. We passed this roadside memorial – there are many many of them on this particular highway. This one had a piece of the wrecked vehicle with it too.

memorial

Once in Concordia it took us a while to find her brother. Part of the reason was we ended up behind these people. They were not in a hurry walking down the street.

Just strolling along

When we finally found her brother we discovered he was quite a bit younger than her. He has his carving shop out behind his house. 

I think some of his tools run on Tecate.

A couple of weeks ago I had read about an area in Concordia where the local women can wash their clothes in natural hot springs. In 1953 the government decided to upgrade the natural hot springs that runs through the area, and created a structure above the pools.

covered washing area

It also installed the concrete slabs and washing stalls. Well we finally found it. It was later in the day so no one was using it but the smell of laundry detergent was very strong. There are three deep concrete pools with wash tubs built next to them. The water is really hot.



Pools and wash tubs

This lady and her daughter came by while we were looking around. She says she washes her clothes here.

Just some laundry drying down the road from the tubs.

From there we came home and haven’t done much of any thing since.

New friends and an evening out in Plaza Machado

Tuesday a.m.
Not too much to write about happening the last couple days. Saturday afternoon after returning from La Noria we did go to the District Historico to exchange a shirt at the Central Market – got the wrong size. Since they tore up the sidewalks a few weeks ago to put the wiring underground they have been repaving the sidewalks. Much nicer to walk on

Repaving the sidewalks

While shopping Willie was getting washed. It is amazing how clean they can get him with just one bucket and one rag. This guy recognizes us as we come down the street and never fails to find us a place to park.

Clean Willie

He has his hands full – that is a really nice cake in his left hand and he was trying to catch a bus. Hope he made it to where ever he was going.

Careful now

Just a nice shadow on the front of the Cathedral.

Then we went to lunch in the Plaza Machado. Both had Italian Salads at Beach Burger and watched the people go by. While there we met a couple from Phoenix, AZ who were in Mazatlan for their first time. Invited them to tool around town with us for a while. Went out towards the harbor for the views then into the Golden Zone to check out the shops. Into the shell museum to see the fountain and found this guy – kind of cute.

Pond decoration

Then we walked out on to the beach – no tourists and no vendors – way too cold today.

Where is everybody?

Dropped them off at their hotel just out the road from the RV Park and invited them to join us Sunday night at the Plaza but they were going to watch the SuperBowl.
Already posted about Sunday – cooking and blogging during the day. About 6:00 we headed for the Plaza for dinner. Not much of a sunset – not worth taking photos of anyway. It wasn’t quite as cold as it has been but was wearing long sleeved t-shirt, another long sleeved shirt over it and my fleece vest. We knew we were early for the Plaza but there was NO ONE there. Weird. All the Gringos were watching the game and it was too cold for the Mexicans. We ate at Le Bife the Argentine restaurant - finally. Angelica our friend from here joined us for dinner. She brought us a delicious cake she had just made. Smelled so good. Bill and Angelica had Bife de Chorizo - New York steak and I had grilled Salmon. The meals were very good. Bill said his steak reminded him of food he had eaten in Argentina. We all enjoyed our meals. More expensive than most restaurants here though.
Just as we finished eating our new friends from Arizona arrived. So we all adjourned down the Plaza a ways to listen to Rafael Rodriguez sing and play. Had a margarita and enjoyed the rest of the evening. The Driver even ended up dancing a tango. His partner was a Doctor from Culiacan.

Very enjoyable evening. That is until we got a call from our youngest that he had slipped and broken his arm. Kind of think he was a little "out of it" when he called. Hopefully its not too bad and will heal fine.
Monday we didn't do much of anything. Just went to the grocery store for staples and enjoyed yesterdays cooking efforts. Especially Angelica's cake.