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We are traveling in Mexico again this winter of 2012
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Saturday, January 1, 2011

More of the Historic Buildings in Mazatlan and a little history.

Saturday a.m.

The first day of the New Year! – We didn’t go anywhere last night. Stayed in read and listened to the fireworks – more like the booms and bangs.
Was searching the web and came across some interesting history of Mazatlan so thought I’d share some of it.
“For thousands of years prior to the first Spanish arrival in 1531, Native Americans migrated through the region following game herds. (Its name translates to "land of deer" in Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs). By the 1700's gold and silver shipments from the nearby mines at Rosario and Copala poured through Mazatlan's harbor making it one of Mexico's most important ports. Frequent pirate attacks stifled early development. By the 1840's hoards of American settlers were flowing through Mazatlan on their way to the gold fields of California.The port began to slowly grow. It was besieged by the U.S. Navy in 1847 and attacked again by the French in 1864, the small pueblo of Mazatlan was able to thwart the attack. Following the American civil war, a group of southerners tried unsuccessfully to convert the area into a slave state.
Mazatlan served as the capital of Sinaloa (Culiacan is today's capital) from 1859 to 1873. Late in the 19th century, railroads reached Mazatlan, increasing the shipping importance of the town. This led to a steady growth until the Mexican Revolution.
The 1900's saw Mazatlan as a working port and agricultural shipment point by both ship and train. The fishing industry began to boom and only the war years of 1910-1920 saw the industry take a drop off.
Mazatlán's architecture is a portrait of the substantial German, Spanish and French merchant influx after Mexico's independence from Spain in 1821.”
Back to our walk Thursday – more beautiful architecture.
Couldn’t find a date on this one but thought it was interesting. Especially the arch on top
and the interesting window design. Lots of three-dimensionial work and all the iron balconies.
So pretty
One more block and then this place– lots of roof tiles, decorative tiles, carved wood and balconies

The corner with its tile design on smooth plaster
About half way down the building was this upper doorway and balcony with tiles.
I like the roof line
This one has the carved wood posts.

Another window/door with wrought iron railing and below it a clay tile roof over the door.
More windows with yet another design in tile.

It is amazing what we see when we look up.
Then across the street is the Haas house built in 1890 it was built by Guillermo Haas an immigrant from Prusia.
 He was a retailer and industrialist.


It has a small inner garden in one of the corners of the property.
Original stairs - leading to 2nd floor from small garden area

Supports under the stairs

On the wall in the small garden area

Looking in from the front door

Ceiling around main room
 An interesting tidbit – during a period of religious persecution in the late 1920s when church services were suspended, secret Sunday mass was held on the 2nd floor. Mrs. Haas pretended to be ill so there was a reason for their catholic friends to visit.
2nd floor original flooring
Above the front door

Wooden ceiling in hallway on 2nd floor
Original door from small garden with frosted glass
I have more old buildings but will save them for another time.
Laptop has been working okay today - guess Hughes Net  straightened itself out. My cold is better but throat is sore - so other than going out to breakfast this a.m haven't done much today. So strange - we were out around 9:30 - the streets were almost empty. No pedrestrians or cars. Like being in an episode of Twilight Zone or something.
Until next time. Hope you enjoyed the tour.

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