El Fuerte

After exiting the Copper Canyon we stopped in Choix for fuel and water, and we reset our tire pressures for asphalt.  Then we headed on to our evening destination, El Fuerte.

The cathedral in the center of El Fuerte

Cobblestone streetscape in the El Fuerte Centro

The city was founded in 1573 by the Spanish Conquistador Francisco de Isbarra who built a fortification against the persistent attacks by the local indigenous Native Americans.  The fort was destroyed and its ruins became a the historic Hotel Posada del Hidalgo hotel and restaurant, whose courtyard houses a life-size statute of Zorro:

The outside of the old fortification

Courtyard - to the left you can see the entrances to the guest rooms;
behind and to the right is the outdoor restaurant

Zorro Statue

The city has sent built a reproduction of the fortification

Entrance to the fort

Side view

Ancient hay and alfalfa baling machine

We stayed at the Hotel Herradura which had two key features -- secure off-street parking in their foyer, and a hot shower.

That evening, after cleaning up, we went out on the square and found a great restaurant where I had the best fish filet in sauteed peppers and onions, with popcorn shrimp (honestly though, after Ramen noodles, chips and Coke for dinner the night before in Batopilas, banana, crackers and Coke for breakfast, and Coke and chocolate cookies for lunch earlier that day, roadkill horse probably would have tasted just as well).

We wandered the streets that evening and toured the city municipal building (the courtyard of which is pictured below in the daytime).  Eventually we found a farmacia (a Mexican pharmacy) who sold me some Q-Tips for cleaning all the dirt and dust out of my ears and nostrils.

A little different setting than the Davidson County Public Building and Courthouse?

That morning we had some wonderful breakfast and headed out toward Los Mochis for our rendezvous with MX-15 and the long trek south to Mazatlan and an extra day of (sorely needed) R&R.