Pizza and Super Bowl

We went out to the market around sunset last night and it made me remember the time I saw “the green flash.” Yes I really did see it once a year ago; in fact the other three people sitting with me saw it too. We were all astounded as none of us thought it was really true. Came across an article about how it happens. In case you ever wondered. “The green color at sunset is caused by refraction – the bending of the sun’s light. The most common of the green flashes is a dot of emerald green at the top of the sphere just as the sun disappears. It happens quickly and some are more intense then others. They are seen best when humidity is low and the air is cooler than the water. When there are clouds, usually there’s no green flash.” Would love to someday get a movie of one.
Had a quiet Sunday. Bill watched Barcelona play on his laptop. The game ended in a tie 1 – 1 with Messi only making one goal. Only? He has made at least one goal in the last 39 games he has played.
While at the market we got a big take out pizza – okay but not the best either. But had to have pizza to watch the SuperBowl. It was the only thing we could get on Mexican TV here. Very different to watch an American football game broadcast in Spanish. Sounds a whole lot more exciting in Spanish. GGGOOOAAALLL!!!!!  And then the blackout. The extra time sure seemed to turn the 49ers around.
This morning we went out for a bit – again looking in souvenir shops this time in the Golden Zone. I saw these puppets – don’t know how many we bought through the years for our kids – they still look the same.

Bill was talking to the man who owned the shop the puppets were in. He has been in business in the same place for 28 years. I think these parrots have been hanging there for the whole time.

The owner was telling Bill that the businesses in the Golden Zone have really been hurt by the ships not coming in and the North American tourists not coming to Mexico as much any more. Too much bad press in the North American press. 80% of the small businesses there have closed. But with the new mayor everyone is hoping the ships will start coming back – seems a lot of that was political – raising the price for the ships to dock etc.
In another shop I saw this tiny beaded Volkswagen – isn’t it neat?

The proprietor of that shop was telling us about a real Volkswagen that was beaded by two families of Huichol Indians. It was a 1990 VW. It took 2,273,000 beads to cover it. About 9000 hours of work. Here is a web site about it – worth watching the video.
http://blog.autoshopper.com/articles/3241/-34Worlds-First-And-Only-Mexican-Beaded-VW-34-Visits-US-Its-Better-Than-It-Sounds/
Before we left the area we walked down to the beach to check on the para-sailing  I still think I want to try it. But not today….. At least the weather is warming up again and the wind isn’t so strong. Maybe soon…..
On the way home we stopped to look at the construction on the new Mall they are really moving along and it is going to be really big.

I read about a book I want to read – but it’s not available in our library so guess I’ll have to buy it. It is called “A Year In The Merde” by Stephan Clarke. About his experiences in France. Sounds really funny.

Oysters in Mazatlan

Leaving the campground yesterday morning we had to check out the progress on the paint job. Looks pretty good. 

To re-do all the graphic paint on Jennie it would cost about 7000 pesos – US$540. We are not getting her repainted but Bill is thinking about the Alfa if we bring it done here again. We also stopped and paid for another month here – so we won’t be leaving until March 5^th.
We were headed to the used English book store in the Golden Zone. We still had a credit there for some books. Bill got a couple of Randy Wayne White books but I couldn’t remember the author I wanted to read more from. That figures. Interesting place and an interesting man who runs it. And lots and lots of paperback books.
From there we stopped at a Farmacia Moderna to see if they had a book I saw advertised on TV. It is the history of Mazatlan with lots of pictures. They didn’t have it but would call another store and have it delivered right away. So we went looking at all the souvenir stores around there. Bill has come up with another idea for his leather works so he was looking for little vases. Didn’t really find what he was looking for but saw lots of “stuff.” Here are some bathroom sinks. Ceramic and all hand painted. I guess in the right room they might look good. And I’ve seen matching toilets….

And some jugs to hold water – they come with spigots and stands.

But didn’t find what we were really looking for. Must have gone in and out of 20 different places. It’s amazing what people will buy while on vacation. I know I’ve sure taken home stuff I didn’t need – and after I got it home didn’t even like it.
Back to the Farmacia and as we went in a motorcycle pulled up outside and a guy jumped off with the book. By now I’d realized it was probably all in Spanish but felt obligated to buy it anyway. Glad we did – amazing pictures.
Then on to the Malecón to park and look in more souvenir stores. Still nothing. But I noticed something I hadn't realized before. There were oyster fishermen out in the water right next to Valentinos. See the black dot? And all the men sitting on the rocks cleaning oysters.

Here is one with his inner tube and in his wet suit coming in out of the water.

Cleaning off the inner tube.

Cleaning the oysters? Or opening them? A couple people had little tables set up with all kinds of hot sauce – selling them to eat right there.

Some of the bicycles belonging to the oyster men.

We ended up staying home last night instead of going out as we’d planned. Just as well I didn’t need another big restaurant meal. Ended up having a ham and cheese sandwich and Bill had a big salad. 
Today in a few minutes is a soccer game Bill hopes to watch on his laptop. Barcelona is playing. Yesterday Real de Madrid had a game and their star player made a goal FOR THE OTHER TEAM. And they lost 1 - 0. Oops. 
After the game we have to go to the market but no other plans for the day. 

Finally found El Mirador Restaurant

A little discombobulated this morning. I’ve just been surfing the net and not remember to “do my job.”  Got up later than usual – had a weird night. I had a dream that made me scream out loud! – guess it scared the c—p out of Bill too. He was shaking me, I was screaming and in my dream a person was trying to grab me. Couldn’t go back to sleep afterward. We both stayed up reading for a while. And I was for once reading a nice sweet novel before going to sleep.
Here’s a picture of one of the many butterflies around here. There is a big black one to but he won’t sit still long enough to get a picture of him.

The wind has been blowing here lately and the ocean has been kind of rough. Yesterday we how rough – most of the beach in front of the Torres hotel is gone- there is a few feet of sand and then a four foot drop off where the sand has just disappeared. One of the waiters says it will be back in a few weeks.

I discovered a restaurant on-line that we've been trying to find. It sits way up on the hill overlooking the city, ocean and harbor. So yesterday we went serious hunting for it.
The old area is really getting ready for Carnaval – the gates are going up across the roads to keep the party goers in and the non ticket holders out. People who live in the area either leave for the duration or have to have permits to get to their homes. Notice the movie theme.

We’ve been able to see the restaurant from one of the view points along the ocean where we go to watch the sunsets. But these stairs were the only way we could find up. No Way! (this pic was taken from the restaurant looking down.)

So winding around the hills through a nice neighborhood we finally found the restaurant.

It looks out towards the lighthouse hill.

This is one of the cannons they are talking about. Made in 1875.

Looking back towards Centro – the Cathedral area.

Another roof top look. The Cathedral is in the far left side.

Going back down the hill. Boy if he lets go of his barrel he’ll have a heck of a time catching it. No matter what time or where you are you always see people cleaning the streets.

Back in town – this building is/was a beautiful building too bad someone doesn’t buy it and repair it.

And this one too. It was built to be a house but was never occupied. They very top of it with at least three different kinds of tile on it.

Just another colorful street. Each business is painted a different color. In this area the building and be renovated inside to be modern but the exterior has to stay the same - with repairs of course - but the old style cannot change. 

One of those businesses is a dress maker – How pretty is this?

Back at the campground till later when we went out to dinner at the beach. 

Our favorite musician Raphael Rodriquez was playing at the Torres restaurant and it was BBQ night. Bill had BBQ chicken and I had beer battered fish. Excellent meal. And good entertainment. Lots of people getting up to dance. And this waiter – wish the picture was better but you can see the glass on his head. He was dancing with it there. And it wasn’t tied down. Guess his head is shaped like the bottom of the glass. 

His comment was "Don't try this at home." A very pleasant evening. 

Visit to Home Depot in Mazatlan

1/12 of 2013 gone already and we’ve been on the road for 100 days today. Some days it seems longer - other days like we just left home – well not really……
This year there are lots and lots of butterflies around– all sizes and colors. Even here in the campground.
Yesterday we went to Home Depot in search of a spare hose – didn’t get one but looked around a little. A display of machetes with Home Depot orange handles

And the glass blocks with all the different designs on them. We asked at the Home Depot at home and they never heard of them.

Pretty aren't they?
This is ceramic tile – 9 square feet for US$6.00 It looks really nice when down.

Picked up my new/old glasses. Used my old frames ‘cause I like them and got new progressive lenses. My goodness it isn’t foggy out any more. The old ones were so scratched up it was like looking through a haze. About US$75.00.
Then to grocery store and home for the rest of the day. Not even a nice sunset to watch last night. Read, worked on new necklace and watched TV..then left overs for dinner. 
One of the RVers here in the campground is getting his graphics repainted. So far it looks like a very nice job being done. 

Will take a couple pics when it is finished. The Alfa sure needs its graphics redone - maybe next time we bring it down here. 
Not much else going on.