Sunday Away from the Beach in La Aduana

It's about 6:30 Sunday evening and we've had a busy day. We went to Alamos and La Aduana today. Had a good time and took lots of pictures. I still have to figure out which ones to post and write my blog but don't think I'll get it done tonight. I'm tired. Haven't slept well the last three nights in a row. First the heavy rain and last night lots and lots of wind.
Ate big lunch in Alamos so no cooking tonight either. Tomorrow we've either got to get someone to do the laundry or I need to do a few loads.
Remembered something else missing from Willie - the fire extinguishers. Want to be sure to replace them.
So will work on update and pictures and probably post first thing in the a.m.

Sunday p.m.  got this much done – will do Alamos later for tomorrow.

Saturday night the wind was blowing so hard we were rocking and the covers over the slides were just flapping and banging all night. So got up before the sun rose again. Feels like everything is covered with sand.
The birds were waiting for Bill again this morning. All lined up in a row looking at our front window. When he opened the door they started to fly and squawk. He gave them one kilo of tortillas just to shut them up. While he was out there he said he saw the dolphins swim by. Dang I missed them. And most of that time I was sitting there looking out the window. 
We drove inland today to visit the little town of La Aduana. Had never been to La Aduana. It is about two kilometers off the main road and is a very old mining town – mostly going to ruin now. The silver and gold mined there made the town of Alamos rich. It was founded in the early 1600s. In colonial Mexico the ore from the mines was taxed as it came out of the Quintera Mines. Because highway robbery was the norm the Spanish Crown levied the taxes at the mines before loading it up to travel to town. Thus the name of the town La Aduana – the Customs Office.
Just one of the ruins we saw as we drove into the town.

A close up of the hand made adobe wall.

In spite of it remote location and because of the wealth of the mine La Aduana eventually had a population of over 5000. Life expectancy was short due to the chemicals used in the refining of the silver. And Colonial life was hard and dangerous. The mines closed in 1906 after long labor strikes. Squatters and pirates looted and destroyed most of the mines and the town’s buildings. In 1978 La Aduana was ceded to the few surviving mining families and squatters as an “ejido.” [The ejido  (from  system is a process whereby the government promotes the use of communal land shared by the people of the community. This use of community land was a common practice during the time of Aztec rule in Mexico. They are registered with the National Agrarian Registry (Registro Agrario National]

The church dates from 1630 – Nuestra Senora de la Balvanera. The east side of the church

The front.

A “miracle cactus” grows high on the west wall of the church. The stones beneath are covered with wax from offering candles.

Across the street stands what is left of the rectory.

Next to the church everyday life goes on. Laundry on the line. There were a surprising number of houses with satellite dishes too.

This is the Casa La Aduana built originally in the 1630s out of double adobe and native canyon stone. Interest roof structure.

Through its 370 years it has seen many uses first it was the tax collecting office for the Spanish Crown. Now it is an Inn.

The road/river bed that runs through town. There is a foot bridge that crosses it in the distance.

Another look at the foot bridge from the main plaza.

Driving up the road/river bed towards one of the old mines

More river bed than road now. Wouldn't want to try this in a rain or even right after a rain.

Some of the tailings from the mine.

This was as close as Willie was willing to go to the old mine.

This was a very interesting place. More ruins than occupied buildings I think. Would like to spend more time there and really poke around. But we wanted to get to Alamos too.