Mazatlan Medley and Mercado Madness
09 December 2018
Mazatlán's Mercado Pino Suarez is a colorful, lively place! An old open air market, that overloads all senses. Merchants entertain with their antics and loud calls in their efforts to get passerby's attention and business.
One can purchase a Mexican blouse full of meat smells wafting from the neighboring butcher vendor, who proudly displays a skinned pig's head next to festive Christmas decorations.
Pulmonias fill the streets of Mazatlan; their drivers speeding around driving their paying passengers to their hopeful destinations. They are made of fiberglass and look like a cross between a golf cart and the long forgotten VW Thing. You can go from one end of town to the other for 100 pesos, about $5.
The Malecon along the waterfront is great for people-watching. It runs for about 12 km, and is lined with elaborate bronze sculptures of various artistic expressions, ranging from commemorative to mythical. Just below the promenade, the dried-grass rooftops of the palapas on the beach advertise the best ceviche and cervesas in town! Very tasty and the price is right!
While at poolside at Marina El Cid, we were entertained by several large Iguanas sleuthing around the lounge chairs looking for dropped lettuce leaves. We ordered quesadillas and within moments had the interest of several of the green creatures. One was very large and old, a granddaddy of Iguanas, with a large crest and yellow-green colored. He seemed to rule the group.
This post would not be complete without including the madness and medley of other cruisers we've met here at Marina El Cid. Some of whom have been here for quite some time and some, like us, staying a week or two. We've met so many interesting and well-seasoned cruisers and are grateful for all of the information they have shared with us. We enjoyed sundowners and sharing sea trials and tales, with a touch of embellishments!
One day, while on the boat, we just happened to have our VHF radio on and heard a cruiser on a sailboat called "Little Wing" informing the harbormaster of it's entry. David thought he knew of the boat. Later on in the day, it turns out "Little Wing" is a Cross Trimaran owned by Andy and Julie Turpin. They have cruised to many places on Little Wing. Andy is retired from his role as editor of Latitude 38; however, he and Julie continue to run the "Puddle Jump" rally. We had a delightful time with them!
This afternoon, we leave Mazatlan; we are heading south and hoping weather gods will allow us a stop over at Isla Isabel.