Celebrating Broadway with Ruth and Marion!

 Last night I had very enjoyable evening out with friends.  We were off to the Angela Peralta Theater in centro for an 8pm performance of Celebrating Broadway.  Marion and Ruth had tickets and I decided to get my own ticket and join them.  We started off with a bus ride downtown at 5pm so we could have dinner before the show.  

This is where we ended up just before the start of the show.  Many of our group attend performances at the Angela Peralta and we are lucky to have such an easily accessible venue here in Mazatlan. 

Off the bus and heading west on Angel Flores.

Christmas is only two weeks away and Revolution square is decorated for the holday season.  Marion was downtown on Thursday to see the festivities for Festival of Guadalupe that is a Catholic holiday on December 12th to honor the Virgin Mary as the patron saint of Mexico. It is a celebration of Mexican faith and identity and is a fusion of Catholic and indigenous heritage. 

Walking along Carnival Street towards the Plaza Machado where the Angela Peralta and many restaurants are located.  Christmas lights everywhere. 

The square is the place to gather in the evening.  It's still light here but it is all lit up. 

A beautiful Christmas tree!

We asked a nice young woman to take our picture and she was very good at it.  She took a number of shots for us to pick from.  Don't we look festive!

Tres Amigas!

So pretty.

One of the very popular square restaurants...Gaia Bistro and you can dine outside.  It was a lovely evening for that.  

That's Santa's house but...he wasn't home!

Walking west on Constitution and it's so beautiful.  We had a 6pm reservation at the Nao Kitchen Bar where we have eaten in the past. 

We got there a bit early and as we had lots of time we started with cocktails for Ruth and I and Coca-Cola-Cola for Marion.  She planned to have wine for dinner.  Ruth likes a Negroni and I like a Mojito. 

We ordered three different dishes and shared.  This is Asian fusion based cuisine here.  Marion ordered Pad Thai, Ruth some dumplings and I ordered Rib Eye which was served sliced with lettuce leaves to construct tacos, a spicy sauce and kimchi on the side which is Korean.  A bowl of rice rounded it out.  A bit for each of us and we were all happy. Reasonable prices and good service.

By 7:40 we were back to the Plaza for our 8pm performance.  It was dark and the lights made it look quite magical.  

By the time we finished the performance the square was hopping as people eat late here in Mexico.  There was a good band playing in one of the restaurants although some times there can be many bands and they are all playing different music!!

Heading inside the theater. 

Another beautiful Christmas tree. 

We sat on the left on the first balcony.  I was a few seats away from Ruth and Marion.  I was next to a lady from southern Ontario who spends the winter in an apartment four blocks from the plaza.  It is a good area to stay as you are close to everything and it's very quiet as well.  You can walk to pretty well everything in this area. 

It was pretty full by the time the show started. 

The orchestra was warming up.  

The guest conductor was Zina Goldrich a composer and musician as well.  Best known for her work in musical theater and she hails from New York.  Singing is Campbell Walker Fields another guest performer for the evening. 

On the left Mauricio Martinez and popular Mexican singer and actor, then Dory Lorenz a professional singer and actor, Kelli Rabke a Broadway vocalist, Laura Strickling a renowned soprano and then Campbell Walker Fields.  Each of them sang different Broadway hits from over the years.  

It was a performance that everyone enjoyed.  However...I did have an issue with the loudness of the orchestra and especially the brass section.  It's something Eric and I have remarked on at other performances here.  The orchestra is blaring and you can't hear the singers. The orchestra sound ends up being distorted as it's so loud.  One song that Campbell Walker Fields sang was just right when the brass was quiet and you could actually hear him.  It didn't seem to bother anyone but me but I guess that's why music is such a personal thing.  All in all it was a lovely evening. 

Other friends Marilyn/Dennis and Doug and Cathy also attended and we met up with them when we were getting transport home.  They had ordered a Didi but we three went home in a pulmonia which is a vehicle that you see here in Mazatlan.  Kind of life a golf cart/ Volkswagen fusion which is open air with a roof.  It was a lovely evening and not too cold for open transport.  It's lovely to travel along the malecon which is next to ocean on our way back to the north end of Mazatlan, Cerritos and home.  No pictures as it was dark and we were moving so it all gets distorted.  Lots of people out and about.

A lovely evening out with friends.  

La Costa Marinera for Ladies lunch.

 Tuesday was ladies lunch and this week there were seven of us.  A new restaurant to the group and one I've never been to.  Not far into the Golden Zone and right next to Diego's where " The Brenster" has his beach party bash every Tuesday afternoon at 2pm.  As La Costa Marinera is right next door some people listen from this restaurant. 

A beautiful day with a cool breeze and we walked down the street to the restauraant. 

I'd made a reservation so a table was all set up and Ruth and Marion were waiting when the rest of us arrived. Ruth has her mouth full of chips a d salsa😁

That's our very capable waiter with the drink tray.  This is another restaurant with a very well trained efficient wait staff.  No problem with separate checks either.  A large busy restaurant with lots of people eating. 

That's Mar holding up her menu to explain what she wants to order. 

Looking south and you can see the stage at Diego's set up on the beach. 

Food coming out and not all of it's ours but the crab tostadas were for Marilyn and I and the shrimp and avocado salads were for our table as well.  A popular item for lunch.

The crab tostada.  A large portion and it was prepared ceviche like with the crab marinated in lime juice and mixed with cucumbers.  Very tasty. 

A well prepared shrimp and avocado salad with a huge amount of large delicious shrimp. 

That's Cathy smiling with Marion behind her. 

Marilyn and I smiling for the picture. 

Mar ordered a taco as she thought the shrimp and avocado salad wouldn't be as good as it turned out to be...next time!

Ruth with her famous smile!

Marilyn and I talking...I think my mouth is full of ice from my Pinada!

Cathy and Marion listening intently.

Lots of chat and a really enjoyable lunch.  Tasty food, great service and good company...what more can you ask for while you eat lunch on a sunny day sitting by the ocean.  How lucky we are. 😊

A ride to El Tigre with Frank and Sandi.

 

Wednesday was my first ride of the season.  Eric's been out and about but not me....so time to go.  Frank and Sandi were ready for a road trip too so off we went.  We met at the gas station at 10am with just over 50 miles to go.  Destination El Tigre on the Caimanero beach area.  This is a nice country ride. 

Heading out to the toll road and the Mazatlan bypass.  There's the Jeep behind us.  We took the bypass as far as the airport and then got off onto Mex 15 towards Villa Union and our turn off to El Walamo and then El Tigre. 

Mex 15 and up ahead Villa Union. 

Into Villa Union and it's always bustling here.  Up ahead our right turn to El Walamo.   

One way street after the turn and it's always market day here. 

Some really old buildings here. 

Up ahead we turn right and head out through the farmland to beach. 

They must grow grain here somewhere as that's a large storage area. 

Lovely home....I wonder who lives here?

Crops everywhere.  Tomatoes, chili's and .....?

First up El Walamo and it was really quiet going through. 

One way street and a vehicle coming our way!

Lots of crops planted under some sort of biodegradable plastic.  Nothing coming up yet and it is really dry. 

Motorcycles are the main method of transport out here. 

We all noticed how droughty everything looked.  Not much rain this last summer and it shows. 

Way out there past the Palm trees is the ocean. Those covered buildings are shrimp farming.  Lots of it in this are close to the ocean.

A large dune past the palms. 

Motorcycles, high wheeled crop tractors and regular tractors. 

Lush here. 

The ocean appears. 

Up ahead Mariscos El Tigre. 

I got off so Eric could park the bike.  It's all sand here and the footing is really slippery. 

Seated and ready to order.  Frank and Sandi.  Sandi doesn't look happy but...she is. 

Eric.  We brought some Topo Chico to drink.  Just a carbonated mineral water. 

Eric ordered shrimp ceviche and it came out quick.

Camarones ajo or garlic shrimp for me.  Unfortunately they hadn't shelled the shrimp which didn't amuse me. I had to shell them and they were covered in butter and garlic.  Who serves shrimp like that?  You can see the pile of shells on the other plate.  The cheery little waitress wasn't concerned.  I had to go wash my hands before I could eat!!

Frank and Sandi had fish zarandeado or grilled fish with chili's and red onion and cucumber on the side.  I forgot to take a photo until it was almost gone. 

My meal was mediocre and I wouldn't order it again.  Frank and Sandi's fish was good and Eric enjoyed the ceviche but it did create some problems the next day!

After lunch we sat and blabbed for awhile and then it was time to hit the road.  Instead of carrying on and going back through El Rosario and then the free road to Villa Union we just reversed our route.  Much nicer ride.

We passed a truck full of transplants that must be going into those rows of plastic.  Looks like pepper plants. 

No ground is wasted if they are watering. 

Young girls in one of the village getting a ride. 

Coming back through Villa Union on the one way street. 

Another really old building.  Derelict?

Here we're on our way back to the Mazatlan bypass and home.  

Up ahead the Riu hotel on the beach. 

All the way along and everywhere you look there are new subdivisions.  Just crazy. 

Back in Marina Gardens and our house is at the end of the street.  A long day but a good ride with friends for company. 

Not exactly our route but close enough.