Chaos Leaves Town

We, Ismael, Rosita and I, went out for dinner last evening around 6 pm. This was the dinner I wanted to buy for Ismael and his wife since they have been so nice and have given me lots of free time or services here at the park. Plus Ismael has driven me all over town several times and all the way down to Teacapan last week. Of course I kind of repaid that by being the local computer guru around here, and helped Ismael install a new repeater for the WiFi.

They choose the restaurant and it is right downtown in old Mazatlan. There are narrow streets, very old buildings, lots of street activity including a street discussion of a book. There were about 70 people listening intently to a women talk about a new book that had just been published. The area was a grand plaza that had lots of booths set up selling books. I’ve never seen that in the states.

We sat outside since the weather was so pleasant. I ordered a weird soup kind of thing that came in a very hot & huge stone bowl. Had beef, cactus chunks, and vegetables. Couple dabs of goat cheese and some diced peppers too. It was excellent and very spicy. There was so much that I brought a large doggie tray home with me.

Then we wandered around the area, checked out the bookseller booths, and then went into the old opera house. They were having a ballet and the tickets were only $60 pesos but I couldn’t talk them into going. I’m not a big fan either but I did want to see the inside of that building. It’s a couple of hundred years old, very ornate, and typically Mexican. I took some pictures out in front of a wedding couple.

Ismael and his wife Rosa (Rosita):

A shot while on the street of one of many gardens that seem to be everywhere:

Don’t know what this is:

Here’s where we had dinner:

A close up shot, I didn’t get the feeling that they were mad at each other but I don’t know why she looks unhappy with Ismeal:

Here’s the ‘booksellers row’:

Here I am enjoying the exotic surrondings and company:

As we approached the Opera House:

One happy couple, outside the Opera House:

Wow, it’s been several minutes and they are still happy with each other:

I wandered down to the north of the Golden Zone to look at that boat I found on the web. It’s not exactly what I hoped for but the price is right. What I found is that it doesn’t appear to be a 36 footer like the ad states. It seems shorter than that. Allot less room then I expected, I’ve been on several 35 footers and this didn’t feel like one, not really anywhere to put my electronics shop or tools. The dealer told me he thought it was a 30 footer and a printed estimate they handed me after the tour shows it as a 26 footer. Makes a big difference in the price.

But, the price isn’t bad…$13,000 USD and then around $7,000 to get her seaworthy. And it has radar (most don’t at this age). It needs new rigging, wiring upgraded, painting and the bottom cleaned and checked for voids or rot in the plastic.

While I was waiting, I looked around, there are some of these for sale, this club doesn’t allow any ‘For Sale’ signs on the boats.

This trimaran is for sale for $160,000USD. To rich and ugly for me:

Here’s a view of boats from the dingy, just ’cause:

And the fantail of the boat:

The cockpit:

The dinette:

The galley:

The bow:

Again:

The tail:

I wanted to see the 7 RV parks in Teacapan so Ismael and I drove down in his car to save wear and tear on my rig, plus the fuel would be less expensive for the trip down and back. We went around 300 kilometers total. I got a few shots of the road side and some towns we went through but mostly I was interested in the RV Parks. I’m looking for a remote place to spend a few weeks, away from the big city (Mazatlan).

There’s one fairly big town we passed that has an arch at the entrance and another at the exit. They were built in 1655. And the town was probably 100 years old before they could afford to go to that much trouble. There’s an old church steeple you can see from the hiway that looks that old. We didn’t stop. Maybe next time I go down there I’ll try to get into the town (the hiway bypasses it) and get some pictures.

Just a road side hacienda that seemed more interesting at the time I took the picture:

This is the ‘rio’ that Ismael tells me is full of water most of the year. I tell him it’s not a river, it’s an arroyo. He insists it is a rio.

After about an hour of driving, a little of the countryside near the ocean, looking east:

This first park we stopped at, Rancho Los Angles, is remote, it’s the farthest park (8 miles) from Teacapan, has most all the amenities except WiFi. There is a resturant here. The road is a little rough and during the rainy season it floods, but I think most rigs could make it OK if they take it slowly. The weather was cool, around 75F, with a constant breeze off the ocean. I could stay here for weeks, if I could get my satellite internet working.

This is the mile long driveway into the park:

And the park itself:

This next park is just down the road from LA, called Villas Onac, has the same poor road into the park. But then it has WiFi. It’s big downfall is that it has no character. It has the appearance of being a boring place to stay.

Down south a few miles more is La Tambora RV Park. It appears this place hasn’t had anything done to it for years. The wiring is very old, you would be lucky to get even 15 amps here, which means you probably could not run your AC if there are more then two or three RVs in the park. It does have a mostly paved road going to the park. Rustic is too kind of a word:

This next one was my favorite place out of all the parks in this area. They are in the process of remodeling the outbuildings so the restroom is new, there is a new office going up, the place has loads of character, there is a nice swimming pool, restaurant, the rates are low, the amenities fine. And it’s the closest to town. An easy walk or bike ride. The beach is excellent, the park appears to be in a little cove, there’s plenty of activity, the cocos forest behind the RV park is pleasant so it is an area that could hold your interest for weeks. When I come back to this part of Mexico next fall, I think I’ll stay here for a few weeks.

Here’s a few shots of Teacapan:

The town square:

Here’s Ismael and Rosita back at the office at La Posta RV Park:

Last evening I wandered out of the RV park down the road (West) toward The Golden Zone. It’s about 2 blocks from here and I wanted to visit a neat looking place right on the beach that I’d passed by several times but curiously never really noticed until a day or so ago.

It’s a restaurant in one section and a club in the other. There might be a hotel there too but I didn’t notice that. The building is kinda interesting with long stairways and hallways and empty or dark rooms off of corridors.

I went into the dinning area first. It has a beautiful grand piano in the foray and when I was there a lounge singer. Of course this is the off season so the place was nearly deserted. I check out the prices, around $35 per person for a dinner & drinks, so this is a pretty spendy and trendy place. There were several waiters standing around in their tucs waiting.

Here’s a view of the sunset from the veranda. Sure, there are several tables out here and out of respect for the diners, I didn’t take any flash shots of them while they were eating. The other portion of the building is hanging there on the cliff. That’s were the club is. A bar and dance floor. With several smaller areas (roped off while I was there) for different bands.

Here’s a view south from the veranda. It looks towards the ‘old town’ of Mazatlan. The beach here use to be where all the fishermen parked their boats. Since Mazatlan turned into a tourist destination over 100 years ago that all moved away over the years. Now it’s used for swimming and tanning.

One more shot of the sunset:

Or maybe two: