Home Sweet Home #2

I think I could live here, high on a promontory overlooking the Pacific!

Home Sweet Home

Because of the deterioration of El Centro in the 20th Century, and despite recent efforts of new home owners to restore the historical buildings, there are still many structures that are in need of TLC (and lots of renovation effort!). The house in the top photo has captured my imagination. Despite its current neglected condition (broken shutters and windows, crumbling cement, rusted iron work, trashed interior, and garbage-strewn courtyard), I love the building! If only I had been able to see it and visit it at the turn of the century! I seldom miss an opportunity to walk by and wonder at its past glory. If I ever win the lottery, my first purchase and effort will be to restore lovingly this place, and y'all will be invited to visit!!

“We carry our homes within us which enables us to fly.”
John Cage (American avant-garde composer, 1912-1992)

March Theme-Glass: Let There Be Light!

On a recent house tour, I noticed these two very different light sources in the same, stately home, owned by an old Mazatlan family. The glass chandelier is magnificient, no?!

Today many CDP bloggers are posting photos to represent the March theme day selection: glass. Keeping in mind that time zones make a difference when the snapshots appear, visit as many as you can to see the imaginative selections. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

Mazatlán Women

Carnaval Float Figures

Because it was dark and artificial lights along the route made taking photos a bit difficult, I have few reproducable images but here are a few of the many figures on the floats in the parade.

Adult Revelers

Everyone gets into the act; Carnaval is enjoyed by everyone!

Carnaval Children

Children love Carnaval!

"Children make you want to start life over." ~Muhammad Ali

The Crowd

This is a shot of just a small section of the miles-long crowds forming along the Malecon hours before the parade started. We were lucky to be above the crowds on a condo terrace owned by friends of ours. It, too, was crowded with other tenants and their friends, families, and visitors. I suspected that Jaime who hates crowds was not as enthralled with the festivities as I.

"Every crowd has a silver lining."
- P. T. Barnum

Carnaval Mask

Carnaval began its week of festivities on February 19th. The decorations were not as elaborate as they have been in previous years, but a restaurant on the Plaza Machado added one of their own above its entrance.

Intermission

Sailing, Sailing!

The Musicians

On Friday evenings during the month of February, students in the Youth Musicians Program at Iglesia Christiana perform at 6pm. The youngest members play first, and these young chicos are first year students. Some of the older students were there to assist the younger ones plus play and perform their own music selections, too.

100 Strangers #7

Parker from Portland, Oregon was passing through Mazatlán on his way to Panama when I encountered him on the street in front of the English Reading Library. Parker has been travelling for four months and will continue 'til he said, "My money runs out." He has plenty of gear on his bicycle, and he was looking for youth hostel. Hope he makes it all the way to Panama!!

100 Strangers Project #6

When I was still in Minnesota and posting from my VisualStPaul blog, I decided to participate in Flickr's group that approached strangers to photograph. The objective was to become more comfortable asking someone you don't know for a photograph and also to perfect your technique in the process. I decided to resume the project on this blog also, and I will occasionally post a photo of a stranger with information about them.

We met Kela and her novio (boyfriend) in a store in Zona Dorado when Jaime was looking to buy Cuban cigars. Manuel was the primary clerk who typically made a hard sell while Kela sat demurely on the side. Before I photographed her, he nodded approval. We had an interesting chat about the current state of business and the economics re. tourist trade. Jaime incidentally left with 3 cigars.

Dos Chicas Bonitas

The two little girls obviously are our neighbors. They knocked on the door and asked if they could get their "balloon" off our roof. The little one on the upper rung of the spiral steps was quite giggly. Although they were reluctant to speak much English, I suspect that it's better than my Spanish! We hope to see them again in the neighborhood.

The Diver

On March 26, 2007 I published the lower left photo from guest photographer and friend, Roger Evert. The young men of Mazatlan are still diving from this platform, a risky business. Last week while strolling the Malecon I saw another young man poised on the platform, and I took the top photo right after he dove into the ocean. He safely emerged and then climbed to the top to do it all over again. A dangerous display to earn pesos from impressed tourists.

Reaching For the Moon...

On Sunday, February 8th, I watched the full moon from my casita terrace. Because I am still experimenting with my digital camera, I decided to take multiple snaps that night. Here are the results; I still have a lot to learn!

Valentine's Day

Because February 17 is our wedding anniversary, I decided to post this on Valentine's Day. Who would have thought that 47 years later (yes, 47!!) we would be celebrating this momentous occasion in Mazatlán, México?!

Judicial de la Federacion

This very large modern building stands out in El Centro, primarily because its architecture is so different from all the older buildings surrounding it.

Statuary

All this statuary is in front of a private home. Click on the small image to see the wide array of sculptures. Somewhat remarkable. Even more remarkable is the presence of three Jaguars parked in the garage!

The Twins

While in Mazatlán I volunteer at the English Reading library and Jaime volunteers at Amigos de los Animales. Both of us are involved with fund raisers to relieve the lives of stray street animals. Interested animal lovers who live and visit here help, for example, by capturing strays (often bedraggled, sick, neglected, and frightened), taking them to vets, neutering, and, in the case of cats, releasing the animals after the surgery. One individual has, in addition, provided a "kitty orphanage" on the roof of her apartment building. If she had not found them, rescued them, and provided for their health and well-being, these twins certainly would have died. She now has 11 orphans, hoping that some people will adopt each one.

La Playa

This is another painting that I particularly like. Another friend of mine owns similar versions of yesterday's and today's paintings, and has become a collector of Loretta Gallacci's artwork.

Calle Típica en Mazatlán

I have many favorite paintings, but this one is special because it is so typical of the streets in El Centro. This is one of Loretta Gallacci's paintings.

Art Crawl #1

From November to May on the First Fridays of the month, several artists open their studios from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. in El Centro Mazatlán, México. These oil paintings are in a studio belonging to a artist friend of mine, Loretta Gallacci. Come back to see my favorite paintings on Monday and Tuesday.

Another view

Looking in another direction, this view is a bit different from the one I posted on Tuesday, January 3. Laundry hanging from lines on rooftops is a common domestic sight.

The Potter

During Carnaval in Mazatlan many activities take place in and around the Plaza Machado, the focal point of downtown El Centro. While buying our tickets at the box office for one of the musical evenings at the Angela Peralta Theatre, we noticed this man, giving a display of his art form. Quite a crowd had gathered to watch him. Did any of you guess what he was doing when I introduced you to him last Wednesday?

Thursday Night Entertainment

There are lots of different kinds of entertainment in Mazatlán: fine restaurants, street food carts, sports bars, cinemas, theatres, night clubs and many others. Our favorite restaurant, Te Amo Lucy, has a special Thursday night show...old episodes of The Twilight Zone!! This is where we'll spend part of our evening while eating Lucy's delicious food (or the special sandwich...the price is in pesos, not US$).

What's He Doing?

Can you guess what this man is doing? Come back on Friday, and I'll show you what he's doing!

Cathedral

The top photo is a side view of the main Cathedral in El Centro as seen in the distance from my terrace. The small photo is a partial view of the front of the Cathedral. "This large 19th-century cathedral, right in the heart of Old Mazatlán, has high, yellow twin towers, a dramatic interior and some beautiful statues. Built from 1875 to 1890, it faces the Plaza Principal, which has lush trees and a bandstand." (from The Lonely Planet website)

Angel Flores

Angel Flores is a street with an incline that is not as steep as some of the other calles which are nearby on Icebox Hill. It's a midget compared with the killer hill on the final block to mi casita. I'll be in great shape when I return home, though! Many of the flower boxes on this street, unfortunately, are empty. When all the boxes are filled and when the flowers are in bloom against the stone wall, the street is a wonderfully beautiful sight. The smaller photo gives you an idea of the blossoms when in bloom and in abundance.

Paths and Passages-February Theme Day, 2009

Although this looks like a Baja ferry carrying only freight, there are passenger ferries available if you want to book PASSAGE! Baja Ferries was established in 1999 because there was an increased demand from companies like Wallmart and Costco for a modern shipping route between mainland Mexico and Baja California. Smaller companies with mixed success had preceeded it, going in and out of business, but this private company looks like it's here to stay.

Because we will be enroute from St. Paul to Mazatlán and busy getting established, I might not be able to immediately restart this blog on Day 1, which is why I am posting the Theme Day early. Hurry back so I can show you Mazatlán, my Paradise!

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

January 2009 Theme Day Photo

I have many favorite Mazatlan photos and it was difficult to choose, but I selected this one because it shows the beauty of the people. The Angela Peralta Theatre where I took this photo is a favorite staging ground for bridal couples. We are snowbirding in Mazatlan from January 31-April 30th this year when I will again resume taking snapshots of this wonderful city. In the meantime, please visit as many blogs today as you can to see the wonders of the world and the favorite photos of 2008 for 151 daily bloggers. Keep in mind that there is a time difference among the photographers. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

FOG and the FARO

Fog: A hydrometeor consisting of a visible aggregate of minute water droplets (or ice crystals), suspended in the atmosphere near the Earth's surface. According to international definition, fog reduces visibility below one kilometer. Fog differs from cloud only in that the base of fog is at the Earth's surface while clouds are above the surface. ONE LAST POST: STAY TUNED FOR NEXT SEASON!!

WHEN YOU VISIT THE 178 THEME DAY POSTS, COME VISIT ME ON MY VISUALSTPAUL BLOG.

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