19 November ‘09 Tonight’s position of our camp site in El Fuerte, Mexico can be found by going to Google Earth at: 26.41020N, 108.62613W
This is going to be a little short because all we’re really going to do for now is head into El Fuerte central and do a quick look before heading back for a quick nights rest. We arrived here in El Fuerte fairly early so that we could set up in our campground and prepare for tomorrow. Unfortunately it wasn’t all that simple…we’re in Mexico… Our guide book told us of this nice campground that most RV’rs used while taking the train up to Creel and the Copper Canyon. In following the detailed directions we found the sign indicating “RV Camping” and an arrow pointing down this narrow dirt road. Trees hung over it quite low and bushes made it even more narrow than it was originally. This looked a little strange and made us tell Sol and Carol to hang back while we drove deeper into this road of unknown. Fortunately we didn’t have our Endeavor, it wouldn’t have even come close to getting in. We finally arrived at the end of the road and found ourselves in someone’s personal driveway (still dirt). Well we’ve got to make a turnaround and head back out, but now we’ve encountered some low hanging wires and branches of some pretty good sized trees. I’m sure this wasn’t the first time that an RV’r had come down this lane and found themselves in this yard because it didn’t take long and we had the “man of the house” outside and helping with directing and watching as we negotiated through the maze of leaves, branches, and wires all within a wire fenced yard. Fortunately we left all the wires behind, but I’m sure that the senior will soon be out at the main road and re-painting that RV Campground sign to a large red circle with RV-Camping in the center. It turned out that the campground had closed up a couple of years ago but just a quarter of a mile and around the corner was a hotel that allowed camping…we’re saved. Now we’re all checked in, set up,
This is going to be a little short because all we’re really going to do for now is head into El Fuerte central and do a quick look before heading back for a quick nights rest. We arrived here in El Fuerte fairly early so that we could set up in our campground and prepare for tomorrow. Unfortunately it wasn’t all that simple…we’re in Mexico… Our guide book told us of this nice campground that most RV’rs used while taking the train up to Creel and the Copper Canyon. In following the detailed directions we found the sign indicating “RV Camping” and an arrow pointing down this narrow dirt road. Trees hung over it quite low and bushes made it even more narrow than it was originally. This looked a little strange and made us tell Sol and Carol to hang back while we drove deeper into this road of unknown. Fortunately we didn’t have our Endeavor, it wouldn’t have even come close to getting in. We finally arrived at the end of the road and found ourselves in someone’s personal driveway (still dirt). Well we’ve got to make a turnaround and head back out, but now we’ve encountered some low hanging wires and branches of some pretty good sized trees. I’m sure this wasn’t the first time that an RV’r had come down this lane and found themselves in this yard because it didn’t take long and we had the “man of the house” outside and helping with directing and watching as we negotiated through the maze of leaves, branches, and wires all within a wire fenced yard. Fortunately we left all the wires behind, but I’m sure that the senior will soon be out at the main road and re-painting that RV Campground sign to a large red circle with RV-Camping in the center. It turned out that the campground had closed up a couple of years ago but just a quarter of a mile and around the corner was a hotel that allowed camping…we’re saved. Now we’re all checked in, set up,
and making our drive in Sol and Carol’s truck to town. El Fuerte has been accepted as a “Magical Town”, or as we might say…Historical town by UNSCO. It’s also the home of Zorro… I must say, it’s kind of fun riding in the back seat of Sol’s truck as he takes this “behemoth” down and through some of these busy narrow streets with cars, trucks, and buses parked on both sides. Then there are the tight corners that he navigates so well as all the pedestrians stand to watch. After finding a parking place long enough for this 4 door dually to fit, we all climb out and head for this wonderful machine that spits pesos out at us at demand. Then it’s off for a walk through town, window shopping and looking for the best restaurant or stand for our nights nourishment. Prior to finding our choice of taste, we happened upon the town museum. It sits high on the hill
overlooking the town, the surrounding neighborhoods and hills, and the river that snakes its way outlining El Fuertes central district. It’s always surprising to all the information that you can get from these museums, with the understanding of the language or not. Down below us we heard a marching band practicing for the next day’s Revolution Parade…the sounds of the drums (not quite in sync.) and the trumpets (not in sync and off tune…) making their way around and around the town square,
how many times I’m not sure, but let’s just say it lasted most of the time we were in town. The museum was set into the walls of a garrison that surrounded the town water supply. As you walked the walls of the garrison it felt like we were walking the walls of one of the many castles of Europe (maybe not quite, but you get the idea…). Now it was time to find our dinner… in the central part of town is the location where all the busses arrive with those coming and going from a day of working, shopping or even school. As always, this is found to be one of the best locations to find a great taco con carne… It is amazing, you can have one and you can have two or three, but you never tire of them, ever….