Tag Archives: Mazatlan

Dec29

Christmas And The Beach

Posted on December 29, 2016 by iamkaren23

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December has been a hectic month with an abundance of Christmas celebrations and posadas. I especially enjoy the festive lights and trees so I headed out to Galerias and Gran Plaza, the two major shopping malls here, to check out their decorations and displays.

On Christmas Day my friends and I enjoyed a fabulous traditional turkey dinner at Twisted Mamas, a popular restaurant in the Zona Dorada.

This week has been relatively quiet and I found time to see a movie, play cards, meet friends for coffee and even do some grocery shopping. And I have set aside time to enjoy the beach.

I love the beach. The sand is a cushion beneath my feet. I breathe in the salty air and it tantalizes my nostrils. I gaze out at the waves and a feeling of peace and tranquility washes over my body. This is why I live here now.

Mazatlan boasts several beaches. I have not been to all of them, but I do have some favorites. Although I prefer the more secluded beach areas, I do frequent those in the Zona Dorada and Olas Altas. These areas are usually filled with hawkers who sell everything from jewelry to hammocks and everything in between. But I am a people watcher, and I do enjoy observing the interchanges with tourists.

This morning I was out at Playa Brujas. It was bustling with activity as it’s holiday time. Usually it isn’t crowded and there aren’t as many hawkers are around to harass you. The waves here are a surfer’s heaven.

Another favorite beach is in Sabalo Country, where I often sit out on the rocks gazing at the sea and ponder what is happening in my life. Occasionally I sit at a table beneath an umbrella while sipping an ice cold cerveza.

As this will be my last post for 2016, I’d like to wish my readers a Happy New Year. I pray that it will be a year of happiness and good health for everyone. May all your wishes and dreams come true in 2017.

Nov17

I’m Back!

Posted on November 17, 2016 by iamkaren23

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Tuesday afternoon my friend Karen picked me up and we headed for Seattle. Leavenworth was overcast and definitely in sync with the tearful goodbyes to my friends. It rained off and on all the way into Seattle. Karen dropped me off at the hotel and shortly after it started to pour. I was debating ordering in a pizza when the skies cleared, so I headed over to Denny’s.

It was just starting to spit a little on the walk back to the hotel. At 4 in the morning I was aboard the airport shuttle. By 4:45 I was checked in, my luggage tagged and I had cleared security. I had about twenty minutes to spare before boarding my flight.

We landed in Los Angeles early, but had to wait a while for a gate. I had time to grab some food before my next flight. I detest airline food. Even the brands of beer offered are iffy. Not that food at airports is the greatest although there was lots of variety in L.A.

We departed a few minutes late and landed in Mazatlan a little late. The lineups for security and immigration were long and slow as usual. There is never a hurry in Mexico. My bag was one of the first to show up and I walked into the terminal. I was delighted to see a driver with my name on a sign and I was eternally grateful for the Pacifico he offered me in the van.

To say I was exhausted when I got to Sofia’s home is an understatement. Got the Wifi password into my phone, messaged back and forth a little, and then slept for twelve hours straight! This morning I headed to the ATM and to Soriana for some groceries. I came home drenched from the heat and humidity and took a refreshing shower. It’s hard to believe that last Thursday morning I went to Bible Study wearing a ski jacket.

Tomorrow is the weekend and it looks like I’m moving again on Sunday. Yes Kyle, your mother is a nomad. You’ll have to check my next post to find out more details.

Aug10

Still A Nomad

Posted on August 10, 2016 by iamkaren23

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I was talking to my son last night and he remarked that I am a nomad. Apparently what I consider a long period of time and what he considers to be a long period of time are miles apart. Fourteen months in Mazatlan to me is a long period of time. The move to Leavenworth for three months is a much needed change.

I glanced back over my blog posts and noted that I had already published Am I A Nomad back in January of 2014. And I have been on the move since then. Therefore I have titled this post Still A Nomad.

I actually did remain in the same house in Tlaquepaque until April of 2015. The plan was to visit my Mexican family in Culiacan and then fly to Winnipeg out of Puerto Vallarta. I was having a book launch for Alive Again and had a few medical appointments scheduled. Then I would return to Guadalajara.

While I was in Culiacan, I received a job offer in Mazatlan. So I decided to check it out. I stayed with a friend I hadn’t seen in years, and it was a great reunion. On the way to Puerto Vallarta, I spent a couple of days in Sayulita with a former housemate from Guadalajara.

Back in Winnipeg, my 10 days soon became five weeks. I stayed with my son and a variety of friends and lived in various areas of the city during that time. By the time I returned to Mexico, I’d been living out of suitcases for almost eight weeks.

I moved in with a family from Mexico and stayed there for 5-1/2 months. I then stayed with a friend for three weeks until I was able to move into a condo. I remained in the condo for eight months before arriving here in Leavenworth almost three weeks ago. I plan on staying here until sometime in October when I will return to Mazatlan for the winter.

I still haven’t found that perfect place yet where I might settle down. And I don’t know if I ever will. But it has been the most amazing experience traveling and moving around after spending decades in Winnipeg. Obviously there doesn’t appear to be any real stability in my choice of lifestyle unless you categorize change as stability. And that is an interesting thought to ponder as I sit out on the deck and enjoy this view:

Jul15

Cheerios I Love Cheerios

Posted on July 15, 2016 by iamkaren23

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My favorite cereal is Cheerios. Back in Canada I bought boxes regularly when my kids were small. They loved them and so did our dog. But here in Mexico it is very difficult to find just plain Cheerios. Mexicans love their sugar, so chocolate, banana, honey nut, apple and multigrain line the shelves. And yes, the multigrain are full of sugar as are all the flavored ones. Occasionally I find plain Cheerios at WalMart at the Marina, and it’s always an exciting day.

There is no real grocery shopping available anywhere near where I live. I live in a gated community on Bicentenario Juarez. Next to our condos is another gated community. Just past that one is a huge intersection with a Pemex and an Oxxo as the major landmarks.

Once you cross Del Delfin, the intersection pictured above, the chicken wars begin. Chickens are grilled or rotisseried and signs advertise 2 whole chickens for 120 or 130 pesos. They are accompanied by tortillas and salsa and I cannot buy them and cook them at home for that price.

There are no zoning bylaws here and there is such an amazing conglomeration of varieties of businesses that line the street. Of course the Oxxo features prominently, an amazing convenience store where you can pay utility bills, purchase computer accessories, buy groceries and anything else you can think of.

Next to the Oxxo os a small taqueria and a small pizza restaurant. Directly beside that is a hardware store.

The next business lends money at a ridiculously high interest rate.

Then there is a children’s party salon.

And of course there is one of the many obligatory beer stores right next door.

Next we have a small cocina. In this photo they are grilling vegetables.

And I could have walked farther down to find a variety of interesting shops but the 36 degree Celsius temperature and the 85% humidity found me heading for home to seek refuge in the pool. Perhaps in the fall I will venture further down the street on foot but for now this little snapshot into my neighborhood will have to suffice. I shall have to be content viewing the remainder of the street from the window of a car or a bus.

Jul12

Vecinos Con Carinos Fourth of July Party

Posted on July 12, 2016 by iamkaren23

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Vecinos Con Carinos Fourth of July Party

Vecinos Con Carinos is an organization that supports schools and people who live in a poor area in Teacapan, about two hours drive south of Mazatlan. I am a member of this club and we held a fundraiser at Villa Loman, a beautiful home a few minutes north of Teacapan. Our hosts were Helen and Jerry Loman, also members of the group. Their home is spacious and the grounds are huge. And it is only a five minute walk down to the beach. Here are photos of the home and the view from the terrace.

Some of us stayed overnight in guest apartments, while others came out only for the day. Kathy and David Francone graciously gave me a ride down there in their new Winnebago which made it all the more enjoyable.

Upon our arrival at Villa Loman, Dave Parker had been busy barbecuing hot dogs for us. His wife Sue did an amazing job of organizing this fundraiser attended by some 23 people. Sue is very creative in terms of planning everything from activities to obtaining door prizes. She even designed trophies for the game winners. And what fun games they were!

A bean bag toss was the first game, followed by a potato race. There was also a putting green on the grounds for those who braved the broiling sun. A trivia quiz followed, Bingo games and then the raffle for the door prizes took place.

Helen Loman is a remarkable woman. At the tender age of 87, she provided and cooked all the food for our sumptuous dinner that evening. The menu included ribs, chicken, cole slaw, potato salad, corn on the cob and garlic bread. Helen lamented that she had forgotten to serve the baked beans she had lovingly prepared, so care packages were provided. The table was set beautifully with china and silver. Dessert followed with delicious homemade ice cream.

After dinner we sat around on the terrace and then some of us participated in a sing-along. Others began their drive home to Mazatlan. We were all exhausted by eleven and retired to our apartments.

The next morning we were treated to a wonderful breakfast of quiche, potatoes, fruit and the lightest and fluffiest biscuits I’ve ever tasted. Most of us were still full from the meal the night before and were overwhelmed by yet another feast.

All too soon, we said our good-byes and departed Villa Loman. On the way back to Mazatlan, we took a detour through the pueblo of Teacapan and explored the Malecon.

It was a fabulous way to celebrate the fourth of July. And the fundraiser itself was a huge success, raising approximately $8200 Mexican. It was indeed a Happy Fourth of July!

Jun4

Mazatlan Health Fair

Posted on June 4, 2016 by iamkaren23

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On May 22nd a Health Fair was held at the Convention Center here in Mazatlan. Organized by the University of Durango, Vecinos Con Carinos was the main sponsor. As I am a member of Vecinos Con Carinos, I volunteered my time at this event. The goal of this event was to provide free consultations with health care professionals to people from the poorer areas of this city.

While it is true that there exists a free health care plan for all Mexican citizens, many people do not have access to Seguro Popular. Here in Mexico there are many home births which results in births not being registered. If a person is not registered, they are unable to access Seguro Popular. Also, many people are unable to afford the bus fare needed to take them to a facility. These people live in shanties or may be squatters. They have no running water nor do they have electricity. The children usually do not attend school. There is no money for uniforms or supplies required even in the public schools here.

One of the other volunteers also volunteers in an outreach program with La Vina. She recognized one of the ladies attending the Health Fair from one of the church’s programs. The woman told her that she had taken three buses to get to the Convention Center that day. She now had no money to return home. She wasn’t familiar with the city and hadn’t realized that three buses were needed to get to the Health Fair. The volunteer gave her the money so that she could return home. And that is only one story.

The majority of the health care professionals present that day were medical students, residents in their final year. Booths were set up with topics ranging from birth control to psychiatry. The most popular booth by far was gynecology, where women were given pelvic exams. What most of us take for granted as a part of our annual physical was something many of these women had never experienced in their lifetimes.

While it was encouraging to see so many people come to the Health Fair that day, I can’t help but think how many more people may have been helped had professionals gone out to the poorer areas instead of having the people come to the Convention Center. More comfortable in their own environment, and only a walk away instead of a tedious bus ride, hundreds more could have been helped and perhaps even lives could have been saved. But overall, the event was a success.

The following are some of the photos I took that day:

May14

So I Took A Mexican Cooking Class

Posted on May 14, 2016 by iamkaren23

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I have always loved Mexican food. As Winnipeg is seriously lacking in Mexican cuisine, whenever my travels brought me to the USA I would always seek out Mexican food. And I must admit that the food served in North Dakota differs greatly from that in Arizona. But when arrived in Culiacan in 2010, I discovered what real Mexican food is.

I have lived in Culiacan, Irapuato, Guadalajara and now Mazatlan. The food in Sinaloa is definitely different than in Jalisco, and Sinaloa wins hands down. I have always wanted to take a course in Mexican cooking. The opportunity finally arose this month when I saw an ad on Find It Here Mazatlan.

Sofia Vargas is a very talented young lady whose new business enterprise is called Kahlo’s Kitchen. In fact, I was a part of the inaugural class of five gringas yesterday. Sofia and her mother were our teachers and they are to be commended for their efforts. The menu was selected well, and we were all drooling by the time we sat down to lunch.

Sofia and her mom demonstrated, but also let us become involved in grilling vegetables, preparing salsa as well as creating chilis rellenos. And of course we were great samplers of both jamaica and margaritas. Sofia had also prepared handmade cookbooks for each of us with all the recipes.

It was interesting to see how the vegetables were grilled, and the aroma was tantalizing.

Next came preparing the salsa, And it goes without saying that we sampled it as well.

Then came cooking the jamaica. Once it was chilled, small bits of canteloupe and watermelon were added. Extremely refreshing in the Mazatlan heat! Here is a photo of the hibiscus flowers before cooking.

Next was an explanation of various types of cheeses that are used to stuff the chilis. The tray provided us with samples of oxaca, chihuahua, panella and a regional organic cheese. Once stuffed, Sofia’s mom prepared the batter to dip the chilis in before frying. Doesn’t this look incredible?

We were also shown how to prepare red rice. It’s amazing how a simple tomato sauce turns plain rice into such a delicious delicacy.

The mango margaritas were awesome! Fresh fruit and tequila and no flavored syrups here. Salt and spice on the rims.

We then were treated to a sumptuous chocolate flan for dessert. it’s amazing how the flan separates from the cake batter as bakes.

I can hardly wait until the next class!

Apr30

Where Does The Time Go?

Posted on April 30, 2016 by iamkaren23

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The other day I had lunch with friends who are returning to Calgary for the summer. They know I haven’t been teaching much and are amazed when I tell them that my first year here in Mazatlan has gone by so quickly. Whatever do you do with your time Karen? So it appears that it’s time to reflect upon what I’ve been doing.

Last year at this time I was back in Winnipeg. I was preparing for a book launch and I had a lot of loose ends to tie up so that I could return to Mexico for an indefinite period of time. My two week visit became five and I was more than ready to return to Mexico, especially when an unexpected snowfall graced us in Winterpeg.

Living in Mazatlan is very different from living in Guadalajara. It is much hotter here and much more humid, although Guadalajara gets a lot of rain and some flash flooding. Mazatlan is a much smaller city and the air is much fresher. English is more common here, especially in certain expat areas. I actually have met people here who have lived here for years and do not speak any Spanish.

Because it is a smaller city, nothing is really far away. The traffic is lighter, and the roads are better as well. But the one big lure for me is the ocean. If Guadalajara had a beach, I’d still be there. I miss the museums, art galleries, parks and especially the canyon. But nothing compares with zipping along the Malecon here on a motorcycle with the wind blowing through your hair.

My friends have visions of me basking on a beach all day with a cerveza at my side. While I do make a point of going to the beach to relax, just the sight of the ocean from a bus window on a daily commute is calming and peaceful. I teach, I write, I volunteer and even tried my hand at acting, but I most definitely do not lie on a beach all day long everyday.

I suppose you could say that my major focus has been on writing. I’m working on my third book and am writing fiction as opposed to self-help books. I belong to writers’ groups online. I also contributed to a book published here in Mexico extolling all the wonders that this country has to offer.

At the moment I am only teaching private students. But I did find myself back in the classroom obtaining a CENNI examiner certification as well as a certificate to administer TOEIC exams here in Mexico.

I volunteer with Vecinos Con Carinos and La Vina. I also attended my first Friends of Mexico meeting this month.

I haven’t done too much traveling in Mexico. I went to Culiacan last September, Guadalajara in December and spent Christmas in Tototlan. My big trip was to Punta Cana in the Dominican for my daughter’s wedding last October. En route I spent a couple of days in Toronto.

I can’t believe I haven’t made it back to the aquarium yet. I went there a few years ago and it has expanded since. I also haven’t gone to Bosque de la Ciudad or to Stone Island yet. I also want to try out the ocean pool on the malecon.

Friends have introduced me to a multitude of restaurants and bars. And I have still have several on my list that I am eager to try.

But the best discoveries are all the beaches here in Mazatlan. Pueblo Bonito is fast becoming a favorite, although Olas Altas and Playa Bruja are also beautiful. These beaches are far less congested than the ones in Zona Dorada, and there are fewer hawkers to bother you as well.

I checked out the art gallery here but it was pretty dismal compared with the galleries in Guadalajara. The Angela Peralta theatre is an elegant historic venue with a variety of plays and concerts to offer. And there was an abundance of entertainment on the streets during Carnaval and Semana Santa. Motorcycle Week featured four nights of bands and a fabulous parade. And of course fireworks are always part of any celebration.

There are also markets featuring home-baked goods and crafts. The Plaza Machado has a weekly market and an abundance of restaurants. It was also the scene of celebrations during Day of the Dead and featured a parade.

The Malecon is an amazing stretch of about 20 km which I have yet to walk in its entirety. Beautiful statues, restaurants and bars on the beach, as well as artisans selling their crafts are found here. Benches are plentiful, and the view of the ocean, especially at sunset, is spectacular.

My first year in Mazatlan is fast coming to a close, and I know that many more adventures await as I explore this coastal city. I’ve been hearing a lot about play readings……………………

Apr19

Mazatlan Sunsets

Posted on April 19, 2016 by iamkaren23

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Mazatlan has the most beautiful sunsets as well as fabulous beaches. The other night I was totally mesmerized by the colorful display in the sky. I was out on my second floor terrace and cannot believe that my iPhone did such an incredible job of capturing the vivid colors.

My next project is to wake up early enough to view the sunrise, which I;m sure will be equally as spectacular.

Apr6

Monday After Motorcycle Week

Posted on April 6, 2016 by iamkaren23

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It’s Monday morning again and another weekend has gone by all too quickly. It’s April already and yesterday the clocks sprang forth an hour with the time change, finally catching up to the rest of the continent who did it three weeks ago.

Time changes should not be allowed the weekend of Motorcycle Week. I went to the parade on Saturday and was totally blown away by the number of bikes that had invaded Mazatlan for this event. MazatlanCity.com claims that over 20,000 bikers were here. The Malecon was completely closed off to traffic Saturday afternoon and evening as the cyclists made their way from the aquarium to Olas Altas. I’ve been to parades in my life, but have never seen anything like this before.

Thousands of people lined the streets hours ahead of time in anticipation of this event. Hawkers circulated amongst the crowd selling ice cream, donuts, chips, balloons, cotton candy, bandanas, candy and anything else you can imagine. The beaches were all but deserted as the parade was THE place to be on Saturday.

Motorcycle week also involved much more than a parade. For 450 pesos, a wrist band admitted you to the grounds for four days of music and displays. (You also received a t-shirt.) There were also events on the beach such as pole dancing contests and bikini contests. Hotels and restaurants were overwhelmed with people, and of course traffic was a nightmare. And the noise of these bikes !!!!!!!!

Here are some pics I snapped during the parade:

The bikes are gone now, the roar of engines a fading memory, and the streets are no longer parking lots due to traffic jams. The outdoor band concerts and the numerous displays are done for this year. Many locals tend to run away from Mazatlan during Motorcycle Week. Not me! I can hardly wait until next year!

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