Lady of Guadalupe is the patron saint of Mexico. As we drove along, we noticed many large shrines similar to this one dedicated to Lady of Guadalupe.

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Our accommodations in Alamos are in a restored convent built in 1789. Alamos takes its architecture from the Spanish town of Andalusia. Early settlers arrived because of the rich silver mines discovered in 1683 and laid out the town's manor houses.

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Each room had its own fireplace (and no other heat!). With constant Indian attacks, disastrous floods and spent silver mines, Alamos became a ghost town. By 1940, families began to renovate the dormant mansions.

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All of the haciendas are one block square and have rooms that open to an interior arched courtyard. Our guide explained that most of the renovated haciendas belong to Americans

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Before dinner we were entertained in the courtyard by four locals who performed the Deer Dance. This is the coyote...

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...who will chase the deer.

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Tryna got her photo taken with the dancers.

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These local mariachis sang for us during dinner. Sergio, who has an incredible voice, joined them for a few songs too.

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After dinner we were entertained by this group of student musicians. By the time they are finished with their training they will be able to play all the instruments used by the group.

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In the morning we were lucky to be joined by a local who gave us a walking tour of this historic town. This is a typical street in town!

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We got to enter a few of the refurbished haciendas and look into the courtyard of others.

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We visited a hacienda that is still occupied by descendants of the original owners. Members of this family have been potters for many years and the tradition continues. This is one of the few haciendas in the village that has not been renovated. The pots are made totally by hand without the use of a wheel or any other modern invention. Here she is starting the pot.

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Right before our eyes the pot got taller and smoother. When it is finished, she will dry it in the sun and then sell it in her small shop that is located in one of the rooms of the hacienda.

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Although she was not making a pot that day, this woman also works in the family business.

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As we walked through the village we could always see the church tower.

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There was a village square with a gazebo in all of the villages we visited and Alamos was no exception. The church always stands on one side of the square.

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Another beautiful church interior.

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I got to meet one-year old Celeste who was with her grandmother at the village square.

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Our guide loaded us on a rickety old schoolbus and took us to the highest point in Alamos where we had a birdseye view of the entire village.

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