MAZATLAN
HENRY NOWICKI 1 JAN 99
Mazatlan has all the essential ingredients for a rewarding week in the near tropical region of western Mexico: blue Pacific Ocean, extensive beaches, mild sunny weather, interesting terrain, port and marina facilities, old town and newer hotel areas, variety of tourist attractions, Latin culture and the great dollar/peso exchange rate which makes spending time and money an enjoyable pastime.
References:
The references above detail Mazatlan's attractions which include quite a range of tourist interests...something Mazatlan has been nurturing very well since the end of WWII. I arrived by navy ship which was an experience in itself inasmuch as the vessel was too large for the few tugs to handle and therefore anchorage was made offshore just south of El Faro, the high lighthouse illustrated in the opening photo. With the combination of large swells and rather shallow bottom, the tendering from ship to shore became a huge problem but not one that was insurmountable. Regardless, the port visit was pleasant and afforded four days of extensive exploration.
I first visited Mazatlan while driving back from the Mexico City Olympics some twenty-five years ago. I still recall the eight or ten-member mariachi band that entertained two tables of diners at one of the beachside cafes and played song after song in every conceivable style. Even many of their instruments seemed different from anything I had ever seen. But their music and energy was unforgettable.
Today Mazatlan (Ref 1) is an important city with an excellent port that services the so-called Shrimp Capital of the World. That should tip you off to its culinary and sport fishing (Ref 2) potential and a number of my shipmates did indeed bring back an enormous amount of game fish. Another bought 60 pounds of shrimp, at $2/pound, to take back to San Diego and still another brought back a severe case of food poisoning from an unfortunate lobster dinner. The latter incident seemed somewhat ironic as the gentleman had just won the weightlifting championship aboard the vessel.
The visitor will find many attractions (Ref 3) that start with the beaches and watersports. Further explorations will reveal such interesting sites as the huge swimming pools at the El Cid megahotel and the El Cid Marina hotel, the combination aquarium and zoological park just off the waterfront road and the old town center. Accommodations range from $10 on up with quite a selection. Similarly, the dining facilities are many and varied. Transportation is easy as most of the sites are strung along the waterfront for the most part with ready busses and taxis. Fortunately, most everyone that I attempted to engage in conversation seemed to be able to handle English fairly well.
Driving from the US is about 630 miles of easily negotiated road if one departs from Nogales on the Arizona/Mexico border (Ref 4). A train route follows the same path along the Mexican coastline. If one drives south from San Diego down the Baja Peninsula then an 18-hr ferry from La Paz may be used to cross the Gulf of California/Sea of Cortez to Mazatlan (Ref 5)
If five to seven days is not enough time to enjoy the good life then perhaps, at the other extreme, a thought or two of retirement here might furtively arise (Ref 6). As far as Mexico's retirement communities go, it's as good as any and better than most.
Comments are welcome and may be directed to WaikikiWeb@webtv.net for items of mutual interest.
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