Ciudad Constitucion stop 6

February 8 and it is a travel day. We will be writing the journal for this area so we have to pay good attention. Rather than travel with a group of 5 we waited for the deparkers Norm & Lois and Al & Mary Ann. We are traveling to Ciudad Constitucion (or as our GPS called it Villa Constitucion.) The road offered spectacular scenery and lots of twists and turns, ups and downs. All of the groups were traveling so close together that we could hear each other on the CB’s. It was even more comical when we reached the military checkpoint. We backed the whole works up with at least 14 of us waiting to go through. They stopped one trailer and went through it. Jackie & Alan were the lucky ones. After our 160 mile trip we were ready to find the campground. Dick and his parking crew, as usual, did a good job of keeping us all straight. It is nice to have some electric and water again. The campground is called Manfred’s RV Trailer Park although we understand the name has been changed to Mision ****. The owner is Patty and she is most helpful. At four we slowly gathered for a social hour followed by a nice dinner of pork and fish, rice, and potatoes with Mexican accompaniments such as flour tortillas, refried beans, cactus salad, onions. Desert was Flan. We ate under a palapaya. They are so neat with the fronds so beautifully laid as a roof. After we were done we moved outside for the entertainment. Many headed to get a jacket since it became rather cool, some blankets were seen. What wonderful entertainment it was! The local university provided us more of an introduction to the dance and music of the Mexican people. The young girls and men danced for us a number of dances of different areas of the country. This was all done in native costume. A group of men and one woman sang love songs. Two of the students who are learning English did the introduction which was good for us and them.

February 9th was a free day except for breakfast in the campground. It was scheduled from 7:30 to 9 so some slept in. When we arrived we discovered cantaloupe waiting for us and a bright shining face wanting to know if we wanted coffee and an American or Mexican breakfast. I think most opted for the American. A bacon omelet with fried potatoes certainly tasted good. Then evidently it was time for many to catch up with family and friends via the computer. Norm and Lois and we decided that the adventure Bruce and Enid had talked about sounded good. – a trip to Comondu. It was a little farther than we thought or expected. We did think about Bruce talk about riding in on a donkey. Civilization as we think of was far behind. After about 40 miles on pavement and then another 30 miles over bumpy dirt, gravel, boulder and cemented road we arrived at the Oasis. There was even a creek we had to ford in the car. The first of the two towns (San Miquel Comondu) had many fragments of buildings. We had passed Tom and Penny and Jerome and Vickie. They told us about the olives and how nice the Mission was, so we passed through and drove the 3.7 kilometers to San Jose Comondu. We were thirsty and saw signs for Tecate so thought they might have soda. Sodas as well as olives were there. except the owner spoke no English. We are getting better at hand signals. We drove on to the Mission just down the street. It was an interesting building – very high with the rounded ceiling. The Mission is actually a surviving Jesuit missionary house that is currently used as a church. The walls of the original Mission were torn down for other buildings. There is a bell from 1708 hanging in front. About that time we saw Roger & Gloria and Frank & Carol. They told us of their visit and meal at Martina’s so off we went with just a memory of a picture of her place and no memory of her name. We were near her place, actually right in front, when Norm tried to ask some fellas where she was located. It was like a game of charades. Winston stood at the half open door and yelled her name. She appeared and invited us in. We pantomimed eat and later asked for a restroom. That was an experience. She began fixing a meal for us – hand made tortillas (while we watched, she was as good as any American pizza maker) cheese, meat (carne) with onions and peppers, fresh tomatoes, It was delicious and such an experience since we were able to watch her through the entire cooking process. She had a gas stove, modern refrigerator and even a microwave. We listened to Mexican music on a boom box. The electric looked a little primitive but it worked. She had a small room at one side that had a bed. Her husband and son came in as we were eating. Martina showed us her weaving – baskets, pocketbooks, hat and placemats. It was so beautiful and I am now the proud owner of a beautiful basket that she signed. It was so late that we knew we best hurry back before the sun disappeared. It was long gone by the time we reached the campground. We noticed others still computing and others eating at the campground restaurant. It was time to call it another exciting fun adventure!