Mazatlan 2007

Wednesday, February 7 (Pat)

We got up a little after 7am and had our usual routine. We had so much fun at Stone Island the other day we decided to go back for one more visit. By 10:20am we were out the door with our stuff (taking less this time) and caught a Sabalo Centro bus. This time we knew the routine so headed out on a different street that headed toward the docks. Not as many interesting homes on this street and more hill climbing! Soon we were on the main street by the docks and knew to turn left this time and were soon at the Stone Island ferry dock. A group of Russians were there at the dock getting their tickets and rode on the same panga with us. They were loud. They spoke some English and may have come from one of the two large cruise ships that were docked in Mazatlan. The Russians asked how far it was to the beach – we said a short taxi ride. We got in our taxi and headed off. They grabbed a taxi that could take them all. We went to the Pili restaurant again where Rudy is. He set us up with two nice lounge chairs in front with an umbrella and small table. Perfecto! Two Pacificos and we were set. Then the Russians came. Sure enough they ended up right beside us. It made for good entertainment as the street vendors were having some luck with them. We managed to convince the vendors we weren’t buying today so didn’t get pestered too badly. It was a very warm day, slight breeze with some interesting clouds.

We settled in for some reading, picture taking, and people watching. The restaurant next door – Lety’s – was busy, probably with the cruise ship tours. We ordered some coconuts for the coconut milk – no rum though. It was good, Later we used the straw to collect the coconut meat around the edge of the hole and it was tasty as well. We were getting hungry and ordered two garlic fish fillets. Rudy had netted some fish from his boat earlier in the morning. The boat was pulled up on the sand nearby and his dog was sleeping in the shade of the boat. Lunch was good and filling as usual. The Russians were having lunch at the next table and wheeling and dealing with the vendors. One of the Russians had bought a straw hat that caught Ron’s eye so he went over and checked them out. He found a nice tan straw cowboy hat with a stretching liner and nice size holes in the crown for cooling and a good wide brim for plenty of shading. Time for a walk. Ron grabbed the camera and we headed down the beach. Picked up a few shells, Ron found an intact, dried sand dollar – perfect for our sea shell collection. We had a lady walking along the beach take our picture together with the beach and coconut palms behind us. After a while we turned around. We had walked over towards the palm trees and on the way back noticed an interesting track/print in the sand about two inches wide. We followed it as it went away from the water towards the sea grass. It appeared to be a baby turtle trail. As we got closer to the sea grass we saw many turtle tracks going all directions. We figured there must have been a turtle nest that hatched out although we couldn’t find it. Pretty cool!

When we got back to the Peli restaurant – Rudy had pulled in the chairs and tables and everyone was gone. We decided to head back as well to get to the malecon in time for sunset – by now it was a little before 5pm. Ron paid the bill and found out Rudy had several kids so Ron gave him the baseball and soccer ball for the older boys and a coloring book and crayons for Rudy’s young daughter. A taxi ride and panga boat ride and we were back at the boat dock. We took a taxi and told him the cliff diver area – he thought we said cruise dock and started to pull in there. No! No cruise ship, and pointed towards the opposite way. We got turned around and directed the driver back towards the malecon. The scenic route past the fishing marina, cliff area, Ice Box Hill, then down to the fishing beach. We had the taxi driver stop and paid up – only $50MN this time.

Ron was hungry and thirsty and I suggested we head up towards the dolphin statue for a more interesting background for the sunset. So Ron grumbled but we headed up the road. There were several statues then a tall look-out area where Ron climbed up the stairs to check out the view. It was near the cliff diver perch and a diver had climbed up to the top and was getting ready to dive. He watched the waves, perched on the corner of the railing, then pushed off and made a dive. I couldn’t see him land in the water from where I was, just the splash. Pretty daring! A crowd was gathered and donations for the diver were collected.

We walked over to the large area off the street around the dive cliff. Some vendors were there and the diver and friends and other people were waiting for the sunset. We ate our pastries we bought at the panga boat dock and Ron headed off with the camera and to find something else to eat. I sat on the wall and watched the setting sun. For a while it was so-so – just a little glint of color within the clouds to the west. A Mexican guy came over to where I was sitting, waiting for Ron. He asked if I spoke Spanish and I replied “Un poquito.” I could understand him a little bit so we had a short conversation. He took off and I waited some more while Ron was over at the dolphin statue taking pictures. The Mexican guy came back and we watched the sunset some more. Ron finally showed up and for a while it seemed like the sunset was over. In a few minutes there was an explosion of red to the west. The clouds lit up in shades of red with different textures and brightness. Over the next ten to fifteen minutes different areas up higher turned blue/gray until just a thin band of red along the horizon remained. Very nice, worth the wait.

Time for some food and drink so we headed back along Olas Altas to the Fonda St. Clara restaurant where we had had some cervezas previously. We took a roadside table and ordered our Pacificos and dinner. Ron had the Chicken Mole (not pronounced mole, it is Moe-lay). I had the shrimp brochette. Both were very good, again. It was a very comfortable temperature for eating outside. Afterwards we walked around the inside of a nearby hotel, The Belmar. It had large tiled courtyards three stories high. As we walked out a Sabalo Centro buss was just there so I flagged it down and we headed for the Playa Maria. Shower time, journal time, and checking email at Marina del Rey, then off to bed.