Mazatlan at last! December 2010

After a long month apart, with Kelly tackling INTREPID II's re-commissioning on his own and Carol pulling things together at home to hand over to our stalwart 'land crew' of Lois, Rod, Rosie and Sebastian, we successfully reunited in Mazatlan!

INTREPID II was not ready to go in the water as originally planned, so Kelly needed to import our Subaru wagon and drive south.  The drive from Guaymas to Mazatlan on the Highway 15 toll road took about 7 1/2 hours to cover the 760 kms and cost 500 pesos in total, over 6 toll booths.  My flight from Victoria to Edmonton went smoothly, as did the Edmonton - Mazatlan flight, arriving ahead of schedule before 6 pm.  Bags arrived, immigration and customs went smoothly and we were in the same place once again.

Showy Hibiscus in garden

Our drive back after dark into Mazatlan was a challenge but we arrived safely at the Fiesta Inn. We have settled here with only one disappointing incident.  After becoming comfortable in a roomy end of the hall location, we couldn't hear ourselves think nor ignore the wedding music right below our lovely wrap-around balcony six floor up. It was like being in the middle of the wedding celebration dance floor without the fun of dancing.  We were able to change rooms to the opposite end of the floor and so far all has been much quieter.  We have fabulous views of the small islands west of the beaches and the hotel has a private, swept beach with palapas and lounge chairs.

Mazatlan is a Nahuatl word translated as 'place of the deer' and the deer symbol appears throughout the city.  This large city is located close to the Tropic of Cancer, which tends to provide it with warm, moderate weather.

On Sunday, friends Debbie and Lynn of S.V. Dolphin Tales played tour guides. They accompanied us by bus into the downtown area and onward to the Basilica of the Assumption where the feast day of the Virgin of Guadalupe (Dia de la Virgen de Guadalupe) was being celebrated.  The young children were dressed in traditional costumes and photographed in front of various booths set up around the church exterior.  Inside, they were being presented up at the altar and receiving blessings.  It was a colourful, special celebration we enjoyed observing.

Our 'tour guides' took us to the Plazuela Machado in the heart of the old town, with a refurbished teatro and several outdoor restaurants, where we relaxed and took in the ambiance before continuing further. 

An impromptu tour of a private home was a treat.  While standing outside admiring the facade, we were invited in to view the renovations being made to an historic home built in the 1860 or 70's.  We loved the high ceilings, wide beams and the generosity of the host who showed us his home.

Old Towne home in process of restoration

The Freeman Hotel has a 'sky room' which offers a fantastic 360 degree view of the city and ocean. We watched the sunset from that vantage point before catching a bus back to our hotel, which was about a 30 minute ride for 9 pesos each.  We were advised to catch the 'green bus', the Sibeal-Centro line, which offers more comfort and is air conditioned.  Chile's Pepper was nearby; it is an open air restaurant on the beach where we enjoyed a shrimp dinner and drinks.  All and all a very good start to our 'mini-vacation' here in Mazatlan.