Kathy & Eric's travels: Spring Gala Ballet at the Angela Peralta with Ruth and Chantal❤️

It's been a long time since I've been out in the evening for dinner and the ballet but last night that's what happened. Chantal who is a new friend this season suggested that we might like to see the ballet Don Quixote and I said I'd buy tickets. Now for the fun part. I was at the ticket booth and somehow thought that the Gala was Don Quixote and bought tickets for the wrong ballet. Tickets may not be returned or seats changed! So..the Spring Gala it was. To be honest I've never been to a poor performance at the Angela Peralta and last night was no exception to the rule. Dinner at 6pm at Topolo and the ballet at 8pm.

As I walked down to catch the bus with Ruth and Chantal I saw this lovely young woman having her photo taken. Possibly a quinceanara which is a celebration of a 15 year old's passage from girlhood to womanhood. A big thing in Mexico. There were also graduations and wedding parties having pictures taken.

We'd caught the bus before 5pm as there was a world class triathlon happening on the malecon and there had been delays due to detours. We had a speedy trip down and here we are outside Topolo having our picture taken by a nice man passing by.

Aren't we cute!

Reservation for 6pm band we arrived at 5:30...no problem. Topolo is a long standing top end restaurant in Mazatlan and has a very good reputation for food and service.

Fresh salsa is created at your level of spice. Comes in a hot molcajete. Very delicious. I asked the waiter how many pictures he thought people had taken of him and he said " thousands." His name is Martin, the same as Chantal's partner.

The restaurant is garden like with an open air courtyard in the center. I'm not sure what they do in the rainy season.

We'd sat for half an hour or so enjoying cocktails. A passion fruit mojito for me, a mango margarita for Chantal and a negroni which contains equal parts gin, vermouth and campari garnished with orange peel and she said it was delicious. A couple of us might have had two!

Chantal took this picture and said " it is so you"...I'm not on the internet I'm checking pictures that I've taken. I am the main picture taking facebook/ blogger. We'd ordered dinner at this point and shared a couple of appetizers and a salad. Ruth didn't want to eat too much and fall asleep during the ballet!

Salmon salad topped with goat cheese which I gave away as I hate goat cheese.

Ruth ordered tuna tartare and Chantal a shrimp tempura. We divided it all up and it was delicious. Fresh bread on the side.

Behind us a flambe dessert was happening with Martin in charge. He almost needed safety goggles!

We talked about dessert but we'd gabbed so much we ran out of time. We paid the very reasonable check and were ready to go. I might add that the service is exceptional here and that the waiters all speak English. Someone is always watching to see if you need anything. A truly lovely dining experience.

Off to the plazuela and the theater. Just a couple of blocks away and we were right on time.

I took a picture of Ruth and Chantal as this is the first time Chantal has attended a ballet here in Mazatlan.

Again a nice man offered to take all our pictures and here we are.

Such a beautiful theater and it was filling up fast.

I booked us tickets on the first balcony as the view is good and I don't like being crushed in with others on the main floor. The boxes come in two's so I sat separately. No problem.

Chantal's selfie with me behind.

This evening was presented by the National Ballet Company and did not have an emcee. We were given programs but they are in Spanish and it was too dark to read it anyway. Didn't matter.

The ballet started with single and duo sets of dancers.

Truly amazing to see the strength and agility of the dancers.

About half way through the first half the troop expanded and moved on to Swan Lake. Just lovely to watch. Even I don't need a program to recognize Swan Lake!

Such a pleasure to watch. I might add that the audience last night was very, very appreciative and expressed it with many " Bravos!"

After the intermission we moved on to modern ballets and I really liked it. Not at all traditional which was quite refreshing to me.

In the last part of the performance they performed " Sinner Man" and it was sung by a very deep, powerful male singer. If I hadn't lost my program I could have told you who it was!

The end and the dancers accept the huge applause from the audience. The lead male dancer was applauded to many " Bravos" which brought a smile to his face.

The ballet is finished and it is about 9:40 and time to find a ride home.

The plazuela Machado is just hopping. People everywhere and the music is playing.

It took a bit to find a pulmonia home. A cab would have been better as it was chilly but still a nice way to travel home. It was busy along the malecon.