When I came home from bingo on Thursday night Eric had organized a trip to El Quelite for Friday lunch with Frank and Sandi. Just a quick trip and lunch...sounded good to me. El Quelite is a very popular place for tourists to shop, eat and even take a horse back ride. The village has been struggling this year as the cartel violence has kept the tour buses away.
Yesterday we traveled the blue line as the bridge over the toll road is back in place. Last year we followed the light blue line up the toll road and then in through Marmol.
Heading out and Frank and Sandi are right behind us.
Left on the free road and heading north.
Wide open and the vegetation is brutally dry.
The bridge over the El Quelite river was taken out by flooding a few years ago but it has been reconstructed. There is no water in the El Quelite river that I could see at this point.
Turn right for El Quelite.
The main road into El Quelite was redone a few years ago and it's a nice drive now. The bougainvillea that are usually blooming profusely are looking sad from the lack of water. They are really tough but they need some water.
Cutting back the brush along the road.
3km to El Quelite. We left Mazatlan around 11:20 and by noon we were at the restaurant.
There must be some water up this way as some of the fields are green.
They must be irrigating here.
Up ahead the gate to El Quelite.
This is a lovely, neat little town.
The houses are all nicely painted.
The main street shopping and some of the restaurants are up ahead. We did see a few small tourist vans so that's good.
We like Los Arrieros which is at the end of town and over the bridge.
The bronze Ulama statue.
The street is cobblestone here and difficult on a motorcycle. Much better on "Tigger" but it was horrible on "Big Red" which is twice the weight of the Triumph.
All sorts of knick knacks and bric a brac to buy!
You can see the horses saddled and ready to take tourists for a ride around town.
Over the dry gulch bridge to the restaurant.
Los Arrieros and Frank and Sandi's favortie too. It doesn't get as much business as it's a bit out of the way.
Looking inside you can see they can really hold a crowd. We'd hoped they hadn't closed up for lack of business. I'm thinking it might be a popular place for locals on the weekend.
The menu is extensive and it's in Spanich and English as well.
First up they bring complimentary chips, salsa and two kinds of cheese. Following that the bring a little gordita which is a round tortilla with beans and cheese and it's all tasty. There is a little gordita for each of us as well.
A couple of Tecate each for Frank, Sandi and Eric.
We're sitting outside on the veranda and it's lovely and warm.
Sandi ordered chicken in a mushroom sauce but she said it was a bit bland.
Frank had pork carnitas and he said they were tasty and tender.
Sandi did eat the salad, rice and a bit of the chicken. I should have tasted the chicken to give an opinion but...I didn't.
Frank\s came with rice, refried beans and guacamole.
Eric had camarones or shrimp diabla. The shrimp were good but he thought there should have been more rice. He did get tortillas as well but he should have asked for some fresh salsa. Eric is a big eater and that would have been lots for me.
I opted for a shrimp and octopus ceviche and it was good....not too much lime.
And for dessert....complimentary rice pudding which Sandi, Eric and I really like....Frank not so much!
The same waitress always serves us and she very pleasant. The food was good, the ambiance lovely and the music was relaxing....what more could you ask for on a lovely sunny afternoon.
Time to head home for a nap!
Frank and Sandi went on ahead without us we wandered our way back home.
Bye bye El Quelite....we'll be back.
Nice green field of corn on our way out to the highway.
We took the turn off for Marmol just before the El Quelite bridge and went back on the very quiet road to the toll road and then home.
A lovely afternoon with friends!
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