Day Five in Mazatlan - Friday Jan 23 - Centro Mazatlan, Cathedrals and markets

A nice visit from Renaldo, a friend of Diane and Linda’s from last year. He reminds me of my friend Gerry, the guy who helps everyone out. he offered to take us anywhere we wanted to go. he tried to help Diane get the internet guys to come. but they didn't anyway. not yet.
 After lunch Diane and I went downtown by bus, 10 pesos for the air conditioned buses, to the historical centro.  the Juarito centro. The bus went down the malecon and turned up at the end of the beach into a hustle and bustle of cars and people.

The public market which is very large and very busy and very full of a lot of little shops carrying everything from fresh meat on open tables with fly’s to accompany that sight, to Pinatas, fresh food, canned food, clothes and jewelry, souvenirs, spices and  herbs. Everything and anything. We left the market after I got my watch battery changed for 25 pesos and Diane bought some honey. 

after the market we visited two bead shops getting a few more things to make jewelry at home and the fabric shop to get some ribbon for the church.. the systems they use at their stores is very different than from ours. there you find your product they cut it for you and write you up a bill. you take the bill to  the cashier and pay it they give you a ticket which you then go and get your things at a different counter. kind of confusing but now that we have done it once we should be ok the next time.

Then up the busy street about two blocks to the cathedral. Very nice with chandeliers and tiled and carved interiors. Found the electric candle lights and said some hail Mary’s for Shauna and Bill. Walked around the cathedral and picked up a few more postcards and souvenirs. There is a nice park across the street from the cathedral with a large high gazebo. Quite a few local folks out and about around the park.

Took a pulmonia (Pronounced pul-mo-knee-ah) home 100 pesos and got changed and headed to the MI (Mazatlan Inn) for Happy hour. A pulmonia is the mazatlan taxi , an open air golf cart sort of vehicle that goes about 50 km an hour max speed. Very comfortable and you can see almost everything except when the cart that you are in has you seated higher than the driver and then you can't see ahead of you which sometimes is a blessing seeing how they drive down there.

Today was pina coloadas. Tough life. two for the price of one so at 65 pesos or six dollars we each get a drink which is just about right for us. Am now starting to be recognized by the staff, Edwardo is our waiter and he is very good, getting us our popcorn and drinks right away. Sitting there on the chaise chairs by the pool looking up at the clear blue sky with a breeze off of the ocean is very nice and something I think I could get used to. 

There are so many birds flying overhead as we sit and sip our drinks in the warm sea breezes. Pelicans, frigates, buzzards, pigeons, gulls and more. Chatting about this and that, so pleasant.

Stopped off at Mary’s for burgers and fries on the way home.  They don’t have a veggie burger per se but they made me a fried mushroom with cheese and tomato sandwich on a burger bun that was very yummy. 
Stopped by the book store but we missed it again will try again in  few days.
flowers on the way home so many different kinds the air is full of fragrance.(once you get away from the busy roads)

Uploaded and downloaded to Facebook to keep everyone at home entertained and went to bed dreaming sweet dreams of pulmonia's and pina coladas.