Tag Archives: Mazatlan

Mar19

St. Patrick’s Day in Mazatlan

Posted on March 19, 2016 by iamkaren23

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The expat influence is once again evident as shown by St. Patrick’s Day celebrations this past week here in Mazatlan. My friends and I headed out to Casa Del Cameron in Sabalo in search of green beer. While we did not find green beer, we did find green tequila at 10 pesos a shot.

Casa Del Cameron is a popular gringo bar, kind of like a Cheers place. The beer is cheap and the food is reasonably priced. The ambiance is great and people are friendly. Occasionally there is live music as well and there’s a horseshoe pitch out back.

We were surprised by a mariachi band who strolled in to play a few tunes. It was a nice change from banda or rock and roll. When I lived in Guadalajara, my neighborhood was famous for mariachis as El Parian and Calle Independencia were close by.

I’m not a fan or corned beef and cabbage but a handful of restaurants were featuring that on their menus as well. We stuck to nachos.

Quite a few people wore green and servers came around with shamrocks to stick on our shirts. Here’s a shot of the guy at a table near us who went all out with his hat.

Good friends, green tequila and nachos. Happy St. Patrick’s Day from Mazatlan!

Mar14

Rancho La Esperanza

Posted on March 14, 2016 by iamkaren23

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Saturday afternoon my friends and I went out to Rancho La Esperanza, located on the outskirts of Mazatlan just past El Castillo. This animal sanctuary is home to over 50 cats and 100 dogs. These animals have been rescued and neutered. Many have been abused and bear the emotional as well as the physical scars.

Lupita is a woman in her sixties who lives here at the ranch with all of these animals. She cares for them primarily by herself with help from three part-time employees and volunteers. The grounds are spacious and the animals have a lot of territory to roam around in, and cleaning up after them is a never ending job. Lupita feeds them and tends to their medical needs. And of course she offers them a great deal of TLC. She has managed this ranch for eight years now.

Mazatlan Animal Rescue is the organization that provides the majority of the funding to the ranch. Staffed by volunteers, bi-weekly garage sales are held over the snowbird season with 100% of the proceeds going directly to the ranch. Members of this group also rescue and neuter cats. While the feral ones are returned to their colonies, the others take up residence at the ranch, in the hopes that someday they may be adopted. The group also has a stand at the Organic Farmers Market in Plaza Zaragoza on Saturday mornings, where donations are gratefully accepted.

The cats all posed for photos, but they dogs were another matter. They were eager for attention so the few shots I did get are mostly from a distance. There is also a photo of blankets hanging out to dry on a fence. There were actually four fences full of blankets the day I was there. Lupita has only one washing machine and does these herself.

Providing a loving and caring home for these animals is Lupita’s passion. She is truly an angel for all these cats and dogs here in Mazatlan.

Mar7

Volunteering in Mazatlan

Posted on March 7, 2016 by iamkaren23

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Volunteering has always played an important role in my life. Back in Winnipeg I was actively involved in volunteering my time to a variety of organizations from YBC to the YMCA and everything in between. I was a scorekeeper, an Akela, an aquafit instructor, a fundraiser, a music librarian and a Tball coach. I organized pre-school programs, chauffeured hundreds of students around, baked, cooked and taught ESL. And I know I’m still missing a few things from this list.

I’ve been living in Mazatlan for over nine months now and feeling truly blessed that I am able to volunteer here as well. This past weekend was amazing and I spent the entire time volunteering with two organizations.

On Saturday I arrived at La Vina at noon. Along with several others, we prepared food and packed coolers. We then headed out to San Antonio, a very impoverished colonia here in Mazatlan. Many families live in squatter shacks with no electricity or running water. Most children do not attend school and eagerly anticipate our Saturday activities. They help carry chairs and tables to our meeting area, which is basically rocky soil with a couple of tarps set up to shade us from the sun. Music is followed by a bible study for the older kids and coloring for the younger ones. Then we served them tacos, watermelon and cold water to drink. The children then helped take the tables and chairs back to the storage area and were rewarded with cookies.

On Sunday I arrived at Las Flores Resort to help with the Ducky Derby. I belong to an organization called Vecinos Con Carino, ( Neighbors Who Care). Funds raised at this event pay for school inscriptions for needy students. Attending school is optional, but many are unable to afford the necessary uniforms and supplies. Funds raised are also allocated to a program in Teacapan where medicine, diapers and clothing are provided. Children are left unsupervised all day while their parents go out to work. Many are ineligible for government healthcare as their births were never recorded. It was most gratifying to see the support from the community at this event, which also featured chicken shit bingo along with the actual duck race.

There is no end to the number of organizations here in Mazatlan that rely on the efforts of expats and snowbirds in order to run successful programs to assist the poor. I am actually astounded at the extent of the poverty here and am thankful that I am able to do my part in helping the less fortunate.

Feb27

Saturday Morning

Posted on February 27, 2016 by iamkaren23

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There is a site on Facebook called Find It Here Mazatlan which has become every expats’ bible to information and events in the area. It’s also a place where people post items for sale, including garage sales. But these garage sales are very different from the ones in Canada. There were three advertised this morning.

I was fortunate to go to a preview sale for one of them yesterday morning. The proceeds of this sale go to animal rescue programs, and sales are held biweekly. People flock to these sales. Where else can you buy clothing for 20 pesos? Not that I do, but tons of other people do. But I’m a people watcher and I enjoy watching people frantically pushing and shoving to find a treasure in the racks of stained clothing, many of which sport holes and cigarette burns. My big find was a Scrabble game completely intact and in excellent condition for 10 pesos. That’s right! Less than one Canadian dollar!

Today’s sales were quite disappointing. They were in Centro close to Olas Altas, and the prices were incredibly high. One of them had rooms full of rocks. Bird cages seem to be a popular item, as well as furniture. Yes, the items are very different from those in Canadian garage sales.

Plaza Zaragoza was bustling with activity for the weekly organic market. Booths sported everything from coffee to flowers and everything in between. There were lots of tables set up where you could linger over coffee. There was even some live music.

Our last stop was at a bakery where they actually sell decent cinnamon buns, and that is a rarity here in Mazatlan. The breads also looked delicious, but that will be for another time.

Back at home I sat out on the terrace for a while practicing Spanish on Duolingo. And now it is writing time………………

Feb10

Carnaval 2016 Mazatlan

Posted on February 10, 2016 by iamkaren23

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Carnaval ended yesterday and I, along with hundreds of other residents of this city, breathed a sigh of relief. Traffic has returned to normal as the barricades along the malecon have been removed. Thousands of people no longer crowd Centro and Olas Altas. The deafening noise level of loud music has subsided. The fireworks were amazing, the food incredible and the parades entertaining. And a new queen was crowned.

Carnaval is celebrated in more than two hundred communities throughout Mexico, but Mazatlan has one of the most renowned celebrations. The Spanish brought this tradition to Mexico, and the year 1898 marked the first Carnaval in Mazatlan. Although Mazatlan is a tourist destination for snowbirds, the throngs of crowds are mainly Mexicans. Thousands of people filled the restaurants and bars day and night from February 4th to February 9th. The Sunday parade this year gave stiff competition to the American Super Bowl.

Prior to Carnaval, new structures such as this appeared along the malecon.

During the event, hotels were packed with tourists. Tickets were sold out quickly for seats in restaurants and boat cruises with the best viewing spots for the fireworks. And the fireworks were spectacular. The re-enactment of the Combate Naval is definitely a highlight.

I fondly recall my first experience celebrating Carnaval here five years ago. I went on a boat cruise, synonymous with booze cruise, where a few hundred of us piled onto a boat designed to hold far less. But it was easy to get caught up in the excitement with an open bar and a fabulous band. We danced the night away and I vaguely recall seeing the fireworks through a somewhat alcoholic haze. Of course that was long before I moved here. Now that I am a local, I tend to avoid the crowds and the traffic jams as much as possible. But, who knows? Maybe next year I might once again be ready for another boat cruise…………………

Jan10

Some Thoughts This Week

Posted on January 10, 2016 by iamkaren23

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Have you ever been in the mood to write, and yet can’t think of what to write about? Yep, that’s me today. So we’ll have to see what exactly comes out. As I ponder this, one of my housemates is sleeping peacefully on the table next to my laptop.

This morning I was sitting out on the terrace upstairs watching some construction workers across the street tiling a roof. They hauled up these heavy buckets of a tarry adhesive on a rickety narrow wooden ramp to the top of the second floor. It is quite amazing that nobody has toppled off the roof or for that matter stumbled off the ramp under the weight of those heavy buckets. Sorry but no pics. I didn’t want to distract the workers and cause an accident.

Yesterday my friend wanted to buy some shrimp out on the docks so I tagged along. I was fascinated by the pelicans hanging around, so oblivious to all the boats and people bustling by them.

Dia de los Santos Reyes was celebrated earlier this week. January 6th commemorates the time when the three kings came to visit the baby Jesus. It is customary to eat Rosca de Reyes, a bread decorated with fruit that has a trinket baked inside it.

I love the beach here in Mazatlan, especially at sunset. I’ve been to beaches in Hawaii, California, Florida, South Carolina, Cuba, Punta Cana as well as several on the west coast of Mexico. Mazatlan is by far the most beautiful.

Dec31

2015 The Year in Review

Posted on December 31, 2015 by iamkaren23

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I can’t believe it’s December already. The months have flown by quickly and 2015 has been quite a hectic year filled with activity. In reality, the older I get the faster the time flies by.

In January I was living in Tlaquepaque and teaching at Avery Franz De Witt. I was working on the final edit of my second book, Alive Again. And I bought a pair of mitts and a headband because it got so cold at night in Guadalajara with lows of zero degrees. But the fountains still flowed with water in the daytime.

February was another busy month of teaching and writing. I celebrated Valentine’s Day with Carlos. Then I found myself traveling to Manzanillo for a few days by the beach.

When I returned to Guadalajara I began the arduous process of preparing for a book launch in Winnipeg. March was the first of many stressful months. I had to book flights to Winnipeg and arrange a variety of appointments while I was there. I had medical matters and financial issues to deal with in addition to the book launch. I had to sort out accommodations and ensure that I had time to see my friends.

April was insane. Right after Easter, I headed to Culiacan for a visit with my family. Off to Mazatlan next where I reunited with Larysa whom I hadn’t seen in over twenty years. I also accepted a teaching position at a language institute. I headed south to Sayulita to visit with Debbie who now owns a bed and breakfast there. We also spent a day in Bucerias before I headed back down to Puerto Vallarta to catch my flight to Canada. Yes, four different beaches in just one week!

I flew to Winnipeg via Calgary. David met me at the airport and I moved in with Donna and Loris for a few days. Next it was Audrey, Nancy, Kyle, Carolyn, Kyle, Donna and Loris, then back to Mexico. I had my book launch at McNally Robinson, spent time with my friends and had a myriad of medical and other appointments.

I flew back to Mexico at the end of May and rented a room with a Mexican family in a working-class Mexican neighborhood. It was a fabulous opportunity to get immersed in the culture and practice my Spanish skills.

In June I taught staff English at Hotel Torres. July was a holiday month from teaching and left me time to explore Mazatlan and do quite bit of writing. I also volunteered at The Vineyard Church making sandwiches to distribute to the poor people out near the dump.

The months flew by and I was soon on my way to Toronto. I spent a couple of days with my friend Deb whom I hadn’t seen in years. I then joined my daughter Kimmy and the rest of the group at the airport and was on a flight bound for Punta Cana, the destination for her wedding.

What an amazing week that was! I spent many happy hours by the pool with my daughter and her friends and new family. Kimmy had organized a fabulous group event that included everything from cigar-making displays to horseback riding and everything in between. There were also family dinners, a bachelorette party and then finally it was the wedding day.

A friend of Kimmy’s performed the ceremony on the beach Thankfully the rain held off until after the big event, but the dinner on the terrace was moved indoors. And then it was off to the disco for dancing.

One more day of relaxing by the pool and then we were heading back to Toronto. Except that WestJet had mechanical problems so our return flight was delayed by a day.

I returned to Mexico and had a very busy November. I started teaching again and then made plans to move into a condo with another woman from Canada. But the condo wasn’t available until early December, so I wound up moving in with another friend for three weeks.

December was another busy month. I moved into the condo and began to settle in. There is a pool so it has been nice to get back into the water again. And of course there is another new neighborhood to explore. Christmas was approaching and I found myself traveling again, to Guadalajara and Tototlan.

I am now back in Mazatlan and happy to be home. I’d like to wish everyone all the best for an amazing 2016, a year filled with peace, happiness and good health.

Dec18

Christmas in Privanzas

Posted on December 18, 2015 by iamkaren23

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Earlier this month I moved into a condo in a gated community here in Mazatlan. My neighbors have all been busy decorating for Christmas, and last night I took a walk around the development.

There is no snow here in Mazatlan, but the twinkling lights and festive wreaths perform their magic. The are is being transformed into a Christmas wonderland. Although electricity is expensive here, many homes feature elaborate displays. My favorite is merely steps from my own condo.

Another framed his garden with lights.

Santa is quite the popular fellow too.

And I adore this cute little snowman.

Palm trees adorn the streets in a variety of colors.

And these decorate lollipops are amazing!

One of my neighbors is setting up a nativity scene.

Merry Christmas from Privanzas!

Dec12

In The True Spirit of Christmas

Posted on December 12, 2015 by iamkaren23

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Less than two weeks until Christmas, one of my favorite holidays. While we have no snow here in Mazatlan, the Christmas spirit is very much alive. At church last Sunday a brightly lit tree and other festive decorations adorned the sanctuary. People are up on the roofs of their houses inflating Santas and reindeer. Of course none of the lit up homes here hold a candle to Clark Griswold.

The malls and department stores have elaborate displays of Santa’s village. Children line up in anticipation of spending those few treasured moments on Santa’s lap, whispering their hopes and dreams in his ear. A flash from a photographer’s camera captures this moment in time, and a candy cane is offered by a smiling Mrs. Claus.

But the true spirit of Christmas has little to do with lights or decorations or visits with Santa. Christmas is all about love—-God’s love for us and our love for others. We celebrate out of gratitude for what God has done for us. We honor the birth of Jesus Christ by worship and we also embrace the spirit of giving to the less fortunate we encounter in our lives.

I have a small decorated tree in my bedroom, very different from the large elaborate ones I had when I lived in Canada.

I am spending Christmas with a friend in Tototlan. We will indulge in a traditional turkey dinner but will spend our time relaxing, visiting and watching movies together. And in all likelihood we will also attend a church service.

Whatever your plans may be, I wish one and all a very Merry Christmas!

Nov26

Oh! Oh! Bar Hopping Again!

Posted on November 26, 2015 by iamkaren23

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Yes, I’ve been bar hopping again. Guilty as charged. But there are just so many bars in Mazatlan. And they’re all so different. They feature a variety of music. I especially like the ones right on the beach. And of course they all feature their own drink and food specials.

Steve and I ventured out to the Chill ‘n’ Grill in the Marina area one night after I’d finished teaching. Our friend John was singing and playing guitar. We were sitting out on the terrace by the water and it was most relaxing.

Saturday night found us at Joe’s Oyster Bar in The Gold Zone. There was a popular boxing match on the jumbotron and really loud music. By ten thirty the bar was swarming with a much younger crowd and we were the only gringos. While it was nice to be by the water, we decided to leave. I was astounded that there was a lineup to get in. This place is huge and holds hundreds. I was also quite shocked to see that they didn’t ask for identification. There were scores of teens there who were extremely underage for this type of establishment. Yep, definitely a meat market.

Off we went to GusGus, another bar in The Gold Zone. Once again the boxing match gained prominence. When it ended, a band played briefly until about 1:30 am. The music was primarily English rock ‘n’ roll, with the odd Spanish song.

Monday night Etziel, Steve and I went to an awesome little bar right on the beach, steps down from the Malecon. La Corrientes is quaint with great ambiance, and of course the sound of the waves crashing in on the shore. Yes, there is yet another hurricane approaching. It was a weeknight and the bar closed at 10 pm, my only complaint.

Tuesday night Steve, Patricia and I went to Vancouver Wings in Sabalo Country. Once again John was the featured artist. This bar is not on the water, but we were outside on the terrace, one of the things I love about Mexico.

Today is American Thanksgiving. Etziel, Steve, Patricia and I are headed to a restaurant for a turkey dinner. Etziel and Patricia are Mexican, Steve is American and I am Canadian. But turkey day is turkey day, so we’re taking a break from bars today.

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