More from Mazatlan

Didn’t realize it’s been more than a couple of days since I’ve updated our progress, or lack of it.
Don’t know if I mentioned it or not but there is a little outdoor restaurant here in the campground. We’ve eaten there a couple of times and the food is very, very good. Any way it’s been closed for a few days. The owner and his family work all work there have been sick. When he came back to work Bill asked him about closing up when he was sick, just how sick was he? Well it turns out if the Departimento de Salubridad Publica (city health department) should happen to come by and you or any of your workers are not feeling well they will shut the place down AND fine the owner 50,000 Pesos! All the street vendors selling food and the little taco stands are now licensed and regulated by the Health Department. And I’ve noticed that most everywhere where they deal with food in any way there are bottles of hand sanitizer being used. Times they are a changing.
Yum – just had some Arizona brand Kiwi con Fresca (Kiwi with Strawberry) drink. Pretty darn good, will have to buy some more. And it’s enriquecida con Vitamina C.
Drove over to Centro – the main shopping district around the Central Market a couple of times. If we go early enough before the palapa restaurants on the beach open, we get to see the ice truck delivering the days supply of ice blocks.
They leave the ice sitting on the curb for the restaurant to pick up. Also get to watch the guys and gals cleaning the sidewalks and streets. Very seldom do you ever see any trash on the streets – not even gum wrappers.
Cleaning the Malecon.
Had a ball in Centro – found a couple of fabric stores that not only sell fabric but they sell beads. Did I ever have fun. First about the fabric. Could not get over the prices. Nice all cotton fabric between one and two US dollars a meter (almost a yard.) Silk for less than three dollars a meter.
29.99 = 2.38 US
Could go wild there but didn’t. Only got some green cotton fabric about US$1.25 a meter – just like the fabric I paid 9.98 a yard for at JoAnns for the quilt I’ve got started at home. Also bought some woven fabric in several colors. Couldn’t pass it up. While on the subject of fabric, I was looking at some yardage on a table and wondering about it. Come to find out it is to make diapers.
Very inexpensive but felt like it would be super absorbent.
Now the beads – I went crazy – for the same amount of beads that I pay any where from US$2.99 – 4.99 a tube for at home I bought here for 3 Pesos – about 30 cents. Poor Jennie will have to haul all that extra weight around for the rest of the trip. Bought so much had to take it to the car before we could do anything else.
Not all of it.
Then we went to the Central Market. Very busy there as the cruise ships were in. About ten small tourist vans were parked down the street – everyone getting directions on where to go and when they had to be back to the van. In we toddled and FOUND!! Some more blouses and a couple skirts (one beige and one black – made out of a real soft gauzy material) for me and a shirt and nice cool cargo type summer pants for Bill. It’s a good thing we are leaving Mazatlan soon – or we wouldn’t have any room left to live.
Another day after eating breakfast at Gus Gus a really nice outdoor restaurant we took a walk around part of the Golden Zone that is on the main street. This stretch of the street is all hotels, condos, timeshares on the beach side and many different businesses on the other side. Lots of stores selling everything from “naughty” t-shirts to very expensive jewelry and paintings.
Went into a leather shop to look around. You could order what you wanted and have it made for you. The factory was upstairs.
Bill found a piece of beautiful black leather, it is so soft and fine. He couldn’t resist it. When we get home he really will have to start experimenting to see if he can make some of the masks like we have seen. I saw a metal peacock that was wonderful – it could be used as a fire place screen.
But EXPENSIVE! No room to put it in Jennie anyway.
Couldn't resist these flowers - so pretty along the sidewalk
Last night we went to Gus Gus other location for dinner with our friend Angelica. It is right on the marina and has good music on Wednesday nights. Except for one big birthday party everyone there was Gringo. The restaurant is right in front of a huge time share/condo building. Lots of people dancing and just enjoying the evening.
Today we went to grocery store and got home just before the heavens opened up again. Everyone is surprised by the amount of rain that’s come down here this January.
They are starting to get ready for Carnaval here - putting the lights and masks up on the streets

Willie is Well Again

Monday. Willie went to the Jeep dealer here in Mazatlan. It seems like his problem isn’t too bad. A sensor in the transmission burnt out. Can be replaced without major surgery. It’s six o’clock and he is home and happy. Around $1800 Pesos to fix including transmission fluid. Thank goodness. Less than US$150. Could have been worse.
Just a couple of tid bits we’ve run across the last few days and evenings. Last week Bill bought a can of spray paint at the market. When he went to use it the button you press to make the paint spray was gone. Back to the market – come to find out all the buttons are removed so the paint can’t be used. After you buy it you go to customer service and they will give you a button. Hum….Now I know why it isn’t locked up like in the states. Can’t use it anyway.
Have been to the plaza a couple more times for dinner and to listen to music. Found out that the vendors that display their wares there have to get a permit from the city to do it. Saturday night it was packed. That’s the night the young people go out and about. Traffic is very heavy and follows a route – kind of like cruising night. From the old district, down the Malecón and turn around at the second light in the Golden Zone and out again.
The stretch along the Malecón is a divided road with parking in the center. It is packed with parked cars full of young people. Their doors and windows are open with loud music pouring out of them. Every one stands outside on the center divider talking and drinking. Yes, drinking mostly beer. The rules are and I quote “Drinking from your parked car on the Malecón is not permitted between 2 and 5 a.m.” Before and after is fine I guess. I wonder how many cops are around at 2 a.m. when everyone who has been drinking gets into their car to go home.
We did notice that Sunday morning the street in that area was very clean – no trash of any kind was left there. In fact this is a very clean city. Always see people cleaning the streets and sidewalks.
Sunday evenings the plaza is not as busy and the streets are not as crowded. But the area around where the cliff divers show off is packed. Food vendors line the street next to the sidewalk. Families, from babies to grandparents are everywhere especially around the area where the street performers are. They are there until late at night.

Just Putzing Around

Hum – it never rains in Mazatlan during January – well they are going to have to fix there weather books as it rained again during the night. We both woke up wondering what that noise was. It was hard rain on the roof. And then again today it rained. It just stopped. Only lasted a few minutes but the sky was black and ugly for a while. Strange weather all over I guess.

We did go to the Plaza Machado last night. The food and the band were good as usual. The unusual thing was there was hardly any one there. For Friday night that is strange. Bill finally asked and was told there was a big baseball game at the stadium and every one was either there or watching it at home or in a sports bar. Evidently they take their baseball seriously here. Mazatlan has a professional baseball team but no soccer team. Find that strange.
During the bands break a couple of other musicians came by to entertain. I don’t think they were Mexican. One played the guitar the other played a drum and an Andean flute. They were darn good.


This morning we found out there was a big fire in the central market – probable cause – faulty wiring – no kidding. But a while ago we drove by it and most of it was still open, just part of one end was damaged. Sure glad ‘cause there are a lot of stores in there selling everything from chicken feet to nice jewelry and clothes. Must have a good fire department to save as much of the place as they did.
It’s strange – Saturday is a big shopping day and all the parking lots in the old district were closed – we were going to go look for beads for me but couldn’t find any place to park. Decided that maybe the people from town don’t use them cause they are too expensive and busses are easier and cheaper. One of the big fabric stores across the street from the central market has lots of beads but I need Bill to ask if they have needles and beading thread. I didn’t see any the other day. I want to check out the prices of the fabric too – some of it was beautiful.
Talked with the mechanic he says it might just be a relay – if that’s the case he won’t have to take the transmission apart. That would be nice. We’ll find out Monday.