Brits on Tour (In Spain): A weekend in Mexico.

WHAT A GREAT WEEKEND WE HAD

A new Church that has taken 20 years, so far, to build,

and still plenty of work to be done.

We did and saw so much in 2 days. I have put a load of photo's on the blog to give you all a taste of what we did. We crossed into Mexico at Nogales, where we had a look around a few of the touristy shop's. Then south to Magdalena de Kino, where, following checking into our hotel for the night, we went to visit some friends of Nando's, in a small village not far from there. It was during the drive to his friends that we stopped off at the church where Father Kino's bones are on display. He was a priest who started off several of the Catholic Missions that are still in existence in the area. After being introduced to his friends, Juan, the father of the household, took us on a sight seeing trip into the hills. Quite an experience. Then dinner back in Magdalena, and back to our hotel for a good nights rest before our next days adventure.

Following a huge breakfast in a restaurant about 5 miles south of the hotel, we left for Nando's family ranch, via a couple of small villages, Tubutama and Oquitoa being two. The final village we stopped at, Altar, is famous for being the last town before the border with the USA. It is about 100km away, along a toll road, that is not paved, and is extremely rough. It was named "The Devils Highway" by National Geographic when they broadcast a TV program about illegals crossing the border from Mexico to the US, and it is not difficult to see how it got its name. The town itself has more taxi's, and more 15 seater buses than I have seen in a city 10 times its size. The buses and taxis are used by the "Coyotes" to transport "illegals" to the border, where guides take over for the border crossing. These people pay thousands of dollars. Dollars they can't afford, with no guarantees that they will get over the border, or that they won't get captured if they do. Also, in the town there are dozens of street vendors, all selling back packs, woolly hats and warm clothing, water bottles and all sorts of paraphernalia one may need for a long trek across country, in cold and inhospitable desert terrain.

But I digress......We left Altar and headed along the bumpy and dusty "Devils Highway" to Nandos family ranch, near La Trinidad.

What a reception we had. We were treated like family. The ranch was a great place, and one of the highlights of their day was watching us eat enormous steaks, cooked over an open BBQ. Jane was asked if she wanted desert. She asked, "What have you got?" To all our surprise, Oscar, who took over the cooking duties, replied, "Banana flambe" True to his word he served up, a great looking banana flambe. He apologised for the fact that he had to use tequila instead of brandy. Whatever, we all had a taste, and it was delicious.

We had a great visit, with Sandy and Nando translating for us. Finally, we had to take our leave.

We stopped in the desert to search for shards of pottery, said to be Yaqui Indian, from 1100 years ago. There were pieces all over the desert floor.

Back on the "Devils Highway" for the final leg to the border. What a ride !!!.

The border crossing itself was uneventful, though by the look on the guards face when told we were British, they don't get too many of us Brits going across their crossing.

Inside the Church

A small town square.

A drive up to the hill top, where you can see the river below.

We saw some Jack Rabbits. SO BIG.

A view from the top

More Jack Rabbits.

And a Road Runner

A very old Mission, one of Father

Kino's, in need of some repair.

The family we got to meet, and invited back for a

wedding in April.

At the Ranch. There was a party of hunters there

for the weekend.

Around the Ranch

All the cooking is done outside most of the year.

Did you know the Saguaro cactus starts it life under a tree (any tree) for protection.

This tree is called a "Mentor" tree.

Yes, you do see dead cattle out in the desert.

A wonderful meal was cooked for us, and I got pudding.

I was asked by Oscar if I would like desert? I asked "what have you got" he said "banana flambe" we all laughed.............. then he produced a wonderful Flambe for me.