Our lunch out this week was at Rancho Los Limones. Ruth saw this advertised in the Pacific Pearl and it was a great outing. As usual our “Wagon Mistress” collected our money, bought the tickets and organized us for the trip to Olas Altas to catch the bus to the ranch. We were instructed to…bring a hat, possibly an umbrella for sun and wear sunscreen and a hat. Thanks Mom!
First things first. I have done a map of our journey and you will see that it might have made more sense to start at the north end of town out where we are as the fiesta is on the ….north end of town. Just a thought! We were picked up at #2 on the map and since the buses don’t run out that far south on the malecon everyone had to come in a pulmonia or auriega and the majority of the people would not be staying down town.> 
We started the day by gathering at the front of the park at 10:45 am and then heading out to the street to look for auriegas (red trucks) to take us to our pick up point. There were 13 of us so we needed to two trucks. The first driver wanted to put all 13 of us in one truck….I don’t think so!
George and Sharen were in my truck. 
and so was Sandy.
We took a round about route to get to Olas Altas that had us avoiding the Golden Zone. It was cruise ship day so perhaps the drivers knew more than we did!
We arrived early and waited for pick up at La Chupateria or the old Canucks where bridge players were having their wind up, end of the season luncheon.
I thought we’d be on old crappy buses but….
….there were three big cruising buses. Bueno! That’s Ruth our leader talking to Val. There was even a bathroom on the bus.
We headed up the narrow streets to the ferry dock area and then east out of town.
A docked cruise ship. Looks like a floating city!
I should have been sitting up front so I could get pictures through the windshield and not the sunscreen. At this point we are north on the free road and ready to turn right towards La Noria and Los Limones.
but….first a quick check by the military. No luggage, so no problem.
Turn left to El Limones.
We did a little 4 x 4ing up a dirt road after we left the pavement and ended up at the wrong end stuck behind a stock trailer. Turns out the other two buses turned off before we did and had an easier journey in. No problemo!
A Hacienda and still a working farm.
Everyone heads down the hill to the tents, music and refreshments. Turns out there were 160 of us in attendance.
The band was rocking! Rob Lamonica and the All Stars! 
We are “oldies” so the music was “oldies!”
The band plays while we stand in line for beer and margaritas.
Sharen gets her drink.
So does Val…
Johanna, Sandy, Ruth, Jimmy and Eddie are seated and chatting.
The bar tenders looking intent. They did a great job and were quick at it.
The band played while we waited and the horse danced! This is most likely a Percheron. It is a stallion and both he his young rider were very relaxed!
Ruth makes sure Jeannette has enough sunscreen.
And she even brought extra hats…I kept mine for the day but….Jeannette dumped hers! Funny! Val had her own color co-ordinated one.
The immensely talented Dominus Levian (found this info on the net.)
When the main band took a break we were entertained by these two young men. They played more modern music and were very good. We were told later on the bus that they are actually local music students. Excellent!
A fine display of horsemanship set to music. Here in Mexico horses are prized possessions and it is very evident here.
And….now for the food!
Our group waited until the very long line had wound down before got up to eat.
Our chef for the day was Diego of El Presidio one of Mazatlan’s top restaurants.
Barbecued pork, beef ribs in juice, rice, beans and tortillas. Delicious! Yes, you do see a bit of pork crackling on my plate. A nostalgic treat that my sisters and I used to fight over when we were kids and had pork roast. Really rich!
A good meal but there were a few comments that a sweet treat at the end would have been nice. No big deal!
The fiesta organizer gave us a welcome and explained that we were invited to climb the hill to the house and have a look inside so Val and I took advantage of the invitation.
The day was hosted at Rancho Los Limones which has remained in the Vega family for 150 years!
Some modern additions such as a pool table. 
The front porch with Val having a look. Not a grand hacienda but a lovely 150 year old home for a working ranch.
While we viewed the house George and Sharen were dancing and ….
the horse danced too!
Likely this is a father and son duet….people, not horses!
George and Sharen and a quick smooch! Sweet!
Many people were being given a ride on the black Percheron and at this point Valerie said….I think I need to ride that horse! And so….
she did! She looks pretty good up there, don’t you think?
She did say the saddle was listing a little so she was sliding sideways but….she didn’t fall off.
Jeannette, Marilyn and I had moved into the shade to watch.
Val & Bev.
Everyone gets a turn.
This guy is done, done, done! It was a hot day!
Everyone wants a pat!
Eddie on the right used to ride dressage which is where these schooled movements have their origin. Our daughters and grand daughters also ride dressage. Dressage set to music is called a musical kur or just Kur.
Have a look at this video to see what a horse is capable of…
By this point we were full of beer, margaritas, music, horse dancing and sun and it was time to head home.
So…
Back up the hill to the bus. This was shot out the window so it’s kind of blurry and dirty.
Back on the bus. We were joined by the music students who played for us on the way home. They were not looking for a tip, they were just having fun!
Out the good dirt road to the paved road and home.
Farm fence at the edge of the road.
We were on the last bus and it wasn’t packed. That’s our musician Dominus Levian playing for us. We are all full, tired and ready to head home.
Our homeward bound route took us through the Golden Zone where some people got off. We didn’t as the rest of our group were on other buses and waiting at the end of the line. Cruise ship in the distance. 
We were dropped at the north end of Olas Altas and it was easier to get home from here. Ruth and Jimmy hopped a pulmonia and the rest of us caught a green bus home. 
Past the market in centro where everything is still in full swing. 
Heading north along the malecon and the kids are playing in the sprinklers.
The last of our bunch straggled back to the park by 6:30 and we were all done!
Tired, happy and a great time was had by all!
A long day but full of fun and some new memories.
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