Our first day in Mazatlan!

Hola!

Up this morning about 5:30 am.  Not quite sure how long Robert worked last night, but it was definitely into the wee hours, I know that.  We gathered ourselves up and got ready to go out to look for breakfast about 7. Heading first toward the beach, we were fortunate enough to arrive when most people were still asleep.  The problem, we very quickly discovered, was going to be PARKING.  The area by the beach is mostly taken up by hotels, and public parking lots, as we know them, are practically non-existent!  We did pull into a lovely shopping center in the middle of town that had a Fresh Market in it and were able to get a parking spot up – mainly because the majority of the mall’s shops weren’t open yet!  We walked through the lovely Fresh Market, but honestly, they didn’t really have much going in the way of real breakfasts.  Decided we would use TripAdvisor to find us a place to eat and went to exit back out onto the street.  We tried to validate our parking ticket, but there was no indication that we had to pay anything!  So, silly folks that we are, we figured we hadn’t stayed long enough to count.  However, when we approached the gate – bingo – turns out, we needed to pay 15 pesos – approximately 60 cents!  So … R took the ticket back into the garage, and I attempted to wait for him by the barricade.  However, the security guard decided that wasn’t possible – I must have been blocking the double entrance – so I had to go around again, but this time I re-parked, left Debby in the car, and went to look for Robert.  Found him, trying to work the machine -- turns out that the credit card part of the machine had been taken out -- and change was needed, which fortunately I had.  So ... managed to pay the 15 pesos, and R walked in front of us to the barricade.  Well, there was a white car trying to get out – and somehow, R got confused [all white cars look the same. – R], thinking that was us, and let them out with our ticket – so there went the car, and then up comes Debby and me!  So now our ticket is invalid and we STILL can’t get out!  Oh boy … to be honest, Deb and I were wondering why R was being so helpful to the strange guy in the other car, but whatever!  We did have a great laugh – as there was a second security guard who had been watching what was going on, figured out what had happened, and joined in our amusement!  AND, more importantly, let us out without paying another 15 pesos!!

 

Ah, the adventures of travel!  Through TripAdvisor, I found Pancho’s restaurant, which was actually open for breakfast!  We made our way close and were able to park on the street – thanks to a nice older gentleman who used large empty water cans to block the entire street until someone came by and was willing to pay him to move the cans!  Such a deal!  Again, thanks to TripAdvisor, we were able to walk directly to Pancho’s, which is wonderfully located right on the beach!  It was FABULOUS!  We were able to get a table on the water, and the menu (in both Spanish and English) was huge!  And, while neither R nor I are breakfast people, this menu was great even for us!  

 

Debby started us off with a shrimp omelet with green chilaquillas and a sweet corn tamale, with beans.  R and I both had their shredded beef with orange chilaquillas and sweet corn tamales.  The meal was served first with homemade biscuits, and then with both toasted bread and warm corn tortillas.  R and I also had glasses of freshly squeezed orange juice; delicious!  We very much enjoyed watching the vendors set up the beach for the day, and families begin to congregate.  Something new, though, was that there were lots of plastic chairs set up under umbrellas, as opposed to sitting on the sand itself.  

 

Beach-side table!

R and I had the beef with tamale and chilaquillas

Debby's shrimp omelet 

Vendors setting up for the day!

After breakfast, we all absolutely waddled out of the restaurant and down the long shopping arcade toward the street.  Debby bought herself a lovely Mazatlan t-shirt (I’ll get her to model it so I can take a picture!) but that was the sum total of this morning shopping.  

 

Headed back to the car and then to the apartment – oh!  We initially started out this morning to see if we could find a self-service lavanderia that was supposed to be very close to us.  However, we couldn’t find it!  Darn!  We have so much astronomical equipment with us that we didn’t have much room for clothes, so, as per my usual, I wanted to get some laundry done…don’t need much, as this isn’t a long trip, but I do like to be prepared!  But as we were driving back from breakfast (it was actually after 11:30 by now!) R spotted a lavanderia!  I made a quick U-turn, but it wasn’t a “self-service” – but if we brought our things there today, they would be ready by tomorrow, 3 pm!  So, back to the apartment to collect them!  The place is only a couple of km’s from here; quick turn around … 

 

As our day started so early, (and, actually, we were so FULL!) we all decided that naps were in order, so took an hour or so to rest/nap/relax, which was a very good idea!  Up again and Deb and I were ready to go out about 1:30 pm.

 

First, we walked down the street to see what was there.  Basically an OXO (the Mexican equivalent of 7/11) and across the street, a Kioso, a slightly smaller version of OXO only with more alcohol.  Debby bought a couple more bottles of water to go with the assortment we already had (you can never have too much water, and none of us has been drinking enough!) and then back to the apartment.  

 

From there, I thought it would be nice (seeing as R had to work all afternoon) if Debby and I took an Uber into Old Mazatlan and had a walk around!  Carlos picked us up right in front of the apartment in about 4 minutes, and we were on our way to town.  That young man was certainly an adventurous driver; rather spell-binding, actually, waiting to see who would crash into us, but all was well and in about half-an-hour, we arrived at Mazatlan Central Market/Mercado Pino Suarez, where he left us off.  Debby says she was quite dazed by the market!  It’s located in an old wrought-iron building from the early 1900’s – and is absolutely packed full with both food vendors of all sorts, as well as souvenirs and everything including toilet paper – of which we saw a large quantity!  We walked through the market – very crowded, and then emerged on the other side eventually.  Talk about sensory overload!  Wow!

 

From the market, we headed to the Basilica de la Inmaculada Concepcion, which was just a block or so away, but it was closed!  Looked like work was going on inside, but we were very disappointed we couldn’t get in to see it, as it looks really lovely from the outside!  It is just across the street from the Plaza Republica, and has a lovely ironwork Porfirian bandstand that was constructed in 1909.  It also fronts on City Hall, which also, unfortunately was closed, as is it is supposed to contain some interesting murals that we didn’t have the chance to see.  

 

From there, we headed toward another square, Plaza Hidalgo, as we figured we needed to get away from the Mercado in order to catch an Uber back to the apartment.  Plaza Hidalgo is named after the father of Mexican Independence, and is the second oldest square in the city.  The buildings that surround it are really stunning, and painted in such a wonderful variety of colors!  The plaza itself also contains the Ben Franklin library, and two great lion sculptures that flank its entrance.  All in all a great place to send our walk.

 

Plaza de la Republica

Band pavilion in the Plaza de la Republic!

On our way to Plaza Hidalgo

Library with lions in the Plaza

It took a couple of minutes for Uber to find us a driver, but in about 10, Jorge pulled up to get us home.  Another wild ride across ensued, getting us back to the apartment about 4:45 pm.  Whew!  Oh!  And the cost of the Uber’s, including tips, were basically under $10 each way!  Incredible!

 

Now in and finding that nobody – after our gargantuan breakfast – is hungry for dinner!  Surprise!  So, Debby had a tangerine and yogurt, R made himself a cheese sandwich, and I’m contemplating a walk down to Oxo for a Magnum Classic!  So!  That about sums up the day!! 

Me and my Magnum Classic!  YUM!

 

Sorry for taking so long, but it was very full!

Lots of love,

m

xxx