People of all ages enjoy Carnaval!!

One of my favorite Carnaval statues along the Malecon

Carnaval lasted from February 15-20 and ended on Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday when Lent begins. Reportedly to be the second largest carnaval in the WORLD after Rio, the 5 days were filled with celebrations of all kinds: beauty pageants, fireworks (awesome) parades, floats, and revelry into the night. Everyone should experience a carnaval aat least once in their lifetime. During the next few days I'll post just a few of the photos I took, altho I was often too busy just looking--forgetting to snap the scene!

Such variety!

Waiting for a Customer

Fish, shrimp, oysters, clams--you name it, you can get it at the Juarez Market!

Someone asked for a picture of me in Mexico. Here I am with mi amigos in the village of El Quelito, a charming place to visit and in which to live!

The Juarez Sunday Market has it all! Meats, fruits, and vegetable are for sale as well as used and new goods. Need a haircut? That's available, too!

Stone Wall Fountain.

This style street lamp is commonly seen throughout El Centro. Some are in fine condition, others need a little paint as well as repair.

CONTEST! The first person who identifies what this object is AND its use will receive a postcard from Mazatlan!!

Another beautiful art piece on the house tour~

This free-standing little "statue" was located in a child's bedroom in one of the homes on the house tour. It reflects a bit how I feel without Jaime (husband Jim) on our wedding anniversary. Never fear--he will be here in exactly 5 more day!!

This splendid painting was part of a wall mural near a swimming pool in a home on the house tour. Perhaps I should have posted this on Valentine's Day?!

I'm not sure what I may be violating on the Daily Photo Blog protocol, but my access to internet here has been spotty at best. I haven't been able to get into the server I share with a neighbor nor have I been successful for most of the day in making it work in a cybercafe. So......I'm posting this photo now that I have access. Enjoy it, even if it's a few hours ahead of schedule! PS. If I haven't visited your blog, I'm not neglecting you--I frequently cannot get an internet connection!!

Another great staircase on the house tour~

Quinceañeras, which celebrates the 15th birthday for girls, is a rite of passage. This young woman posed for me just before she and her family and friends entered the Cathedral in El Centro to begin the celebration. Perfect for Valentine's Day as an expression of love and life!!

Another home on the house tour built on a hill had many different living levels as you can tell from the spiral staircase.

Every year in Mazatlan there are several house tours that are wonderful experiences. This year I went on one that showed homes owned by both gringos and Mexicans. This one formerly housed women in the Mazatlan Women's Jail. I met the Canadian woman who owned and restored the building. The room that you see here once was three cells. It is a creative restoration!

One of the many beautiful doors that one can find around El Centro.

Another view along the Malecon, the walkway which skirts the ocean.

One of the landmarks just off the Malecon along the shore of Mazatlan.

El Centro, the historic part of Old Town, has buildings that are being restored and others that are still terribly rundown or merely rubble. This corner is graced with a blossoming tree.

The Juarez Sunday Market, frequented primarily by Mexicans and a few savvy gringos is a great place to see Mexican culture.

Grandfather and Olivia in our condo at Costa Bonita in 2006. Until I can arrange to post pictures from this trip, this is as good a photo as any to begin!