Woof Dog

A number of homeowners in the city keep dogs on their roofs as a means of protecting their property. The canines appear quite vicious and ordinarily I would not mess with them. A few became "friends" and greeted me somewhat cordially as I passed their property.

Sheiks, A Fairytale Restaurant

This combination restaurant and disco club looks like a fairytale building. It is located on the edge of Zona Dorada, which is primarily a tourist, souvenir shops, and resort area. A meal in the restaurant offers a spectacular view of the ocean. Food isn't bad either!

This is what I'm Missing!!

Back in cold Minnesota, this is what I'm missing. No-one feels a bit sorry for me, though! Will start posting on visualstpaul tomorrow. I need to go out to take a few photos first.

Farewell Mexico-Three Countries' Flags

We will leave Mazatlan on Saturday evening and arrive home in Minnesota, USA, after midnight, ready for our Easter. Because I am having lots of problems with internet here and because the city is celebrating Semana Santa (Easter Week) many shops and cybercafes are closed. The beaches are packed with families. Jaded people tell us show awful it is, but we are enjoying the whole scene. These flags represent most of the people I met in Mexico while living here for three interesting months. Missing Mazatlan already, but since I have so many photos, I intend to continue to post some of the pictures that I think represent different aspects of the city and its culture. These three flags fly high on the roof of the Freeman Hotel, which I often visited to view the city. I'll be back right after Easter Sunday!!

Commercial Fishing boat

This is a different size boat used by some of the commercial fisherman.

Boats

There are boats of different sizes and shapes in this community, many of which belong to fisherman. One of my favorite pastimes is waiting for them to bring in the morning catch. These boats are beached along the Malecon and are used by commercial fisherman, but by those who have only small boats instead of the larger vessels.

Mazatlan at Night

On Saturday night I went to the top of the Freeman Hotel again to watch the sky for my husband's arrival on Sun Country Airline, and this is what I saw. To the left of the small hill is a white light that looks amazingly like the aircraft as it was approaching the airport; it may or may not have been the dot of the plane that I was tracking as it approached the distant airport, but it sure does look like it! A romantic moon-filled Mexican evening!

Where Are the Mailboxes?

65 Daily Photo sites are participating in the 1st April theme, "A Public Mail Box", please use the links to below to visit them. Due to time zone differences and other factors, the theme photo may not be displayed until later if you are viewing early in the day. 1 (London (UK) ) -2 (Grenoble (France) ) -3 (Rotterdam (Netherlands) ) -4 (Greenville SC (USA) ) -5 (Hyde (UK) ) -6 (Villigen (Switzerland) ) -7 (Albuquerque NM (USA) ) -8 (Mazatlan (Mexico) ) -9 (Montréal (Canada) ) -10 (Stayton OR (USA) ) -11 (Shanghai (China) -Jing ) -12 (Arradon (France) ) -13 (Sequim WA (USA) ) -14 (Newcastle upon Tyne (England) ) -15 (Seattle WA (USA) -Kim ) -16 (Bastia (Corse) ) -17 (Minneapolis MN (USA) ) -18 (Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) ) -19 (Joplin MO (USA) ) -20 (Sharon, CT (USA) ) -21 (Cottage Grove MN [USA] ) -22 (Houston, TX (USA) -Candice & Megan ) -23 (Singapore - by Keropokman. ) -24 (Guelph, ON (Canada) ) -25 (Menton (France) ) -26 (Monte Carlo, Monaco ) -27 (Naples, FL (USA) ) -28 (Kyoto (Japan) ) -29 (Tokyo (Japan) ) -30 (Aliso Viejo, CA (USA) ) -31 (Cape Town (South Africa) ) -32 (Jakarta (Indonesia) ) -33 (Kitakami (Japan) ) -34 (Tel Aviv (Israel) ) -35 (Vantaa(Finland)) -36 (Guadalajara (Mexico) ) -37 (Auckland (New Zealand) ) -38 (Nelson (New Zealand) ) -39 (Tuzla (B&H) ) -40 (Brussels (Belgium) ) -41 (Anderson, SC (USA) ) -42 (Lubbock, TX (USA) ) -43 (John, Melbourne, (Australia) ) -44 (Stavanger (Norway)) -45 (Tenerife (Spain) ) -46 (Stockholm (Sweden) ) -47 (Boston, MA (USA) ) -48 (Not Strictly Seattle, Susan ) -49 (New York City, (USA), Ming the Merciless ) -50 (Paris [Eric], (France) ) 51 (Ampang (Selangor) ) -52 (Sydney (Nathalie) Australia ) -53 (Ailea , HI (USA) ) -54 (Manila (Philippines) ) -55 (Sydney (Sally) Australia ) -56 (Cork (Ireland)) -57 (Saarbrücken (Germany) ) -58 (Saint Paul MN (USA) by Carol ) -59 (San Diego, CA (USA) ) -60 (Mexico [POLY], (Mexico) ) -61 (Budapest (Hungary) ) -62 (Singapore (Singapore by Zannnie) ) -63 (Madrid [Dsole] (Spain) ) -64 (Nottingham (England) ) -65 (Bandung (Indonesia))

Visiting a country different than one's own is filled with all kinds of surprises, both large and small. I've discovered a very different mail system here in Mazatlan. There are virtually NO public mailboxes and few private ones--at least that I have been able to find. I had to hunt for one on the main post office in El Centro and another posted on a fence by a restaurant in Plaza Machado I found two other private mail slots to photograph, but there are more of those: one on a restaurant gate and one on a garage at a private home. There are no mail drops on the street; mail delivered to my apartment complex is just tossed on the floor of the main foyer. One adjusts, however, whereever one travels!!

Baby Girl in Arms of Father

I had planned to post a different photograph today, but I couldn't resist this little face. I saw the couple with this small child on the street and told them how "bonita" she is. When I asked if I could snap a picture of her, of course they said, ¡Si! May her life be long and happy, and I hope that she knows the goodness that life can bring. I also wish that all the people I have photographed could see their pictures and know how many people around the globe have seen their portraits, but computers are not always available to these individuals in Mexico.

A Gourmet Meal?

Most of the food that I find at the market are things that I can use to produce a good meal. My culinary skills have never included these chicken feet. Anybody know how to cook them (and why I should ??!)

Snowbird

Have you ever wondered what expat snowbirds do while they are living in a sunny climate during the winter when people in less favorable environments are freezing, shoveling snow and driving in hazardous conditions? Well, here's one favorite activity!!

¿Mi Casa es su Casa?

I don't think that this owner believes that "mi casa es su casa!" Would you be willing to scale that glass-topped wall?

Mazatlan Worker

At the Mercado in El Centro, a shopper can find clothes, household items, souvenirs for the gringo tourists, fruits and vegetables, spices and herbs, dairy products, fish, and meat. I decided that while I am living here I would shop as the Mexicans do. The vendors usually are happy to have the photos taken and pose willingly. This man obviously is proud of the work he does!!

Quite A Show!

Guest Photographer: My apartment neighbor and fellow photographer, Roger Evert from Sherwood Park, Alberta Canada took this photo. The diver in action is extremely diffficult to capture!

Another Folkdancer

The lovely young dancers have a great deal of poise!

Folk Dance

There is always something interesting happening at the Plaza Machado. On Thursday night a dance troup of adolescent girls presented several folk dances in stunning costumes. Tomorrow I'll post another photo of a different girl in another folk costume.

A Busy Bee

Could anyone be cuter than this little cherub?!

Father and Son

Watch Your Step!!

And here she is ...5 days later!
On the March 19th photo of Eric's blog, many comments were posted regarding obstacles on European streets for handicapped people. Uneven sidewalks, unusually high curbs, and cobblestone or slippery streets also pose problems for anyone of any age who walks the streets of Mexico. The Canadian woman pictured above and below is one of the friends I made during my stay here in Mexico. She hurt her knee after a nasty fall last Saturday night. She is pictured at the Military Hospital in Mazatlan on Sunday morning where she, a gallant young male bilingual neighbor and I went for her exam. After following the doctor's directions, she is convalesing nicely. But, watch your step!!

Leather Mask

As promised yesterday, here is a sample of one of the many leather masks I've seen here in Mazatlan and in other cities, both large and small, in Mexico.