Thu, Apr 11 - Driving to Nuevo Casas Grandes

  

We met at seven for a large buffet – a young man was even making tortillas from a large vat of masa, good eggs, etc.     We set off north, trying to find a ATM as we’re very low on pesos and the toll booths won’t take US$.    We finally found one at a highway rest stop but the machine was empty! 

Our colorful motel

We hit eleven toll booths today with an average of $4-7 US equivalent….but in the state of Chihuahua we found that they will accept credit card so we’re saved!

We started driving through huge orchards that we think are pistachio trees.   Beautiful golden grasslands with cattle and cowboys.

 

We stopped for a lunch of Magnum ice cream bars and continued driving until 5:30 when we turned into the pueblo mágico of Casas Grandes and found the Posada del Soul, a beautiful adobe hotel full of artwork and other cool touches.   Desafortunadamente, it only has four rooms and three were occupied, But we’ll keep it in mind  if we come down to visit Mata Ortiz for their lovely pottery.

Giant Mata Ortiz Pots

Pistachio monument!

Probable next President of Mexico!

 

We returned to Nuevo Casas Grandes, a much more business like town, and found the comfortable Hotel Hacienda where we had stayed in 22 years ago!

We had Cuba Libres sin coke strangely enough, but ordered Cole on the side to remedy it.  Taco and grilled chicken for dinner.