Magdelena de Kino y Rancho Penasco

The Virgin of Guadelupe on the road to Magdalena

I realize that I had promised this post after I got my camera back from my friend's car and suddenly time has flown by and I had better post before our next trip to Mata Ortiz pottery village this weekend. (this link is to my post about our trip last year)

When my husband told me that he was going of to Vegas to meet up with his sons for a weekend my friend Pam and I hatched a plan to go to Magdalena de Kino, a town in Mexico about 2 hours south of us. We had heard that it was fiesta time in honor of the death of Father Kino

It turned out we were a couple of days ahead of schedule but the town was ramping up enough for the event so we felt there was plenty enough going on for us and probably we'd be avoiding a crowd as well.

We stopped for  a lovely fresh lunch at a roadside stand in Imuris.

I just love the fresh roasted cebollitas (roasted scallions)

We stayed at this hostel just outside of Magdalena called Rancho Penasco

run by Wences Monroy and his  business partner Daniel. The ranch has been in his family since the turn of the century 

( you know what I mean 1901, not 2001!)

The community kitchen area

This is where they welcomed us and joined us in some festive libations

The outdoor kitchen.

The breakfast was amazing- fresh roasted salsa, chilequiles, beans and eggs. It helped that the sun was shining on us and warming us during our outdoor breakfast.

A nice idea for a step

Where the magic happens~ fresh roasted coffee beans cooked up cowboy style

Some ruins from part of the old ranch

Some nice old textbooks in the library at the hostel.

I would have loved to take this one home with me!

There's a little museum on the property where you can learn a bit of the old life at the ranch.

......mmm historical Mexican ephemera...oooh

....must satisfy self with photo only....

An interesting couple

Wence's parents were painting up these little maracas for their granddaughters wedding

We went into the town and stopped at some more roadside stands.

Chiltepin peppers and fruits and honey for sale.

The mission in Magdalena de Kino.

Father Kino's remains are interred in the city park nearby for viewing.

Pam, Wence y mismo

(not sure if that's correct Spanish grammar so please correct me!)

My Little Mexico Trip~ Magdalena de Kino

 When my friend heard that mi esposo was going to be out of town running with his sons in Vegas, she shot me a message that she could be persuaded to take a drive south to Magdalena de Kino a few hours south of here in Mexico. She had heard that it was Fiesta time for the anniversary of Father Kino's death some 300 years ago which is a big deal for many Mexicans. It turned out we were a few days off from the actual celebration but got there in time to see some preparations for the event.


Unfortunately I've left my camera in her car and for now can only show you what I bought. (You see my moratorium on supplies doesn't hold across international borders) and I want to do my best at helping out the economy in Mexico since tourism has dropped off drastically with fear mongering news reports.
 My biggest fear on the trip was more about driving over the mountains with people passing on curves trying to pass semi's that were crawling at a snails pace on steep grades.

 We went to the shops that had religious paraphernalia and I found what I was looking for.

Milagros (miracle charms) that are used as votives in altars and shrines.

These are scapulars which were being sold in Magdalena de Kino

I was delighted with our visit to the ferreteria which is NOT a place that you buy ferrets but is a hardware store. How I love it when I go to less modern stores that have a selection of nearly vintage items mixed in with the new stuff. 

Some of these items are Chinese I know but I think they are certifiably vintage.

I was happy to find a great array of Mexican oilcloth at a decent price.

I'm thinking of sewing place mats and coasters.

I've got these hanging on the line right now though because there seems to be some serious industrial outgassing at the moment.

I promise to post more about the trip when I get my camera back.

I think I got some more great images that will warm those of you who haven't felt any semblance of spring yet.