Mazatlán is Paradise
When we lived in Mazatlán during the winter months, the view from the terrace both day and night was spectacular. Watching the cruise ships arrive in the morning and then depart at night, sitting in a chair either under the sun or enjoying the cool night air was very enjoyable.
Although I'm now home in St. Paul, MN I couldn't pass up the chance to post this photograph that I took at the Central Mercado for this month's theme day. 
Farewell to Mazatlán and to my favorite spot, Stone Island. I am now back in St.Paul, Minnesota, still yearning for sun, surf, and sand. From now on, please check my Visual St. Paul blog.
This scary critter was in an area filled with turtles. They must have developed a friendship! To see some more interesting critters, click here.
On Sunday I'll show you an amusing little creature.
Despite knowing that the glass and lights would cast a reflection I couldn't resist snapping photos of some of the colourful tropical fish.
This beautiful peacock strode confidently among the other birds and spectators...amazingly friendly!!
The Aquarium also had a small aviary containing all kinds of birds: quail, duck, geese, parrots, macaws, and a host of others.
The Mazatlán Aquarium is a small but very pleasant facility. During Samana Santa the city was filled with vacationing Mexicans, many of whom brought their families to this pleasant little spot.
I never did figure out whether I was supposed to buy him or eat him?! To see and enjoy more photos of critters from around the world, Click Here.
Stone Island is my favorite beach in Mazatlán. After a short boat ride, the beaches, coconut grove and many restaurants, especially Lety's and Carmelita's, offer a pleasant, relaxing day. The many vendors are a constant presence, but they're polite and friendly without being aggressive. I'd like to buy one of everything from them because their work is hard and arduous.
I love going to the area where the fisherman and their boats are kept. Watching the activity in the area gives me a different feel for the city. The boats they use are called pangas. Here is a brief description of them: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia...
One of the best things about the Mexican culture is the way I have observed that children are treated. They are included in almost all activities, and I see them everywhere: in restaurants, in the plazas, at family gatherings, and many other public places. No-one has refused me when I asked if I could take a picture. Beautiful, isn't she?!
Isla is a shelter dog who was adopted by a resident of Stone Island, Mazatlán, México. She spends her day roaming the beach, visiting residents and sunbathing tourists until her owner comes to collect her and take her home. When she was in the shelter my husband who volunteers there often walked her. When we recently went to the beach to relax, sunbathe and eat good food, Isla recognized him and spent the day with us. A dog's life!! For more Camera Critters photos, click here.
My son is flying from Minnesota to Mazatlán to visit for a week, arriving on the fourth of April. One of the favorite activities for some people, but not for me, is to hike up to the lighthouse on that very steep hill. I'm going to challenge him to hike to El Faro. Do you think he'll do it?
The Mercado has everything one needs to maintain a household: clothes, shoes, notions, baked goods, canned food, spices, vegetables, fish, chicken, beef...you name it. This fine specimen was in the meat department. I should have asked for a recipe.
These are photos of the younger children who came onstage after the performance to present flowers to the dancers and muscians and also to thank the audience for supporting the fund-raiser.
After the performance at the Orfanatorio de Mazatlán, the audience was treated to tapas and beverages. The younger children presented floral bouquets to the performers and the older children served the crowd with trays of the tapas.
There is a small group of expats in Mazatlán, México who trap abandoned street and feral cats, take each to a local vet for health care and neutering after which they release the animals. Their ears are marked for identification. Like many cities, these undomesticated cats breed and produce many animals that continue the cycle. Too often the cats suffer diseases and crippling accidents but, if they're lucky, they are trapped and given a new lease on life by members of this group. I have participated with this group and went along for a photo shoot. I snapped these cats who had been neutered and are often fed by neighbors or individuals in the expat group who live here year long. It's a big job!! To see more CAMERA CRITTERS, Click here.
The parents of this beautiful young dancer sat behind us and couldn't have been more proud. She kept me in rapt attention during the whole performance.
This photo is for my granddaughter, Olivia, in St. Paul, MN USA who is anxious for her grandparents to return from Mexico. Our Mexican neighbors gave this two-month-old puppy to their granddaughter recently, and I thought that Olivia would like to see the sweet little dog that lives next to us here in Mazatlan.
Living in another culture often brings many surprises. One practice that is very different from mine is the presence of dogs on roofs of buildings, both public and private, used as a means of security. Some are very intimidating. This one that was walking the edge of one roof seemed particularly vigilant, neither as fierce nor as noisy as some I have seen. To see more Camera Critters photos, check here.
While eating at an outdoor foodstand last week we met a delightful 3-generation family: the grandparents, young uncle, and father from Australia and the mother from Mazatlan. (I imagine the baby has dual citizenship.) Because we seem to frequent and congregate in many of the same places and also because the Mazatlan expat and tourist community is really pretty small, we again met them in the Plaza a few days later (minus grandfather this time). I was delighted that they agreed to pose for a photo.
