On the road again - south to Playa Matanchen

Friday p.m.

Yesterday, Thursday we had a very nice day in El Quelite and an interesting experience in Mazatlan but I will leave that for my next post.
Today, Friday, early this morning – well early for us – around 6:30 we left Mazatlan. And it was foggy foggy out. Leaving the campground.

Leaving campground 6:30 a.m.

The sun trying to come out.

And surprisingly enough it stayed foggy most of the way even though we were inland quite a ways. Going into the state of Nayarit where we’ll be for a while.

Not too much to say about the trip. Jennie ran well the road was for the most part good but only two lanes. Their only drawback was they WERE EXPEN$IVE! It was almost even more expensive. I had a copy of what we paid last year in tolls so knew it was going to not be a cheap day. But at the first toll booth I had written down 226 pesos and the toll person said 326 - WHAT? don't think so - some of the tolls have gone up this year from last but only by ten to twenty pesos - not 100. So The Driver very nicely questioned the toll person. Oops turned out he said the wrong amount it really was 226 pesos. Hummmmm  It ended up costing 780 Pesos around 64 US dollars for 165 miles. About 2.60 per mile!!!!! Took us five hours. But the last 20 miles on the road into San Blas was where a lot our time was spent. It is a narrow curvy road with no shoulders and lots of traffic going down to the coast. Very pretty tropical plants all the way.

At each little town something is for sale usually fruit but I also noticed this several places. It is gasoline – no gas stations on that road.

We are staying at El Chaco Hotel, Bar, Restaurant and RV Park. It is right on the beach and the hotel part is very nice. Beautiful pool area – will take pictures tomorrow.
The satellite went up and is functioning thank goodness. The park charges 1400 Pesos for one week about US$16.50 a day. If you pay by the week it is cheaper as you pay for only six days. Full hookups with 30 amp electric. We can even run the air conditioning and the microwave at the same time. There is no WiFi and the cell phone only works when it wants to. 
After settling in we went looking for George of Ms. Tioga and George. He was camped just south of Aticama on the Little River.

Ms Tioga

When we pulled up by him he came out and invited us in for a chat. Very nice man. As nice as his blog suggests. See his blog for our visit http://blog.vagabonders-supreme.net/
Then we stopped in town and picked up some pollo asado – charcoal roasted chicken for lunch.
It was very good.
Once we finished lunch we headed towards San Blas again to where the banana bread is sold. Had to have some. It is so good. They also sell: elote (corn), yaka (a fruit), coco and piña (pineapple) breads. Will have to try a couple of them before we leave. I noticed they have some of them in muffin form so we can just sample them.

Bill buying banana bread

Then back to Jennie to relax for the rest of the day. Did see the guy George talks about Flyboy Chip going up in his ultra light. Talked to him about taking a ride with him. Will have to wait for a nice day though.

The Ultra Light and flyboy Chip

Also saw this pretty horse walking along the beach.

Made a new header for the blog – but not sure I like it – Maybe when it is a sunnier day – yes it is foggy here too. And I know there is a way to change the color of the text but for the life of me I can't remember how.
Then watched a very different sunset. The sun suddenly appeared beneath the fog – bright red then disappeared back into the fog. Weird but pretty.

coming out of the fog

out of the fog

back into the fog

Valentines Day in El Quelite and Mazatlan

Thursday a.m. -
This morning dawned dreary and foggy again. Yesterday was foggy for the first time in a week but it burned off quickly. Today it seems to be getting thicker as time passes.

Yesterday was a start to get ready to leave day – got the laundry done, re arranged the pots and pans so they won’t rattle, did some cleaning etc. Today we are going to El Quelite again for lunch and to see the Folkloric dancers and to watch a game of Ulama.
When we get back we’ll grocery shop. Then tomorrow morning bright and early back on the road again. Heading south towards Aticama.
Monday - Valentine's Day  was a nice day. We started the day off by going to La Noria so Bill could ask more questions about leather. While hewas in talking to the guy I was watching a newly married couple across the street at the Civil Registry. They looked so happy. He in his new jeans, crisp white shirt and polished cowboy boots. She had her hair pulled back from her face and then in many tiny braids. She was wearing new gold strappy high heeled sandals and an ivory colored slinky material party dress. It was trimmed with gold braid around the waist. After the ceremony they got in the back of one of the pickup taxies with one set of parents and off they went to begin their life together. I hope they remain as happy as they were on their wedding day.
From La Noria we went to El Quelite for lunch. At our favorite restaurant.

Front of Restaurant

The last time we were here with Tom we bought some raffle tickets from the restaurant owner. He said the money would be for planting bougainvilleas along the roadway into town. As we turned off the main highway towards town we noticed the area had been cleaned up and white rocks now surrounded new little bougainvilleas. That was fast. Will be beautiful by next year.

They will grow fast here

One of the Mini Markets in town selling Valentine's balloons.

After leaving El Quelite we drove to the smaller town of El Quemado where a lot of the people working in the restaurant live. Interesting little town. Some really nice homes there

Common wall between the two homes

A pretty plaza

And another cheese factory.

Small cheese factory

Later that evening we decided to go out for dinner. Thought we’d try the Italian Restaurant we’ve been talking about going to for the last three years. Got there and it was packed – it is in a hotel and looked like everyone from the hotel was in there having dinner. So we left and drove over to our old stand by Plaza Machado. Past this hotel on the way.

We had dinner at the Plaza and people watched for a while. Another wedding party. This one a little more fancy. They were having some pictures taken in the Plaza. Quite a beautiful dress with long train and he was dressed in tails. Shouldn’t have trouble remembering his anniversary.

Happy Bride and Groom

Tuesday was another laid back day. We went to the old district and walked around a little. Of course had to go into the big Central Market again. Want some beef for dinner? Which cut?

Or how about some smiling piggies?

Or chicken feet – Tom this is for you.

Lots of good looking produce to choose from.

Later that evening we took a drive out the Malecon and discovered this. I guess it is something that is going up to decorate for Carnaval.

Carnaval decoration I guess

Also from the Malecon we could see the cruise ship behind the city. They are soooo big and this is one of the smaller ones. And yes they have settled their dispute with the city and are stopping here again.

Cruise ship at dock

So we continued on out to a look out point to watch it leave the harbor. Just made it in time to see it leave

There it goes heading south.

So that pretty well catches me up to date. Until next time....

Random thoughts - Laundry Ladies - Cliff Diver - Sail Boats

Monday a.m.
We are thinking about leving sooner than the 25th. Bill is up talking to the owner to see if we do if we can use our last week later in the year when we come back through on our way home.

The price of gasoline has gone up here in Mexico again from 8.84 pesos a liter to 8.92 pesos a liter. That makes a big difference to the people driving for a living here. Gas is not self serve and some gas stations still do not take credit cards. Though more and more do. While thinking about driving – I have seen no women bus drivers, taxi drivers or pulmonia drivers. All are men.

Pulmonia in Plaza Machado

But when I went to the doctor I did have a male nurse take my vitals. The baggers in the grocery stores are either young children or old men and women. They are provided uniforms but work for tips.
Saturday we went back up the mountain to Chuepuedes again (the place of the OH MY GOD bridge.) The lady with the carved faces was supposed to have some more faces for Bill but she got unexpectedly called in to Mazatlan so she wasn’t there.
Passing through Concordia we went by the hot springs again to see if the ladies were doing laundry. They sure were – a whole bunch of them with loads and loads of laundry. They also hang it around the area to dry. It was about 84 degrees out and about 11 o’clock when we got there. Took a few pictures but didn’t want to be intrusive.

Many ladies - Much laundry

She's washing her hair

From here we continued on up to Copala for lunch. I had chili rellenos for the first time. Pretty good.

In Copala it was 93 degrees! When we got back to Mazatlan it was only 69.
Went to WalMart to get some blank DVDs to record my slideshows and some enzymes for Bills stomach. Papaya based they really work great when eating anything spicy or hard to digest. We are also looking for lemon juice as we used the last we brought with us. Can’t find it anywhere here. In fact we can’t find lemons – yellow lemons. They have a smaller green fruit they call lemons and the still smaller limes – but no lemons. Had never noticed that before.
Yesterday morning, Sunday we went to the big hotel across the street for breakfast in their restaurant on the beach. Very good food. Bill had, he says, one of the best omelets he’s ever eaten. I had bacon, eggs, home fries and toast. Nice atmosphere and view of the ocean.

Torres Hotel

While there a harp player was serenading the customers. Beautiful music and he had a very nice voice. I think the only male harp player I’ve ever seen.

After breakfast we drove up the Malecón and lo and behold the cliff divers were out.

The Diver

The platform is 45 feet above the water and the water quite shallow.

Got a good video of him doing his dive.

Walked around the area and looked at the stuff for sale.

Lots of "stuff"

Also noticed they have the fountain going again on the monument “Continuity of Life.” It a beautiful piece.

Then crossed the street to look into the cave in the hill. It is called the - La Cueva Del Diablo - The Devil’s Cave. In the 1800s the hill which is honeycombed with tunnels was used to store ice brought from San Francisco by ship. Later it was used to store ammunition. This entrance served as an escape route for the soldiers guarding the ammunition. Now there is a red gate with a devil’s face on it to keep people out.

Entrance to Devil's Cave

Then we watched a sail boat regatta out in the bay. They are so graceful and pretty.

Getting lined up

The Golden Zone in the background

No parasailers up today – too windy and still too cold for me.