A Place For People Watching

Plaza Machado in Mazatlán, Mexico.  

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Sorry, no post on this day.
2018: Korean Fire Meat
2017: Passing Through
2016: Man With A Plan
2015: Don't Try This At Home
2014: This Place Is For The Birds
2013: Get Your Travel On
2012: An Art Deco Tower In The Panhandle
2011: Traffic Might Just Have Saved My Life
2010: Joining The Ranks
2009: The Daily Rant Goes Farther East Than Ever Before
2008: What He Does When I’m Sleeping
2007: Now You Don’t Have To Go To The Ghetto To Get Crack
2006: Satchel Pitches A Great Question
2005: A Night In Yakima

Surf's Up!

A surfboard display in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Sorry, no post on this day.
2018: It's A Slow Day, Norm
2017: Pizza On The Q
2016: DQ Cat 

2015: Happy Father's Day!
2014: WARNING: Very Low Flying Aircraft

2013: Stop. Look. Read.
2012: You Won’t Miss Me Coming On This Bike

2011: An Extra Large Bargain

2010: Maybe You Can Learn A Little Something From A Few Truck Drivers

2009: The Fathers In Our Lives, Our Fathers Who Art In Heaven And The Father Of Our Country

2008: Who The Hell Left The Pool Float In The Sea Of Tranquility??

2007: Lure Me In

2006: Sometimes The Reasons NOT To Have Children Are So Very Clear

2005: U-Ta-Dah!!

A Holy Gathering Place

 

This is the Catedral Basílica de la Inmaculada Concepción located in the Plazuela República in the historical center of Mazatlán, Mexico.

Work on the basilica started in 1856 and was completed in 1899.

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Sorry, no post on this day.
2018: Cloudy Snake
2017: Hello From The Other Side
2016: Stick It To 'Em
2015: Links To Food Dominate This Post
2014: 30 Miles To Spokane
2013: Truck And Sky
2012: Not Despicable At All
2011: Slice Of Summer
2010: Time Suck
2009: The Spirit Of Sharing
2008: Sailor Boy Friday
2007: Cozy Dining
2006: It’s All About Me
2005: Alien Land    

Too Much Is Barely Enough

 

This is Notes, the whisky-tasting area on the Holland America cruise ship we took to the Mexican Riviera.

I'm not a whisky drinker but I did stop to view the selection - I love the shapes and colors and designs of the bottles.  The setup was very pleasing to the eye.

Here's a fun fact:  Whisky (with no 'e') refers to Scottish, Canadian, or Japanese grain spirits.  Whiskey (with an 'e') refers to grain spirits distilled in Ireland and the United States.

"Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough"

~ Mark Twain

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Sorry, no post on this day.
2018: A Reason To Go Around The Bend
2017: Resting In The Open Range
2016: Dinner On A Stick
2015: The Good Deeds Of Summer
2014: The Mountain Was Out
2013: Small Town Bullshit. Big City Nothing.
2012: She’s Political Coming And Going And Doesn’t Even Know It
2011: Old As She Was, She Still Missed Her Daddy Sometimes
2010: Crafty Little Bugger
2009: Beauty For A Buck
2008: What My Thoughts Sound Like When Left Uncensored And Ultimately, Formed Into Words
2007: New York Style
2006: I.H.O.P.G.
2005: Sorry, no post on this day.

Land's End

 

Located at the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula you will find the Arch of Cabo San Lucas.  We sailed around it on our way into the inner harbor area of Cabo.  Very pretty!

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Trucks Bring It To Them, They Bring It To Us
2018: Cloud Cover
2017: Vintage Sip
2016: Amateur Arborists
2015: Sea Day
2014: Art Deco Color
2013: Formed Around A Grain Of Sand
2012: Pinwheels, Cartwheels, What’s The Difference?
2011: Maybe You Left It On Mars
2010: The Art Of A French Cooking Friend
2009: Eddie Supervises Friday
2008: Squeaky Clean
2007: Rushing No More
2006: My Constant Gardner
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Death Defying Entertainment

 

Along the Malecón in Mazatlán, Mexico, you can shop, dine, stroll (the Malecón is 13 miles long - one of the longest seafront walkways in the world!), go to the beach, and see their famous cliff divers.

The Clavadistas (divers) dive from a pedestal that’s about fifty feet above the water. 

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Slow Skate Slow Jam
2018: Running Through Hollywood In The Desert
2017: Demo Day
2016: What? This Is Perfectly Normal.
2015: Inside The Walls
2014: What A Difference A Day Makes
2013: The Inner Path To The Outer Banks
2012: The Greatest Love Of All
2011: Step It Up
2010: It May Not Be EVERY Day You Learn Something New, But It’s Certainly True Of THIS Day
2009: Dreams Of Do-It-Yourself Dolloping Come True
2008: Rest In Peace Sweet Green Eyed Beauty
2007: George And Ira
2006: Zip It Up!
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Peace Run

 

A statue of spiritual leader Sri Chinmoy stands along the waterfront of Mazatlán, Mexico.  The statue depicts him holding the World Harmony Run torch and was erected in 2009.

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: A Parade Of Light For The Year Of The Pig
2018: Three Hippie Chicks And Me
2017: The Fanciest Digs In Town
2016: Moon Rising
2015: Almost There
2014: Winter Water Running Through Watertown
2013: The Pretty Pink Sailor
2012: Many Thanks To Those Of You Who Come To Peer Through My Window
2011: And I Thought My Feet Were Big!
2010: ABC. Easy As 123. As Simple As Do Re Mi, ABC, 123, Baby You And Me
2009: Under The Black Palm Tree
2008: The Zoo In Stateroom 7377
2007: Pillars
2006: Fiori Di Como
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Feather Dancer

             

A dancer in Plazuela Machado, located in the heart of the Historic Old Town of Mazatlán.

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Discover The Magic
2018: Garlic Is Life
2017: The Queen Of Copper's King
2016: Working The Land
2015: Pre-Columbian Toothlace
2014: Who Needs Sochi? We've Got Watertown.
2013: On The Brink Of A Duel
2012: Cheap And Accessible
2011: What’s In A Name?
2010: Missing The Day
2009: Shameless Self Promotion
2008: Dwarfed By A Behemoth Of The Sea
2007: Ditched
2006: Hudson River Solitude
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Wandering The Place Of Deer

Walking the streets of the Centro Histórico in Old Mazatlán, Mexico.  

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: An Icon Of The Old South
2018: Free Spirits
2017: May Your Guiding Light Be Strong
2016: Rock The Moc
2015: Hustle And Bustle In Ancient Guatemala
2014: The Flakes Got Up Early And Stayed All Day
2013: Headed For A Slow Boat To China
2012: A Roaring Forties Tasmanian Devil Of A Blue
2011: Waiter! There’s A Beer In My Soup!
2010: I’d Rather Go Naked Than Wear Wolf
2009: Eddie Getting His Licks Friday
2008: The Place Is In Ruins
2007: Winter Shadows
2006: The Angels Of The New York D.O.T.
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Lifeboat

 

One of the lifeboats on the MS Koningsdam, the Holland America cruise ship we took to Mexico.

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Invoke His Name To Find Things Lost Or Stolen
2018: Scraggly Winter Tree
2017: Finding Money In The Mule Mountains
2016: The Sounds Of The Desert
2015: The Ancient And Mysterious
2014: The New Rest Area
2013: Sidestepping Nemo Wasn't All That Hard
2012: Fun, Fresh, Fabulous Little Neighborhood
2011: What Do You Get When The Daily Rant Meets The Plum Trucker? A Plum Crush!
2010: Industrial Morning
2009: Sunset On Venice
2008: Knots And Nautical Miles
2007: What Is The World Coming To When The Girls Next Door Think They Are Fat??
2006: T.T.D.L.I.T.H.A.T.I.F.
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Water That Saved The Life Of A Princess

My mother recently bought a new fridge.  You'd think she has five people living with her for all the bitching she does about the size of her current one.

"It's just too small," she said.

"Too small for what, Mom?  You're one person," I said.

"Well, I just can't get in there.  I have to move things around too much to find anything."

If you've ever seen the inside of my mother's refrigerator, you'd smack your forehead. She's got enough lettuce to feed all the rabbits in North America, flavored water, loaves (as in more than one) of bread, leftovers, eggs, fruit, yogurt.  My grandmother used to buy the little half-dozen container of eggs for her and my grandfather.  My mother buys 18 eggs at a time.  What the hell??

She just wouldn't hear of "making do" with the fridge she had so we made a trip to Sears and she bought a new one.  Side-by-side doors, vegetable crisper, water and ice on the door.  She loves it.  LOVES.  Like, actually talks about how in love she is with her fridge.  

Weird.

Anyway, she was deciding on what to do with the old fridge when my brother piped up and said he wanted it.

And, as usual, he turned it into something amazing.  In true Carpenter Avenue Classics style, he added a little handcrafting and a smidge of automotive art to what was once a plain 'ol Kenmore, making it a unique place for chilling.

In addition to the car door, which includes a window and the handle to get into the fridge, the vintage sign used for the front of the fridge depicts a Mexican brand of sparkling mineral water called Topo Chico.

I'd never heard of Topo Chico before my brother made this fridge.  Topo Chico ("Little Mole") is a brand of sparkling mineral water sourced and bottled in Monterrey, Mexico.  The product has been bottled since 1895 and is sold in Northern Mexico and all of the United States.

Apparently, it's pretty legendary.  Topo Chico has been written about in Thrillist, The Kitchn and The New York Times.

According to the Topo Chico website:

There was a beautiful Aztec princess who suffered a terrible disease, so strange that none of her father’s doctors, Moctezuma I Ilhuicamina, successor in 1440 of the King Itzcoatl had been able to cure.

Desperate, the King turned to the older priests in the kingdom to find a cure for his beautiful daughter. They told him that according to the timeless stories of travelers, in a far away northern land, there were strange and hidden waters which flowed at high temperatures, waters in which one only needed to bathe in or drink from to regain vigor, joy, strength, and refreshmennt.

Encouraged by this news, Moctezuma I ordered an immediate expedition to take his daughter to this amazing place. After traveling long and rugged roads, the expedition and the Princess reached a fertile valley flanked by mountains. To the east, they saw a mountain with the form of woman’s face (now “Cerro de la Silla”) and also found a mole-shaped hill, from whose slopes flowed the prodigal waters.

After spending some time there, taking baths and drinking from the water, the daughter of Moctezuma I, his priests and chiefs returned to the Anahuac lands optimistic, strong, happy and refreshed. The news about the recovery of the Princess spread throughout the kingdom and has passed from generation to generation up until modern times.

Water from a mystical spring?  I'm going to need to try this stuff.

In the meantime, if you're interested in buying this refrigerator to store your Topo Chico in, let me know.

I've got a connection at Carpenter Avenue Classics.  Wink-wink.

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2016: A Few Blocks From Fort Apache
2015: Única…Original
2014: Living The Examined Life
2013: Trucking Like We're On Fire

2012: Looking For A Coffee Fix
2011: Container Port, You Are No Friend Of Mine
2010: Encased In Plastic
2009: No Lifeguard On Duty
2008: Palm Sketches
2007: You Know Who You Are
2006: I Fear The Family
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Where The Sierra Madre del Sur Mountains Meet The Pacific

Port of call:  Huatulco, Mexico.  Located on the Pacific Coast in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, the area is known for its nine bays, the Bahías de Huatulco.  Our excursion in this port was a short walk into town, then a relaxing ride along the coast in a 44-foot cutter sloop sailboat, a swim at a nearby beach cove, and then back to the boat.

We were docked next to a U.S. Coast Guard ship.  That's Eddie there on the dock between the boats. 

 From the beach, the cruise ship dwarfed the U.S. Coast Guard boat.

This is the beach area right in front of the cruise ship dock.  We did not swim here and I'm always suspect of anyone who does.  Why would you want to swim in water so close to wear giant cruise ships dock?  I don't know, seems icky to me.

 This area, like many other towns we visited, had an abundant supply of bougainvillea.  

Here's one of the buildings on the main drag with shops selling tourist stuff - shirts, jewelry, tote bags, beach gear.

More stores lining the main drag, with girls as young as six years old selling wooden toys, bookmarks, and fans to tourists passing by.

A tienda on the way to the town square with a little cafe upstairs (on the right, with the blue umbrella).

Part of the town square area.

 A local maintenance crew member sweeping with a hand-crafted broom.

Right behind the main row of shops, in front of the condos and residences on the hillside, was the inner harbor.  This is where our sailboat departed from.

And here's a pelican and a few birds we saw bobbing in the water as we sailed off to tour the bays and beaches.

I liked Huatulco.  The beach areas we visited - not the one by the cruise ship - were really beautiful.  I think I'd go back.

Although, if we did ever visit again, I think we'd be staying here.  



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2014: A Spontaneous Slumber Party And An Italian Feast To Go
2013: Bright Spot On The Mountain
2012: Thinking About Adding A Few More Wheels To The Rig
2011: Cooled By The Ocean
2010: Oh, Mother!
2009: Eddie Adds Culture To His Day
2008: One Armed Bandit
2007: 614
2006: Having A Good Reason
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Two If By Sea

After we stopped in Ensenada, Mexico we went back to San Diego for a day and then started the second half of the cruise.  We weren't aware when we booked the 32 days, but it was two cruises put together, something they called a Collector's Voyage.  So after the 18-day round-trip to Hawaii, we dropped off about 1,000 passengers, picked up new ones, and headed down the Mexican coast.  Our first stop was Puerto Vallarta.

The excursion we chose for this port was called Two If By Sea - the tour was booked through the cruise line but carried out by Vallarta Adventures.  It would take us from Puerto Vallarta, along the shore of Bahía de Banderas (Bay of Flags), which is the seventh largest bay in the world, to secluded Majahuitas Cove for a little snorkeling, and then on to the tiny fishing village of Yelapa.  

The catamaran pulled up to the dock to let us off for our afternoon in this "tropical paradise only accessible by boat".

We were hiking to a waterfall.  Who am I?  Hiking??  In a Mexican jungle?  In the heat?  

The path went through the town, steep in some parts - we were walking to a waterfall after all - passing homes and businesses along the way.  

Here is one of them, the community store.

Some people were selling jewelry, sarongs, and pottery laid out on tables along the path.  We were being rushed to the waterfall, so there wasn't really time to stop and buy.  Not that I needed any of this stuff - I just looked, smiled, and moved on.    

We finally made it to the waterfall.  It wasn't large, but it was at the very top, where the path ended.  There were a few shacks selling food and drinks - we didn't partake - but several people got in to take pictures under the falling water.

Ed braved the very cold water so I could get this shot of him.  He wasn't under for long but he did say the water falling on him wasn't as cold as what he was standing in.  

On the way back down the hill, we took a different path, past a small school, people riding burros, a horse hanging out watching everyone file by.

The area was poor, many of the homes didn't have real doors on them and looks like shacks.  But a few of them looked like they were clearly owned by non-Mexicans, as they were a little nicer and more fixed up than the rest.  This one has a colorful metal door and tiled steps.   

From the top of the hill there was a clearing where the large beach came into view.  There were boats moored in the harbor and people lounging on the beach.  It was pretty, and secluded, and I can see why people would come here - likely because it's cheap and there's absolutely nothing to distract you from relaxing - but I don't think it's something I would be able to endure for any length of time.  Although, I did see a sign on the beach for wifi.  

The village is 45 minutes from Puerto Vallarta, by boat.  We were told there was a road, but it goes through the jungle and takes hours to get there from town.  The boat ride was quicker and scenic.

In this photo you'll see the water taxi and what seemed to be rental properties on the hillside.  Many of them had signs with rental company names, websites, and phone numbers.  And most of them were pretty cheap when I did a little research.

Before we left, we spent some time on the beach sipping tropical drinks.  We also ran into a guy with an iguana.  Always a treat.

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2014: Beauty And The Bleak
2013: Don't Even Ask
2012: Click Mouse, Make Money
2011: Buttons Beware. There’s Someone Cuter In Town!
2010: Eddie Dials Up The Lunch Order
2009: Trucking Superhere And Sidekick
2008: I’m Just A Goy In Love With A Boy
2007: When Pork Goes Pornographic
2006: Now Where Did I Put Those Underwear??
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Birthday At The Blowhole

We spent Ed's birthday in Ensenada, Mexico.  It wasn't a very exciting place, a required stop for the cruise ship to make before coming back to the United States, but it wasn't bad.

We had intended to just walk around but when we arrived in town were approached by a tour of the famous La Bufadora that was cheaper than the cruise ship excursion - $15 compared to $50 per person.  Ed, Steve, and I decided it was worth it.  The drive was interesting - very poor people living along a beautiful coastline.

We saw the blowhole - I didn't get any decent pictures - and the boys ate Almejas Gratinadas.  Then we strolled through the row of shops selling cheap Mexican trinkets.

From what we'd heard from other cruisers, that's about all there is to do.

And after we got back on the ship, we didn't have to hear the word "blowhole" anymore.



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2014: Dreaming Of Blue Skies And Swaying Palms
2013: They Never Ask If You Have Invisible Ink
2012: I Didn’t Break A Leg, So I Guess I Can’t Regret Doing It
2011: Why Couldn’t It Have Been The Canola??
2010: I Like To Call Him The Kite Master
2009: Talk About Making Good Use Of Your Time
2008: Don’t Three Feet Equal One Yard?
2007: New And Improved
2006: Maybe I Don’t Need To Know Everything
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005! 

Tied Off

Docked in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.



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2014: Seek And Ye Shall Find
2013: Frantically Trying To Get Back To Indonesia
2012: I’d Like Some Snow For Dessert
2011: Getting A Little Carried Away
2010: On A Need To Know Basis
2009: Something Has Gone Terribly Wrong
2008: Flying Into The Sun
2007: Riding The Rails
2006: Keeping Me Quiet With A Chocolate Snap
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Waiting For Turistas

An inner harbor area in Huatulco, Mexico.



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2014: The Still Before The Storm
2013: Sizzle, Drizzle, And Pour
2012: Dreams Explored Over Dinner
2011: I’m In Love And It’s Not Even Valentine’s Day Yet
2010: Eddie As Fisherman Friday
2009: Birds And Barbells On Muscle Beach
2008: A Girl On The Shores Of Cozumel
2007: I’m Not Exactly Sure What You’re Proposing Here
2006: The Blizzard Of 2006
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!