Legacy Sailing
Photo Gallery 24
November 2004 Mazatlan, Sinaloa, MX
We left San Carlos about noon and sailed 378 miles south along the mainland coast to Marina Mazatlan timing our arrival for dawn so we could get in the entrance channel before the dredge started working.  After settling into the marina and get reacquainted with folks we met last year we settled in for some work.  In Mazatlan we arranged to have some stainless steel frames made for the cabin trunk windows and a sun shade for the top of the radar arch.  The main reason for the long stay in Mazatlan was gathering the required papers, forms, and photos for our long term visas (FM-3).  Once the forms were filed we had a two week wait for processing before we could return to pick up the new documents.  Naturally at the end of the two weeks we returned to pick up our papers and were told to come back again in three more days as they weren't ready yet.  Heather also arranged with the canvas worker to use our sunshade material to make an additional shade to hang inside the radar arch to block those low angle sunbeams that sometimes blind us in the cabin early and late in the day.
The first night out clouds began to move in but they did provide a beautiful sunset.	We had unsettled weather for most of the passage, including some showers nearby like this one that gave us a beautiful double rainbow.
Thanksgiving came while we were in Mazatlan.  The festivities started with a mass and blessing of fleet.	Next came dinghy races.  There were blindfolded kayak races, a poker run for dinghies of all sorts and other amusements.
The marina has developed a tradition of holding an elaborate Thanksgiving dinner for the gringos.  They actually managed turkey, cranberry, and the like.  It was fun to share with friends.	Cruisers took advantage of the good music to dance.  Dancing on uneven cobblestone surfaces is interesting.  Molly and David from Tumbleweeds are great dancers!
As seems to be common at most celebrations in Mexico there was an elaborate live band playing tunes from the swing era to the present.  Wearing suits and ties in the heat no less!	The music went on into the night and included a conga line and various props.  Here Sylvia, the heart of the marina staff dances with her five year old daughter.
Transport in Mazatlan comes in many forms, the most common is the bus.  Here one of the 'chicken buses' with a selection of destinations on the windshield approaches. 4 pesos-about 35 cents US.	The fancy 8 peso air conditioned busses that serve the gold zone and the major routes downtown can be flagged down like all  buses.  These are new but not so customized  by the drivers as the older ones.
The malecon fronts the beach north of town between Old Town and the Gold Zone.  Here is a pulmonia, a unique open air taxi, driving by.	Looking south from about the mid-point of the malecon along the long white beach towards the headland (with lighthouse) and the old town.
Along the  malecon are a number of sculptures like this group of seals.  There is a giant fisherman's memorial, and a bronze tribute to the pulmonia, as well as deer, beer, and mermaids.	Clouds brought north from the ITCZ by a pineapple express can make for spectacular sunsets like this one seen from Marina Mazatlan.
Directly adjactent to the harbor this condo complex is being constructed.  Amazingly the construction is almost silent as there are no motors and few heavy tools in use.	Construction is mostly with hand tools.  Materials are raise to the top by men hauling on lines in pulleys. No hard hats in evidence and you might note the use of trees as braces for the forms.
We figured we needed a break from work one day so we visited the Mazatlan Aquarium.  Here adults and children lined up to get kissed by a sea lion!!	Although the aquarium is small and primitive by US standards, it was very clean and the animals all seemed quite healthy.  Here a diver holds up a tortoise so guests can see better.
In addition to the water exhibits they also had a botanical garden and an aviary, including a bird show of trained avians.  We had a full slate of birds skating, swinging, and riding about.	As we were walking through one of the city streets to Migracion we heard the bleet of a sheep.  To our surprise we spied the beast on the roof directly overhead!
Updated 11/14/2006