05/20/2012, Out at Deer Island
We are hanging out in Mazatlan until my Colonoscopy biopsy results are in on Wednesday so rather than hang out in the Old Harbor until then, we decided to come out to Deer Island just off the Mazatlan Malacon for some swimming and boat bottom cleaning. Just before sunset a fleet of fishing pangas came out to the anchorage and started throwing their cast nets in the water. But it wasn't until the sun went down that the real fishing frenzy started! The lights rigged up on the sides of their boats attracted schools of Ballyhoo and we watched for hours as they filled up their pangas with the small fish.
Ballyhoo are primarily used as sports fishing bait, but we have seen them all around the local fish markets lately and I'm pretty sure that the locals are frying them up and eating them. At one point, the fishing fleet had drifted around our boat and completely surrounded us, so we just paused our Star Trek Next Generation Video and sat out in the cockpit watching the action!
On a totally different subject, here's Just a little side note that I found interesting about the Mexican Health Care system. We left the Dr office with a bag containing two plastic bottles filled with my colon biopsy samples. So into a Taxi we went to drop them off at the lab. We will pick up our own lab results when they are ready and if everything looks good, we are done, no need to see the Dr again just for him to tell us what we can clearly read on the lab report. It was a little strange carrying what looked like a plastic grocery bag with medical tissue samples through the streets of Mazatlan, but it sure was a lot cheaper than using the Medical Currier lab service!
For the procedure, I didn't have to fill out a single form. All they asked was my name, age, weight, and if I had any allergies. The test results won't be kept in the office in case of a law suit for 20yrs or summarized and sent on to some masterminds at a Government run health care review board, but remain with ME, the paying patient. Imagine, a private health care system running smoothly, efficiently, and affordably without insurance companies OR big brother Government getting in the way. Maybe some of the fool politicians in Washington DC, need to pay a little visit to Mexico to learn about how Mexico's Private Heath Care System makes the USA's system look like a complete joke and an expensive one as well. But on second thought that wouldn't happen, because those Government hacks can't travel to Mexico due to the State Department travel warnings, well, unless I guess it's for a spring break vacation to Cancun.
| 4th Yr. 2012 Cruising Season |
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05/19/2012, Store Logo
To give Lori a little relaxing time, the kids and I headed for the Juarez market here in Mazatlan for breakfast. As we were walking around scoping out where to eat, Jason started laughing and grabbed my arm to show me what he thought was so funny.
A "Cremeria" is store that sells almost everything milk related: butter, cream, yogurt, cream cheese, if it's main ingredient is milk, then they probably have it even if you don't really know what it is! We never made it inside, but Jason laughed the rest of the day about the store's Logo and name. I guess things like this are hilarious to a 13 yr old boy, but I do have to admit, Amy and I were cracking up also! Just another fun day at a Mexican Market. Oh, and the 12" in diameter Sopes we had loaded down with carne asada, well we had tears of Joy and laughter this morning.
| 4th Yr. 2012 Cruising Season |
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05/17/2012, Procedures, Exams, and Lab Work
In celebration of a successful Colonoscopy, Lori and I did the only logical thing and headed for the Mazatlan Old Town Municipal Market for my first meal in two days. I had two chicken enchiladas, rice, beans and my favorite drink an ice cold aqua de limon. It was a fitting way to re-introduce solid food to my system and now that I'm back on the boat, I need a nap and am of course thinking I should have started back on solid foods a bit more gently!
With the full price of a Colonoscopy costing $300 for a state of the art procedure complete with a DVD recording, Lori's wouldn't let us pass by Mazatlan on our way to La Paz without stopping for some medical tests. Lori didn't get off the hook, and yesterday did all of her yearly "girl exams" along with a echo cardiogram. Lori's results were all good and I'll get my biopsy results back on Wednesday, until then we will relax here in what we have decided is our favorite large Mexican town. Mazatlan has it all: tacos, food carts, old town, traditional Mexico, alongside all the modern conveniences you could ever want or need from Home Depot to mega grocery stores.
| 4th Yr. 2012 Cruising Season |
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