15 November ‘09 Sol and Carol drove in this morning and we joined another couple that is parked here in the campground in a hike. The hike took us to one of the highest points of the town and gave us a great chance to get a feel as to how the town is laid out.
With the streets of the town being so narrow, the sidewalks elevated as much as 3 feet, and the walls of the homes and businesses running another 10 to 12 feet above that, you lose all sense of where you are. Speaking of the homes, or “Haciendas”, this is what Alamos is all about… Los Alamos was once a huge gold and silver mining area of the world, and those that lived here then and for years after had developed one of the most beautiful towns in the world. It wasn’t so much the town it’s self but the large and beautiful homes that the wealthy built. There are so many homes that cover a square block of Alamos that you could hardly count them. With the tall walls giving support for the many rooms that surround a large courtyard
that most often is decorated with waterfalls, fountains, pools (swimming and reflection), and fully grown trees and bush. The colors of the flowers in the courtyard are as magnificent as the colors of the walls and furniture that are in play throughout. So today we hiked the hill and walked the streets, strolled the street market,
and enjoyed the music, food, and the people of Alamos. We were told that there was another hill town that we should visit before we leave…La Aduana. We drove out of town about a mile to where we found a sign that told us take a left on to a dirt road. We followed this road? through some pretty tough going while driving in and out of a dry river bed. Finally after about 4 or 5 miles of steady climbing we came upon a very small old mining town. It is mostly abandoned, but the church of Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de la Balvanera
remains strong…well maybe a little weaker and not quite as polished as it once was, but still there. Fact is, today was a day that is set aside for a pilgrimage from all the towns and villages of the area to the church and Aduana. The church was built to celebrate a miracle which resulted in the discovery of silver in the town. It was amazing to see the loyal walking the highway and then the dry river bed to give thanks and recognize the church and the miracle. Not only were we there to see the pilgrimage, we found some amazing bread…Carol and Louise could hardly hold their selves back
trying to get their pesos’ out and get a taste. I must say, it was quite good and will not last long around the Minnie Winnie…