Write On!

              There is so much to do that you will need to be stringent with your
time. Check out the many tours; any we have taken were very interesting with
good transportation and knowledgeable and friendly guides. Activities around
town will satisfy all, from macho to couch potato. Catamarans, kayaks,
surfboards, snorkel equipment, beach volleyball, bungi jumping and
parasailing are all offered on the beach with instructors, if needed. There are
bridge parties organized in most hotels, bingo at The Place, aqua exercise in
many pools and Mexican pottery painting in the lobby of the Playa Mazatlan.
Sport fishing is available in varied time and cost categories. For most of these,
ister with your hotel, for the rest just go to the beach and negotiate prices
h the owners of the equipment.
Fiesta Mexicans is a spectacular evening of Mexican folkloric music,
comedy and dance. I suggest the one at the Playa Mazatlan as the best. It
costs about $ 40 Cdn but a great Mexican buffet and free domestic drinks
make it a reasonable deal. Holiday Inn and El Cid also offer Fiesta and there is
pn open- air venue called Spectacular if you wish to investigate
Check to see what is playing at the Theatro Angela Peralta, a
beautiful old ( historical) live theater, downtown in the Plaza Machada. Last
hear I went to Folklorico and one year I saw the Symphony Orchestra. It is
dressy but inexpensive ( I paid $ 10 Cdn.) You can get tickets at the theatre,
just before the performance. End your evening with supper at the nearby
Pedro & Lola's, El Tunel or Cafe Pacifico after the show. Walking around the
Plaza Machado, you can see the lovely colonial architecture and some of the
reconstruction of the old town area.
Be sure to see the clavadistas ( cliff divers). You will observe daring
divers, many barely into their teens, dive from a tower into waist- deep water
below. Your hotel will have information on when and where. About ten pesos
|| re sufficient for the collection afterwards. There are some great little open- air
souvenir stalls along this area.
Entrance to the Aquarium is just $ 6. Featured are lobos marinos ( sea
ion) performances and a demonstration of deep sea diving two or three times
a day. You will view aquariums containing 250 species of marine life from all
over the world and a small aviary of tropical birds. Walk through the lovely
adjoining botanical gardens where most of the trees are named. Here is the
only place you will see a deer, although Mazatlan means place of the deer.
Downtown ( Centro) is wonderful and quite safe. The Sabalo Centro
bus will take you there and also return you to the tourist area. Take your
dictionary, as many here do not speak English well.
Take a look through the spectacular Basilica de la Immaculada
Concepcfon, the Cathedral of Mazatlan. There are always people there who
are praying so dont use flash if you are taking pictures. Don't be too risque in
your dress... slacks and blouse are fine but bikini shorts and short cut tops are
considered to be an insult to God. Spanish women usually cover their heads
but they dont mind if we don't. Men always uncover their heads.
The Mercado Centro, or Central Market, must be experienced.
Crowded, noisy and smelly, if s still the most exciting place you can imagine! I
find prices