"BIENVENIDOS A SONORA"

By RAYMOND CARLSON Editor, ARIZONA HIGHWAYS You sense the greeting in the customs service at the international line; it is in the country side, in the desert and in the dark mountains; you read it in the smiling faces that greet you in Mexican towns along the road; the new highway being built for your pleasure by the Republic of Mexico extends the same message to you—“Bienvenidos a Sonora!"

Welcome, indeed, to Sonora. Highway 89, from Utah to Nogales, is being continued as the new International highway from Arizona to Mexico City, and today this highway carries you deep into Sonora. It is a pleasant day's drive from Phoenix or Tucson to Hermosillo, Sonora, and only a few hours beyond that to Guaymas, the seaport jewel on the bay of Guaymas in the Gulf of lower California. A few hours from Arizona find you in the quaint and picturesque surroundings so characteristic of old Mexico.

The Republic of Mexico has made definite plans to build a modern paved highway from Nogales, Ariz., to Mexico City. The completion of this artery of traffic, some 1500 miles, will increase trade and commerce from the Gulf and Pacific coast states of Mexico to Arizona. The International highway will knit closer business and travel ties between Arizona and the States of Sonora, Sinaloa, Nayarit, Jalisco, Durango, Zacatecas, and Michoacan. Great Mexican cities like Guadalajara and Mexico City will be within several days' travel distance. Our own Nogales will someday be one of America's most important international ports of entry.

Progress is being made on this road. Today the Mexican government has several large road crews grading the road from Hermosillo to Guaymas. This work should be completed by next fall. It took Mexico ten years to build the Laredo, Texas-Mexico City highway, and today that road groans with the heavy traffic loads it carries. They do not do things rapidly in Mexico, but they do them well, and that decided progress is shown each week on the Nogales-Mexico City highway is gratifying to behold. Knowledge of this road and information about travel conditions in Sonora, our friendly neighbor in the south, will be of moment to every Arizona citizen interested in the development of this state and proud of the important part of our own highways will play in the international trade and tourist relations between two great republics.

We invite you to visit the state of Sonora, Mexico. You should apply in person to the Mexican consulates in Phoenix, Tucson or Nogales for your tourist passport. Your passport costs a few cents over a dollar.

The gateway to Sonora on the International highway is Nogales, Arizona. Here you find a modern city, progressive and enterprising, the county seat of Santa Cruz county, fully equipped to cater to the needs of the discriminating traveler. An extended visit will prove most interesting to you. Nogales is proud of her place as a port of entry and will be prepared for the greater importance to be attached to her by completion of the highway to Mexico City.

The International line separates Nogales, Arizona, from Nogales, Sonora. Before leaving the American side register any firearms or foreign made cameras you may have with the U. S. customs service in order that there will be no chance of duty imposition on your return to the states. Before leaving the United States you should change some of your money into Mexican currency. The exchange is low and you will find that the possession of Mexican money will expedite your travel. You register your car with the Mexican custom officials. For this you need your title and registration card, and for which you are charged less than a dollar American money. Your bags are subject to inspection. Every courtesy and consideration is accorded you. It requires about an hour to clear the Mexican customs, after which you are free to travel south.

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS

The road from Nogales to Hermosillo is in fine shape, broad, straight, gravelled. It leads you through Magdalena and Santa Ana, two picturesque Mexican towns which invite you to linger awhile. The old Catholic churches and the plaza, or town squares, are always interesting, and you will enjoy the narrow streets, the strange street vendors, the small quaint shops.

Hermosillo, the capital of Sonora, is a beautiful modern city, 187 miles south of Nogales. The plaza is gorgeous in spring raiment. On one side is the cathedral, 300 years old, and the modern Federal building is on the other. Homes are built squarely against the street fronts. Heavily latticed windows seem forbidding, but through open doors you catch glimpses of gay patios, rich in tropical verdure.

Hotel accomodations are reasonable. Hermosillo's leading hotel, Hotel Ramos, is moderately priced and modern, with splendid service.

You continue on the New International highway to Guaymas, (pronounced "whymus"), a distance of 87 miles. This road is now in the course of construction, and travel is not fast. The distance is short, however, and scenery unusual and interesting. The terrain is similar to the Arizona desert, bounded by high mountains, somber and rugged.Guaymas, upon completion of the highway to Nogales, should become a noted beach resort, an attractive adjunct to scenic and picturesque Arizona. Our highways lead to many enchanting places. Our own highway 89 leads to Sonora. At Guaymas, the mountains and the desert of Sonora meet the broad expansive Gulf of California. Mountains and the desert and the sea. Ocean breakers splash lazily against the very feet of giant saguaro cacti.

The town of Guaymas sleeps in the sun, nestling between the sea and a mountain range. Life is unhurried here. The bay, unreal in its beauty, reflects the rugged mountains. You find a nice place to dream and loaf.

There is a commodious cabin resort at Miramar beach, priced about the same as an average American auto court cabin. Travelers who wish can find more expensive quarters at Plaza de Cortez, the Southern Pacific's beautiful resort hotel. Guaymas is equipped to play the gracious host to everyone.

The sportsmen, of course, go into raptures over the deep-sea fishing. Here are giant white bass, called "totoaba," red snapper, rock bass, gulf sea trout, Spanish mackerel, yellowtail, yew fish, giant ray, sword fish, dolphin, marlin, sailfish, bonita, tuna, halibut, and shark. Marlin have been caught up to 518 pounds; and the average totoaba is 160 pounds; giant ray, 1500 pounds; and shark have been pulled out weighing as much as 300 pounds.

The traveler meets no manifestations of political discontent in Sonora. General Roman Yocupicio, the governor of the state of Sonora, has instituted a regime of political leadership that translates itself into school, roads, improvements of all sort for the betterment of his people.

General Yocupicio has evidenced the strongest admiration for the administration, the highway system, and the progressive citizenship of Arizona. Sonora is patterning itself after Arizona. It is an interesting observation that an American can travel throughout Sonora with out knowledge of a single word of Spanish and get by splendidly. Visit Sonora, our friendly neighbor to the south. You will not be disappointed.

You will enjoy your trip to Sonora. You will like the new song they are singing in the cafes, "Noche de Ronda," weird and typically Mexican. You'll enjoy the moonlight in the plazas. Take a ride for a few pennies in the "Fordcitos," the scurrying taxi cabs, that rattle and squeak and dash swiftly about each town. Visit the depots when the train comes in and the town goes down to the station and everyone seems to shout at everyone else.

All the noise and the music and the moonlight, the confusion and the bustle, the sleepiness and drowsiness of midday when everything closes for the "siesta," the strange faces and streets, the sunshine on the bay at Guaymas and the gentle rolling breakers . . . all are part of the Sonora serenade.