The Mazatlan Aquarium

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Yesterday was wash day.  I keep putting it off but it was really time to get it done!

While I was waiting for wash to dry I went over to Sam and Rita’s to have a look at the washer they have in their motor home.  It is a small Heir that they got from Wal-Mart and Rita really likes it.  I am thinking about it too.  It would be nice to wash little bits of wash when ever I want.  We’ll see.

Sam and Rita were going to go to the Mazatlan aquarium that afternoon and asked us to go along with them.  Rita had been to see it before but Sam hadn’t and neither had we.  Sam drove and we got there around 2pm.  75 pesos to get in (just over $6) and it was well worth it.  We got there just as the bird show was happening so we went to have a look.  The young Mexican women who handled the birds and show were very easy on the eyes so Eric liked them as much as the birds, especially when they were dancing with the parrot. 

Bird Theatre.

I’m watching the bird, Eric’s watching the girl!

Good boy!

It’s a basket!

Getting ready to bowl.

Three bird teeter totter.

Upside down bird with bottle (he happily stayed there until she picked him up!)

The end of the bird show.

We continued on outside to have a look at the outside exhibits.  First off was the turtle and gator pen.  Lots of turtles and gators in together so I guess the gators are well fed.  Not with turtles I hope!

I really like turtles.

This fellow posed nicely for me.

These guys were big.

The was a big tank full of rays of all different colors but only one spotted ray.  They would come right up to the edge of the wall of the tank so close you could touch them.  In Mexico they don’t safeguard you from stupidity the way they do in the U.S. and Canada although they did have a young man watching the ray tank. He put his hand on the edge just into the water and tapped and the rays would come up to him and then swim upside down.  It was really cool to watch.   It would have been easy to stick your hand through the wire to the gators and there was  only a little barrier to keep you away.  Watch your kids! 

Rays swimming by.

Upside down ray.

Really beautiful graceful creatures.

We then headed inside to see the other exhibits.  There were many tanks of fish of all colors, sizes and shapes. 

School of fish.  Yummy looking!  Oops sorry!

This puffer kept coming up to the glass to have a closer look.  Who’s watching who?

This is a beautiful crab.

Next up was the turtle tank and I thought it was a bit small with too many in although they all looked fine.  Turtles are such interesting creatures with long lives and migrations they really don’t belong in a tank.  However, they are very beautiful to see. 

I suppose it’s possible they move them in and out of other tanks and areas.

Cat fish.

Past the fish tanks there were many exhibits with parts of skeletons of whales many other exhibits. 

This is a display of mariners knots.

We vacated the exhibit area in a hurry when a crowd of little Mexican students on a field trip rolled in.  They were a busy, loud little bunch of ninos.  Lots of running and not much looking!

We had a last look at the seal tank in the auditorium where they do the shows.  I think we  had just missed it and that’s where the crowd of kids came from.  There was one seal doing amazing acrobatics behind the glass although he got shy when Sam tried to coax him up close.

 

The visit to the aquarium was a really interesting afternoon and I’d go back again.

We continued on our way home and along the way we  stopped at Gus–Gus, a restaurant in the Golden Zone for beer and a bite to eat.  Eric and I weren’t going to eat but then Sam and Rita were having hamburgers and chips and ……..what the heck we joined in.  A really nice warm place to sit, a cold beer and a good burger with good friends.

A perfect end to a really nice day. 

A good ride and better weather.

Monday, January 17, 2011

We had a good ride yesterday even though we didn’t have a good lunch.  We left just before eleven because we didn’t have far to go and the weather co-operated.  Yahoo!  Sunny with no fog even though it was pretty cool but once we got off the beach area it really warmed up.  We rode up as far as the entrance to San Ignacio where Sam picked up some cold Pacifico’s and then we rode back to El Quellite for lunch.  The main street is now open to traffic but dirty and dusty.  The last time we were there before Christmas it was all torn up and impassable.  Rita suggested we try the other big restaurant in town and that sounded good to us.  We rode down the narrow street to the restaurant and  parked the bikes on the sidewalk after we dodged the burros.  The whole little street in front of the restaurant was filled with burros and we weren’t sure what they were actually doing with them.  Burro races?  Perhaps, or maybe just a tourist attraction. 

Yes, the first one is a small pony but the other two are burros!  There were many more all over the street. 

When we got inside we sat down but then moved farther back in the restaurant because the music was too loud and from there it just went from bad to worse.  We had the parrot screeching on one side and the little kids from the Mexican families behind us playing tag around our chairs.

The parrot on the railing and then on feeding station inside the restaurant next to our table.

 

The tables are under umbrellas inside the garden like restaurant because overhead there are iguanas running around in the trees and you don’t want an iguana to crap on you.  Sweet!

We ordered lunch and when it came both Sam and Rita had to send it back.  A gristly meat in sauce wasn’t an appetizing lunch for them and after one bite they couldn’t continue eating it.    Mine and Eric’s  lunch was okay but not great and we ate.  Rita tried something else which was okay and Sam struck out again.  A language problem, who knows but what should have had chicken it it was just a bunch of tortilla chips with a mayonnaise type sauce on it.  A no go and even with a second try no good.  A complete bust so he shared Rita’s lunch.  He was a sad, hungry Sam.  They have never sent anything back here and neither have we so this restaurant is off our list.  Eric and I didn’t feel well later and it was pricey too boot.  We’d have been better off at a chicken stand! 

When we got home I had a good walk on the beach and I should have been carrying my camera.  There was a battered sea snake on the beach and I could have taken a picture.   It was about two feet long and black and deep yellow in color with a spade shaped tail.   I thought it was dead but not so.  When I passed him on my way back he was starting to revive so I kept my distance.  I was busy looking for glass on the beach for Pat.  She does mosaics and the weathered glass on the beach is a collectible for that and I found a few pieces for her.   When I got back Eric was over at Frank & Sandi’s for happy hour.   There were good appetizers that we could have shared  but neither Eric or I ate any because our stomachs were still upset from lunch.  Oh well, at least the ride was good.  So far this is first bad meal we’ve had in Mexico. 

Toes and eyes.

Friday, January 14, 2011

Yesterday we took another ride down to the Golden Zone for Eric’s eye exam.  Very professional, not expensive and the result was not too much different from what he already has so that is a good thing.  Eric ordered new lenses for his sun glasses and he can pick them up on Saturday. 

I went down to Gaby’s for my pedicure today on my own.  Sandi was a no show since she had too much fun last night.  Frank said she “over trained.” and it sounds like the margaritas were good and so was the band.  Sandi had lots of fun dancing and playing the tambourine and this morning she wasn’t feeling swell so I went to have a pedicure by myself.  No big deal and it was as always, a pleasant experience.  I hopped on the big green bus “Sablo Centro because I am always sure where it will go. 

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Well yesterday poor Sandi had to be a good sport and luckily she is.  She was teased about her tambourine and dancing talents on Wednesday night with a special presentation at happy hour.  The group that went with her to see the band and dance gave her a tambourine of her own as well as a crown with tambourine queen on it.  No one is safe here! 

           The Tambourine Queen!

The weather today is really ugly.  Cold, sea fog and a killer wind.  You can’t see the sun and and the fog is so thick everyone is hiding inside feeling sorry for themselves and the ones who aren’t inside are out doing menial chores because they are so bored.  Boohoo, poor us.  I’m sure all our friends who are suffering through winter at home are really sorry for us!   Not! 

Tomorrow we’ll go on a bike ride if the weather is any better.  We’ve heard that the road in El Quellite is fixed so we can ride up for lunch.   We were up there in December and the whole main street was under repair.  Rita has been housebound for awhile since she is still fighting the cold that has been making it’s rounds.  Sam isn’t feeling great either but they have cabin fever and need to get out of town. 

A good ride to El Tigre’s on the beach.

Thursday January 13, 2011

On Wednesday a little gang of six (Eric and I on the bike, Frank and Sandi in the jeep and Pat and Jack in their car)  headed out of town at about 10:30 am.  Eric and I led and we dressed warm because it was not a warm day.  The night time temps have been around 12C and that makes it cold in the morning.  We had a pleasant ride after we dodged all the traffic on our way out of town.  Sometimes you just want to get out and punch someone after they cut you off.  Loco drivers here. 

Once we got to Villa Union and took the right turn out to Walamo it all quieted down.  It is a really pretty drive through lots of agriculture.  Mostly “elote” corn with fields of what looks like peppers inter planted with corn.  It is agribusiness out this way and there is a large estuary although you can’t see it from the road.  You pass through a few small towns with muchos topes (speed bumps) and they are deadly on the bike if you miss one.  “We missed a couple!”  Hard to see, especially the unmarked ones that the locals put in themselves with cold patch.  A Mexican hazard.  When we arrived at El Tigre’s Frank and Sandi decided to have a whole grilled fish and the rest of us had a plate of food with either shrimp or a fish fillet.  Frank asked what the cost was and it turned out to be 140 pesos per kilo which is about $12 so it isn’t cheap.  We wondered what the fish was and it sounded like they said Dorado but Eric said that it wasn’t.  Turns out they were telling us how they were going to cook it, not what it was!  They stuffed the fish with onions, chilies, green peppers and seasoned with a garlic soy sauce and then grilled it over charcoal.  I had a bite and it was rich and delicious.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frank and Sandi’s fish.

They had lots left to take home because the fish weighed about 2.2 kilos.  Our lunch was excellent with deep fried breaded shrimp.  A bunch of small Pacificos, a walk on the beach and we were ready to roll.  We continued into Rosario and then back home on the free road at about 4:30.  A good day.

Getting back on track.

Tuesday  January 11, 2011

Well, it’s time to get something happening even if it’s not too big. 

Today Eric and I rode the bike into the Gold Zone to get an appointment for my toes and an eye exam for him.  Eric really needs some prescription sun glasses for driving and since it’s cheaper here we’ll see what they  have to offer.   We made an appointment for an eye exam on Thursday which will cost 300 pesos about $25.00.  I’ll get my toes done on Friday and Sandi will join me and we’ll go for lunch first.  It’s a lot easier to travel around on the motorcycle rather than the truck.  I can see where things are located especially in the morning since the traffic is quite light and it is actually quite pleasant.  After we got the appointments set up we  continued down the malecon until we got to Olas Altas  (the last beach) where we were turned back because they had the road blocked.  Now, was that for construction or another dead body?  We’ll go with construction!  So back to the dolphin monument where we stopped for a look.  As we haven’t spent much time downtown it’s all new to us and next time I’ll bring the camera and take some pictures.

Tomorrow we’re going to head back out to El Tigre’s on the beach for lunch.  Frank and Sandi will come along and  Pat and Jack will join us but unfortunately Rita is still sick as she got much worse so she and Sam can’t come and now Betty is sick too so she and Boomer can’t come either.  All this cold stuff is really starting to be a big pain in the a………s for all of us!  So, everyone is feeling a bit stir crazy as they aren’t leaving town to travel around as much as they used to.  This whole drug war gang thing isn’t helping as it is really making everyone rethink where they are going so no one is really having as much fun as they would like.  We haven’t seen anything on our motorcycle travels but that doesn’t mean it isn’t going on.   

The local Mazatlan government wants the U.S. government to stop telling people that it is dangerous to come here because it is bad for business.  Although there are three drug cartels fighting it out to be top dog and they are shooting each other left and right they don’t want anyone to know.  They say it is bad for business and if the tourists don’t come there won’t be any jobs and more people will resort to crime.  I think something is wrong with this picture. 

So, tomorrow we’ll head out around 10:30 and have a nice ride and lunch. 

Lots of people sick including me.

Saturday January 8, 2011

Not too much has been going on here over the last week for me.  I had been feeling really tired for about a week and then last Sunday I got the cold!  It has been making it’s way around the park in varying degrees.  I got the itchy throat and coughing with a headache and crushing tiredness.  Swell.  Pat got the runny nose with no coughing and Rita got the same as me.  So…..it is now a week later and we are all feeling better.  The weather has been cool with fog off and on and a cool north wind.  Too cool for swimming but nice for walking.  We are really really bored since we haven’t been out on the bike for a week or so.  Time for a few side trips once the weather settles down.

Eric and I did ride up  to the convention centre which is directly behind us through the palm trees and the golf course and we had a look at this mural.  Very impressive and you can see by the size of me and the Harley how large it is.  There is a clock in the centre and it is also in the Guinness book of records for a mural of this size by one artist. 

 

Double click this to read it.

There is a picture of me standing behind the Harley in this photo.  Can you see me?

Closer in.

Really close. 

From afar.

 

 

A beautiful work of art.

Feliz Ano Nuevo and Feliz Cumpleanos Connie.

Sunday, January 2, 2010

Another year has arrived and with it another ……you guessed it dinner!   A few of us gathered at Connie and Manny’s for a little dinner and birthday celebration.  Don’t you think the Spanish word for birthday sounds liking complaining?  That’s what we do now, complain about how many birthdays we’ve had but I guess that we should just be grateful that we are still having birthdays! 

Sharen,  Connie’s friend had sent an email reminding us that it would be Connie’s birthday on January 3rd so we decided we would combine New Years with Connie’s birthday.  It was fun.  Pat showed up with the flowers and isn’t she cute! 

The FTD lady and Connie!

Thanks Sharen !

Since no one really needs anything by the time they are our age Connie just received a couple of simple gifts.  It’s the thought that counts and we think a lot of Connie.  She has been very sick over the last few weeks and we’re glad to see her on the mend.

The birthday girl.

It seems that a few people always get really sick when they are here in Mazatlan and pneumonia is always an issue.  Hence the name for the little golf cart like cabs here called pulmonias which translates as pneumonia  (the Mexicans think you’ll get pneumonia if you ride in one because they are wide open!)  Who knows, maybe they are right.

 

Then Frank had to wear the silly hat too!

We had a great dinner with a lot of different dishes.  Pat brought blackeye peas that are cooked and served over corn bread.  She says you have to eat them at New Years because it’s good luck.  We also had to talk with a Texas accent too!  No one had ever had ever eaten them or even seen them.  Eric said they kind of looked like (not tasted like!)   sick  rabbit turds.  They were good.

Blackeye peas, yah all!

Pat actually cooked dried blackeye peas but she uses these too.

I cooked the ham I’d brought with me and made a committee salad (lettuce, avocado, mandarin orange, nuts etc.)  Betty as usual supplied the delicious desserts including birthday cake, Sandy brought a pineapple marshmallow salad, Boomer made a rice spinach dish(delicious)   and Manny made the potato salad.  Boy were we stuffed and was it all ever good.   We really have to stop eating like this! 

Betty and Connie.

A really yummy cake.