Beautiful San Ignacio

Thursday January 24, 2013

Time for another outing and today San Ignacio was our destination.  A nice 60 mile ride and because it is North of Mazatlan we don’t have to ride through all the traffic of the city.  We left the park about 10:45 am along with Frank/Sandi and Dennis /Marilyn in the jeep out the free road with the jeep leading and heading north.

When we left the highway to head towards San Ignacio the first little town that we go through is Coyotitan.  A really pretty little town with beautiful trees and flowering bushes and the local people are always smiling and waving. 

Along the edge of the road….a farmer with his goats.   

Heading north of Coyotitan towards San Ignacio.

Just before the bridge into San Ignacio we stopped so that Eric and I could lead into town as Frank had only been there once before.  Sandi is hiding her “Doo” because when you ride in the back of the Jeep your hair really takes a beating!

The big bridge heading into town. 

The bridge crosses over the Piaxtla River which originates in the Sierra Madre mountains.   A huge river.  There are pictures on the net that show the level of the river right up to the base of the bridge….an unbelievable amount to water. 

In the main square we noted these beautiful old street lamps.

Very intricate. 

We have eaten in this restaurant just off the main square before.  The rear area is a very large dance studio filled with beautiful murals.  I have blogged this before ( Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011) and the pictures of the mural are on that Blog.)

Front of the restaurant.

Streets in San Ignacio.

Looking up the street to the giant Jesus statue.  It is massive.

 

As we wandered up the street after lunch to find the Dulceria (candy store) we happened up the Museum of Culture.  Very interesting.

A very large old loom.  Strung with very old wool.

 

Huge old spinning wheel.

Gun collection.

Horse related gear.

Pottery.

I took this picture of an old picture in the museum.  This would have been the old reaction ferry that ran on cables across the river before they built the bridge.  Depending on the angle of the ferry to the flow of water it will be propelled in either direction across the river.  We know this because we have one just a few miles from us on the Skeena River at Usk, B.C. and it uses no power….just the current.

At high or low water they are unusable and the Usk crossing then changes to an aerial cable car. 

I think this saddle may have belonged to someone famous in San Ignacio.  The horn was inlaid with mother of pearl and there were initials on it as well.  Who was the caballero….who knows.

Next stop the Dulceria where I bought some nice Mexican candy.  Just outside where everyone was waiting this local musician showed up with his trumpet.

As we walked back down the street he serenaded us with a little tune.  He was actually quite good.

 

Back down to the square.  There we noted the dome on the cathedral being painted up by the worker you can see on the top in the centre.  No….there is no safety gear and …..yes he is very high up.  Getting ready for Semana Santa (Easter) at the end of March no doubt. 

This young girl followed us down the street on her bicycle and was all smiles….until I took her picture along with these little guys….and then no one was smiling. 

A really nice day!

Happy hour, swimming and a bit of Bocce!

Wednesday January, 23, 2013

I mentioned in a previous blog that the park owner Felipe built a swimming pool over the summer with a concrete deck area where the park could have gatherings and happy hours.  A very nice addition to the park.

Looking in from the front road toward the happy hour gathering.  There is an area to shower and also a barbecue area with lights….very nice.  No….the pool is not heated like most pools in Mexico.

Some of the gang…they start to gather around 4pm and stay until 5 to 5:30.  Somehow the men and woman have ended up at different tables…not sure why. 

After an early morning Bocce game for me Eric and I went over to the beach around 11am.  The sea is much flatter at this time with very little wind so it is better for swimming than later in the afternoon.  Eric really wants to body surf.  Before we left Kelowna in November we bought Eric a shortie wet suit so he could swim if the water was cold and yesterday he tried it out for the first time.

Good size wave!

Eric had a rest and then….back in.

All done.

Here comes the parachute.  I’d still like to try that….maybe I will!

The beach is flattening out again and the weather has warmed up…..Bueno!

On Monday we started another Bocce tournament here in the park and this time the teams are spouses….well not everyone as some people including Eric don’t want to play.  No problemo…Dick and I are partners and there are a few other teams that are not spouses as well.  It is very loosey goosey here at Las Jaibas….no pressure. 

Day one…first game and Dick and I play Betty and Boomer. 

Look at that style….too bad I didn’t get close to the pea.  We lost that game.

Hal and Helene play Sandi and Frank.  Frank and Sandi win.

Betty and Boomer play Eunice and Donald.  Eunice and Donald have never played before and….beat Betty and Boomer….beginners luck?

That’s Bill refereeing doesn’t he look thoughtful?

Fred and Marion play Sarah and Blake.

Look at Blake’s form…I guess that’s why he and Sandi won every game in the first tournament. 

Second day and Dick and I beat Dennis and Marilyn.  A hard fought game and I actually made some shots. 

Next day to play Friday.  Wish us luck!

Tuesday afternoon….Hand and Foot card game inside the front office.  We have been playing out in the new palapa but that day it was too windy. 

The beach has really been eroded.

Sunday January 20, 2013

Over the past week or more the weather here in Mazatlan has been quite cold and windy.  The surf has been pounding at night and has made a huge bank of sand where there used to be a gentle slope to the ocean.  Many of the condo complexes south along along our beach have had their walls undermined. 

This is the bank in front of the beach road where we come over from the park to walk and sit.

That tower is just across the street from the Las Jaibas RV park.  Looking north.

Not too bad here……

Bad here and no way to get onto the beach from the condos……How long till the wall caves in?

  This has nothing to do with the beach but….Dennis called me over the other day to look at this stick bug.  It was sitting on the cover on the top of his truck….a really huge one.  They think they are invisible so they don’t move.  Very interesting.

Lunch in Concordia

Thursday Jan. 17, 2013

Every year that we come to Mazatlan there is always time for a road trip and lunch in Concordia.  So….late Thursday morning Eric & I on Big Red and Frank/Sandi along with Dennis & Marilyn in the jeep hit the road.

After winding our way out of Mazatlan south we took the first portion of the new toll road from Villa Union to Mesilias and then west to Concordia.  This new toll road will eventually go all the way to Durango when it is finished.  It is a huge project with massive bridges and tunnels that will open up the truck and traffic route to Mazatlan by providing a safe road for travel.  The road that is used now from Copala to Durango is called the Devil’s Spine and for very good reason.  Not a road for the faint of heart !   So….The old road (free road) from north of Copala to Villa Union will be much quieter when the truck traffic is rerouted onto the toll road.  Next year when the new toll road is open we will take a trip to see the massive bridge that everyone is talking about. 

Concordia fruit and vegetable store.  Neat, clean and pretty like most of Concordia.

Dennis, Frank and Eric.

Sandi and Marilyn ….two wild and crazy gals out on the town!

The huge church in the town square.

Beautiful painted door in the church.

There was some huge event being set up in the town square.  Speakers, bleachers and a stage….who knows for what!

We took a tour through the town …mall where they have their government offices, police station, library and quite a lot of historical information on the walls. 

I wonder if these flowers have anything to do with the big event being set up in the square or….did someone just die.

 

Waiting outside the mall….where is Marilyn?

We have eaten at a small restaurant just outside the mall and the food was very good.  Today, however  we decided to go back to La Graneria a couple of streets over.  We have eaten is this very attractive and popular restaurant in past years and have always enjoyed a very tasty and reasonably priced lunch…today was no exception.

The special included soup of the day, two toasted tortillas (filled with chicken) beans and salad.  Cost 55 pesos or about $4.40….a bargain.  

Wall in the restaurant. 

I peeked in and took a picture of the kitchen.

A huge courtyard behind the restaurant where large gatherings could meet.

Front street outside the restaurant.

 

It was very warm in Concordia….probably 90F.  This little guy was behind a house door on the street and was really objecting to us being on “his street” so …..I took his picture.  The Mexicans are a cold people so this little fellow was wearing a jacket. 

A quick walk back to the square where we were parked and then home.  We took the free road from Concordia back to Villa Union and already it is much quieter.  The trucks must already be using the new stretch of toll road that we came in on.  A much quieter drive. 

All over Mazatlan these murals are being painted on walls, fences etc.  These were new ones on our way back into downtown on a side street in Mazatlan.  Much prettier than graffiti!

A good day!

Margarita party

Every year a local restaurant….Costa Marinera comes to the park to provide Margaritas, appetizer food and a live band to encourage us to come to their restaurant. 

On Wednesday about 4pm they arrived in the park to entertain, serve drinks and feed us. 

Luckily the weather had made a modest improvement and nobody froze to death! 

Big water bottles full of Margaritas to get everyone happy houred up and then the musica started.  No tubas… (yahoo!) and I must admit the band was very good.  I good singer and very nice musica.  I popped up the front for a quick Margarita and a blog opportunity. 

Enjoying the band.

They were serving food with ribs, buns and some sort of shrimp in cream sauce.  It looked the food was was a big hit and everyone enjoyed themselves. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The party continued on for a while after my short visit and a good time was had by all.