Because we were in the neighborhood, we simply had to try it out with its 63 tunnels and 115 bridges through the Sierra Madre Mountains.
One of the bridges made it to the Guiness World Book of Records for being the highest suspension bridge. It also happens to be the longest suspension bridge in the Americas. What an engineering feat, completely done by Mexican engineers.
The approach
One of the two spans.
It was built from both sides and joined right at the state line, between Sinoloa and Durango states
Some of the 63 tunnels, these are called smart tunnels because of all the technology and eco features
How did they possibly pour that middle tower?
The road looking back from the bridge
State line
The highway is 3 hours shorter than the old highway called the Devils Spine, do not ever want to do that road!
This one has four tolls and is a no stop highway, no place to pull over to enjoy the view , too bad they did not build a few lookouts.
Also, one washroom on the 3 hour trip so be sure to stop on the way through, the only chance to get off the highway.
On the way back, we had permission to use the workers camp road to stop for a few photos.
Part of the camp. beef for dinner I imagine.
I remember a kiss under the Bridge of the Americas but was not interested in a kiss under this bridge!!
They call this the yellow rose??Durango city in Durango State was a surprise for us, so much European influence in the architecture and a pride in their history as they have over 700 building on the historic register.
Scotia Bank is all over Central America
Trolley tour of the historic district was very interesting.
450 years young
As in New York, New York, Durango, Durango has a Grand Central Station for its train systems
One for Bert
Note the extra touch to the traffic lights
Looking for an ice cream cone
Their conference center can handle 2000 and is on the same property as the Governors estate
. For the 450 year anniversary, these murals were carved from stone in the area
Mural carved from local rock tells the history of Mexico. These nine panels are so intricate with details unreal.
From the discovery to the future with independence, revolution and constitution in between.
Pancho Villa era, the Robin Hood of all Mexico
Benito Juarez!
Babes in the wombs, looking to a positive future for Mexico
The convention centerThe cable car took us across the city to the first church, built in the 1500's, high on a hill, giving us a 360 degree view.
Chili, our guide spent twelve hours with us, really knew his stuff and very proud of his country.
Pancho Villa now has his own museum. This Robin Hood character has many books written about him and movies made.
The man who loved hats and women, apparently he had 20 of each!! what would one do with 20 wives????
Working towards relieving the sadness of the Mexican poor.
The museum had once been the home of the silver mines owner, huge and grand.
Get lost gringo!21 colleges in this city probably accounts for 60 % of all their citizens having a college degree.
Of interest to me was the Normal School, where children are trained to be teachers right from the primary grades. Fascinating.
This twelve hour day was full of surprises for us. We had no idea that Durango was like this.
A Port Alberni man had come here to start a sawmill and now, after traveling through the pine forests on the top of the mountains, we understand how there was work for him.
Durango is just beginning a tourism industry and we were treated like royalty by everyone we met, a bit of a novelty for the locals to see eight gringos together.
The city is booming, an assembly outlet for Nike, GE, GM,all kinds of electronic companies and other car companies.
With this new highway and an active port in Mazatlan, things are moving very quickly.
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