Chapter Four - Mazatlan

Arriving home in Mazatlan

People often ask us what it is about Mazatlan that keeps us coming back. There really is no definitive answer. However, besides the great weather, blue sky days and gorgeous beaches, I really believe the magic lies with the Mazatlecos and their warmth and generousity of spirit. No matter where you are walking, when you meet a Mazatleco, they will make eye contact and greet you with a nod and smile along with "buenos dias". It is in the way a Mazatleco will go out of his or her way to help you with directions, crossing the street or with your questions. We have not encountered this open friendliness in other parts of Mexico, where generally, the locals will ignore the Nortamericanos and avoid eye contact.  Now, don't misunderstand, we have met helpful, pleasant Mexicans all over the country but there just seems to be something about the Mazatlecos that makes them a happier, friendlier people on the whole.

Now it is moving day and time to settle into the condo after a long six weeks of gadding about.

Although this year's condo #402 is pretty much the same as last year's #302, we do a little better view.

 After a few hours of unpacking, we headed up to Bruja beach to meet with Tim and Deb and a bunch of others from the RV park.

This is Bruja, which means "Witch"

The first week was spent making arrangements to get a phone and internet hook up. This is no small feat. We have been promised service in a week or two. We spent time reconnecting with old friends, visiting Gus y Gus (pronounced goose eee goose)  restaurant to hear our favourite Mexican singer, Raphael Rodriques

and taking a trip to see our friend Marie Cruz at the 'shrimp ladies' to stock up on scallops and shrimp.

Friday we went to see the Elvis impersonator at Heathers. 

The following day we went to a party at Mickey and Larry's (a Californian couple who own a home here too).  The theme was the fifties. 

Bob makes a cool James Dean ...

 ......while I make a nerdy cross between June Cleaver and Donna Reid.

Larry and Tim on the mics

Lois, Mickey and Deb

Following days were filled checking out old haunts and exploring the damage done to the beaches when 'Tropical Storm Rick' went through.  So much of the beach has been lost. Stairs that used to land at ground level are now 4 to 8 feet up off the ground.  Tons and tons of sand is just gone.

One of our favourite passtimes here is going to the baseball games.  The Mazetlecos love their baseball and the local team the Venados (deer) has been a championship team for years.  However, we go to watch the people more than the game.  You have never seen vendors until you attend an event like this.  They sell everything from soup to nuts and the energy is off the wall.

Pacifico is the "town" brewery and sponsor of most major events

Vendor vending noise makers

Pacifico vendor in aisle

Hot dog vendor

Nissan vendor

ball game.

Early in December our Candian neighbours whom we saw in Ajijic, came for a short visit while en route back to Canada.  Lloyd and Mabel are great company and game for anything.

At Bruja

At the petroglyphs

At Las Moras

And home again to watching sunsets from the deck.

Sadly on the Wednesday, the 1st of December,  we bid farewell to Lloyd and Mabel as they continued their trip homeward.

We weren't lonely for too long, however, as other friends from Canada, Denise and Brian arrived on Friday, the fourth of December. These guys are high energy and it was great fun to catch up and spend time together.

Lunch at the Shrimp Bucket

A trip to La Noria, where they bought one of these shooter holsters for their son Riley.

From there, we went to the Las Osuna Tequilla Factory

Here they bought a bottle of Osuna to fit into Riley's new holster.  Now this tequilla is not to be compared to the stuff we get in Canada and the States.  It is nothing like the swill Jose Cuervo we grew up with.  Now I am NOT a tequilla drinker EVER, but I am told by those who are and so will trust to the powers that know.

Then we went to Las Moras for Lunch.  As you can tell by the frequency of our visits, it is one of our favs.  It was originally a Tequilla factory too, owned by a Mexican lady.  She was so successful that the "old men's club" had her run out of business back in the old days of the wild west era.  Now it is owned by the daughter of the Pacifico fame and her husband, a successful business man, originally from La Noria.

On the wall surrounding the chapel

And the prerequisite 'day at the beach'

Brian at the marina.

On Tuesday they headed down to PV and inland to Guadalajara to continue their adventure.

On Friday night, we attended the "Nutcracker" at the Angela Peralta theatre.  It was a great perfomance.  

Afterward we had dinner at one of the restaurants in the Machado.

We ran into an old friend, Teresa who we hadn't seen in two years.  Turns out, Teresa was in Ajijic the same month that we were there.

Then we ran into Amy Roloff who is on the show "Little People, Big World"  She was very nice and down to earth.  She said she loved Mazatlan because it is the 'real' Mexico. 

That it is not an artifically contrived tourist trap is exactly why we love it too.

Felicidad

The following day, we went with Rosie, her husband Rogelio and some of the girls from her shop to a poverty stricken village called "Felicidad" which ironically, means "Happiness".   

The people we met have no homes.  Some have cardboard shelters. 

We had brought some clothing down from Canada and then did the Sam's Club run for beans, rice and Christmas candy.  Rosie had lots of stuff from customers as well.

We packaged the 25 kilo bags into 1 kg packages.

 

We stopped at Rosie's Mom's store and picked up lots of balls and toys

(must be great to have a Mom who owns a toy store eh?)

We managed to fill three carloads

It was amazing to see how organized and patiently they waited their turns. Rosie had gone the day before and given out numbers to the homeless and so had a fairly organized chaos going on.

Along with Rosie and Rogelio we were joined by Nieves, Rocio, Juani (Rogelio's sister) and her kids Angel and Marco.  The two Gabi's came a little later, after work.

(All dressed in the pink shirts from Rosie's shop "Gaby's Beauty Shop")

After Rosie told us we were going to this colonial, I researched on-line and found a documentary called "600 familias" which talks about 5 or 6 of the colonials around Mazatlan and the families that live there.  "Felicidad" was one that they talked about.  It was produced by the University department for social awareness. 

The last few years, we have been foregoing the Christmas spending and celebrated the holidays by contributing to the local orpanages instead.  This year, we decided that the orphanages have a lot of help from a lot of people and get a lot of publicity, but these folks, no one even knows about.  So this is our "Christmas" this year.

This is Lupe ...she is special and there are no resources for assistance.

This is their Church.  They asked for nails to help keep it together.  That was all I heard them ask for.

Most of the families here are fatherless.  The Dads who are here are very caring

Nieves at the end of a long day.  She is one of my favourite gals from the salon.

Rosie and Rogelio about to head home.  Two very wonderful people.

Speaking of wonderful people, we have a young friend in Canada who already knows the meaning of giving and lending a helping hand to those less fortunate. His name is Isaac Dutka and he is the son of our friends Sandra Mowat and Wes Dutka.  A few years ago, his Mom was telling him about the orphans we visit here. He decided he wanted to help and so cleaned his room and sent down bags of his toys and clothes for the orphans. His parents also contributed to the food bank. This year Isaac sent soccer jerseys and shoes which we distributed to the children in Felicidad. By leading by example, Isaac's parents have taught him at a young age, that one person truly can make a difference.  Koodos!

Thank you Isaac, from the boys at Felicidad and from us.

Isaac with his dog, Harley.
 
On the 19th we attended the Christmas Gala at the Angela Peralta.  As always, it was spectacular.  We enjoyed a great dinner at "Lorna's" prior to the show.
 

Shelly, some Mexican waiter with Debbie and Tim.

The next day we were invited to a Posada at Rosie and Rojalio's. I was unable to attend as I had a date with Vertigo.  Bob went and had a great time.  The children of the neighbourhood re-enact Mary and Joseph's attempts to find lodging by going door to door and singing their request for a bed.  The residents sing their rejections until finally, they are allowed a room. This is the home that hosts the posada on that day.

Here are the kids impersonating Maria y Jose (Mary and Joseph) 

Rojalio made donuts which were served to the children along with hot chocolate and candy.

Then they had a pinata.

The following week we took in a few more baseball games, one with our neighbours John and Barb and another with friends, Tim and Deb.

We also took a trip to the town of El Quelite for a lovely lunch. 

This parrot however, would not stop shrieking "hello" and had to be removed to another room so we could hear each other speak.  too funny!!

Christmas eve is the night when the Mexican's celebrate Christmas.  When Rosie told me we would always have family here in Mazatlan, she wasn't kidding.  That includes the whole family and the extended one as well. We went to Rosie's mom and dad's home for tomales and beans and a great dinner with the family. This included Rosie's brother and sister-in-law and their kids, Rojalio's sister Jauni and her kids and their daughter Gaby and her boyfriend Ramon, along with an American couple, John and Patty who are from Wenatchi Wa.
 
 

Rosie and her sister-in-law

Ramon with a nephew

After dinner we drove over to Rosie and Rojarlio's home where their son and daughter-in-law (Rojarlio & Leticia) arrived with grandson Josua (means Joshua pronounced hose oo ah)

Josua was totally entralled with Grandpa's motorcycle and had the vroom vroom sounds down pat.

They had another pinata for the kids who missed it the previous week.

Christmas day we spent with our Calgarian neighbours John and Barb who cooked the turkey while the rest of us contributed to create the entire meal.  It was lots of fun and we were joined by other Calgarians Greg and Wendy as well as Dubock and Blass who are Mexican.

Winding up the last week of the year, we visited the acquarium

 

That night we attended a dinner dance at Marina Gardens.  The developer of that complex is opening a new condo complex and they invite potential purchasers to view the condos and wine and dine us for free.  There were about 110 of us there and Rapael supplied the music. 

We also had a few beach days, and hung out down in El Centro.

Beach at Chili's Pepper

View from the Mirador at the Best Western

El Centro (downtown)

 

Tres Islas

We ended our year with a quiet night at home together watching fireworks from our balcony. We began the New Year with friends Brenda, Yocko, John, Barb, Doug, Lois, Greg and Wendy here for a dinner. We cooked the hams and everyone contributed to complete the meal.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!