Turned out to be busy day. Went to Malpica and La Noria

Saturday a.m. the sun is shinning not a cloud in the sky.
Today is a big day for Carnaval so hopefully it stays nice. The crowning of the Queen and a big fireworks display for tonight. So we will stay out of that area and away from the crowds tonight.
Been talking about our trip to home lately. Trying to decide which way to go the shortest or the easiest or the prettiest – I think the price of diesel in the states will kind of determine that. That and getting the satellite fixed – which will be our first stop in Arizona. If it was just the internet I’d say stuff it and stay places that have Internet but it is also the TV…..Arggggg….I’d miss the NASCAR races. Saw yesterdays wreck on the internet. Good going Tony S. Back to going home we figure at the least it will cost us over $1000 in diesel to get home. If prices stay about US$3.88 average. Not counting any extra travel we do in the car. 
Saw a hummingbird flitting around here yesterday – first one I’ve seen in this area. Maybe today we’ll go to Home Depot and see if we can find a feeder. That would be nice.
Yesterday stayed pretty overcast and cool most of the day. For the first time as we drove inland it got cooler than here at the coast. Down as low as 68 in La Noria. And didn't get above 71 or 72 in the campground. And the wind last night was very cool.
Going through Mazatlan on the 15 we had to go through the construction they started a couple of months ago. They are really getting a lot done fast. This is going to be quite an interchange with highways going two directions. It will eventually make driving south on the 15 much easier going through this busy part of Mazatlan.

Stopped at a light I was drawn to this building. Why didn’t they paint the whole building? Did they run out of paint? Want to paint the top a different color? Don’t like the top? The top is new? That’s a seahorse on the left and what looks like a lighthouse on the right.

First we went to Malpica – we were out of those delicious rolls and had to stock up. She doesn’t bake on Saturday so had to go yesterday. Driving into town everything looked so clean – the hard rain washed all the dust off the plants and trees. Visiting with a neighbor. The old cobblestone street and the new satellite TV dish. It’s surprising how many homes have satellite TV – there are two or three different companies that provide it. Including Dish and Direct.

We got to the bakery just as two tourist vans pulled up. Luckily we were in first and got our rolls. The baker really likes Bill and she made sure she got our stuff bagged quickly. I was listening to the tourist guide. One thing I didn’t know before – this tiny bakery makes over 600 rolls and buns a day, every day but Saturday when she is closed. 600 a day! The only person we’ve ever seen helping her is her husband.

From there we went to visit some friends who live just up the road a way towards Concordia. We always take them some of the rolls. Bill was visiting with them and I was watching what was going on around the area. This women made a couple trips up the hill with wood when her husband finally showed up with a load and they took it up together. They gather it in a gully down behind the houses.

And he just decided to cross the street to visit his friend. This is the main road between Mazatlan and Durango and the traffic is heavy and fast. I wondered what would happen if an 18-wheeler happened along as he was crossing.

Later in the day we went to La Noria. It was still cloudy and cool out even there. Going into town we passed this group of women with their new brooms. The truck selling brooms, mops and cleaning supplies had just left.

A little further up the group of men who are always here. Just shooting the breeze.

We were there because Bill had ordered some cow hides that were delivered to Roberto’s place and we had to pick them up. While there Roberto sent Bill across the street to another leather place as they had just received a delivery of hides from Recodo (we were there a couple of weeks ago). Checking out the hides with the owner and his son.  

Yes he bought them. And do they ever stink. Now they are wrapped tight in plastic which I hope keeps the smell in.

By the time we got home this time the sky was clearing. Looking out at the back of the campground.

Another shot of another sunset.

Someone asked if I use a tripod. No I don’t – have never used one. I know it would make some pictures easier to take but I just don’t want to be bothered.  So I get a lot of blurry pictures I just delete. And speaking of blurry pictures. I take a lot of pictures from the car - usually when we are moving - sometimes through the windshield. Also take most of my pictures without flash.[thats why some of them look darker than they should] So I get many, many pictures that have to be discarded. Thank goodness for digital cameras. I'd go broke if they had to be developed.

Off to see what today brings.

Rainy Days and T-shirts

Gloomy Friday morning
Carnaval started with a bang yesterday. Literally with a bang. Lots of thunder and lightening and heavy rain. Talk about raining on someone’s parade! From the amount of beer kiosks around the parade route I doubt if anyone noticed it. Today has a 30% chance of rain too. The temps remain in the 70s though.
We just ran a few necessary errands yesterday – picked up the laundry, got groceries and renewed the Telcel Internet stick. So it’s good to go until April – wish it could work in the US.
I and I watched some interviews from the drivers during Daytona Media Day. Should be a good season this year. Lots of new things going on.

Just some news from around the campground. An Adventure Caravan came in yesterday. Only 10 rigs. In prior years they have always had 20 or more rigs. Don’t know where they came from. Some come from Baja – Some from further south on the main land. What amazes me is how much they charge for the tours and that people pay. 

Wanted to share a picture with you of one of the many mango trees here in the campground.

Every one of the brownish blooms will produce a multitude of mangos.

A close up of one of the blooms. See the little green mango babies. That’s lots of mangos.

I bought a t-shirt for me – with a Carnaval 2012 theme and with a pulmonia (little taxi) on it. Colorful and cute. Someday way in the future I plan on making a quilt out of t-shirts I’ve picked up traveling. Think that will be fun.

We are still killing three to four of those damn bugs a day in here. Don’t know where they hide out to multiply – sure wish we could find the hatchery. When we get home to unload we will have to carefully check everything before we take it in the house so we don’t bring them back in with us. I’ve had the house sprayed a couple of times since we’ve been gone so hopefully there are none there now.

The sun did pop out long enough to give us a so so sunset last night – only lasted for a few minutes.

So far not plans for today - we'll see what the weather brings.

Closed Roads and RAIN!

We went out to breakfast yesterday  morning across the street at the Torres hotel. Always a very good meal and nice atmosphere. The restaurant is right on the beach but has big windows that are kept closed until the day warms up. Bill had an omelet, says it was one of the best he has eaten. Must have been good he sent his compliments and a good sized tip to the chef. While eating we watched a man out in the water fishing. He didn’t catch anything while we were watching.

We had pretty much decided that next year we will stay home for the winter. But while sitting in the hotel’s restaurant having breakfast we got to talking about maybe flying down here for a month and staying in a condo or hotel. Then renting a car if we needed one. At the price of diesel it certainly would be cheaper to fly then drive. And we eat out more than we cook. Wouldn’t have to pay extra for Internet as most hotels provide it. Have to look into it.

After breakfast we dropped the laundry off again – Bill’s idea not mine. But of course I don’t mind it. Then on down the Malecón – more and more preparations for Carnaval. We’ve also been talking about the statues they put up. They are made of paper mache built on a steel frame. Then they were painted with quite a bit of detail. To be fair they are pretty impressive. It is just that we were expecting something more Carnavalish – masks or something.

These gates have been up for a few days but today when we came up on them the street was closed completely going south.

We were detoured along a way we haven’t been before. Isn’t it a little late in the year to be getting rid of your Christmas tree? It was really brown and dry.

I’m posting this picture because of the mirror in it. It is one of those mirrors that help you see oncoming traffic. Well….remember in the last post I mentioned we kind of got off the beaten track in the Alfa a few years ago. One of the problems in turning a very sharp corner was one of these mirrors. Bill told me to check to see if – as he turned – the Alfa was going to clear the mirror. So I stuck my head out the door and closely watched the pole of the mirror – “okay, okay.” I kept saying until CRUNCH – “STOP” to late the top of the Alfa had made contact with the mirror part of the mirror. Oh, Oh, now we were really between a rock – the rock wall on one side of the street – and a hard place – the mirror. Well eventually Bill got us out of there and I will mention that up to last year the mirror was never fixed. This year there is a pole with a small solar panel on it in that place. And the Alfa has never been in that part of town again.

this is a different mirror

This picture is strickly for our youngest son – it’s a “cheese” car. Remember when they were all the vogue in the middle 70s – Don’t remember why we started calling them cheese cars but it has stuck all these years. Years ago memories.

Following our detour route to the end we discovered we were at the entrance to the harbor. Followed a dirt road out as far as it went to watch the boats go by. There’s the freighter, a fishing boat and a tourist boat.

Then we went looking for the tourist boat dock. Maybe when our friends get here we’ll take a sunset cruise – that would be fun. Also found the dock for the little boats that ferry people over to Stone Island – just across the inlet. This was in the parking lot. Probably more comfortable than the seats in the cab. We've seen all kinds of chairs in the back of trucks - including rocking chairs.

Driving down a little further we got a good look at the Baja Ferry it was just unload. A stream of vehicles were coming out of the gates onto the road. From small cars to semis. Going back to Baja the ferry leaves about 5:00 and docks in La Paz the next morning. One of our sons is going to be in Cabo next week and suggested we go over there to see him for a day. Don’t think I’d be comfortable overnight on the ferry going and coming back.

Found this little section of small fishing boats. The truck in the background was being loaded up so guess the fishing was done for the day. Even the pelicans were quiet.

Continuing down along the harbor we found this statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Saw one man go up to it kneel and say a prayer. The arch of flowers are silk. The flower bouquet in front is real.

I took a closer look at it and realized she was holding a net bag full of shrimp. Offering? Fresh? Don’t know. But interesting.

Passed the empty cruise ship docks. What a shame that they have stopped coming here. Although I saw a snippet on line that once company will be coming back in the fall of this year.

So then we headed back towards the Centro Historico – this truck is delivering flats of eggs. With all the topes and rough roads I wonder how many break a trip.

Just got a small shot of this house as we drove by. The entire front of the house looked like this. Hopefully we find it again some day so I can get a good picture of it.

Everytime I see stairs like these leading up to a house I wonder how they manage to get their groceries up there. But then I remember most women only shop for one day or sometimes one meal. But still that is quite a climb. And no rails to hang on to. By the time I got home I'd have to take a nap!

A row of houses – almost every building here shares common walls. Three of the four have been fixed up – one is still a ruin. Wonder how much it would sell for? Then how much would it take to recondition it? I bet that is the expensive part not the buying.

Headed towards home where we did a little more cleaning and reading. In the evening we went to visit a friend that has a little shop in a restaurant. The restaurant is on the beach. Got there in time for sunset but it didn’t look like it was going to be very pretty. Talked to him for awhile…..

WHOA IT’S RAINING NOW – AND HARD – WHERE’D THAT COME FROM?

Then left but as we drove along the shore the sunset began to glow. Pulled over and stopped and took these. Turned out to be beautiful.

So with those beautiful pictures I'll shut up for today. Besides Bill is cooking breakfast and it is almost ready. And it has stopped raining, rained just enough to dirty up the clean windshield and spot the cars.

Little Princesses and Sunsets

Wednesday
After I posted yesterday we decided to take a ride. Set out with no place in mind. And ended up in the Centro Historico again. While heading to the parking lot we passed this car on the street. Those were all love notes for Valentines Day stuck to the car. Some one was sure going to be surprised.

Neither of us had eaten any breakfast so first order of business was lunch at our favorite outdoors restaurant. Had an excellent hamburger and fries and watched lots and chairs being delivered to the restaurants for Carnaval. While eating a family passed by us. The little girl was dressed up in a lavender gown with a tiara on her head. Didn’t get my camera up in time to get a picture. As we were talking about her this little girl and her parents came by. This time the camera was ready. Now I guess we know who buys those beautiful little dresses.

Nothing much else going on in the plaza so after we finished eating I wanted to walk around to find a particular street that I wanted to take pictures of. Right around the corner from the restaurant we saw another little girl in a pretty outfit. Bill asked the mother why everyone was all dressed up. She explained that the kindergarten school had a Carnaval fiesta day.

As we continued walking we passed this parked car. I don’t think I’d want to park my car there. Though the tree has probably been like that for years judging from the sidewalk. But a heavy rain and who knows?

As always the buildings fascinate me. The other day when I was reading Ms. Tioga and George blog George mentioned he was surprised at how modern Guatamala was. And sometimes that is why I post pictures of the buildings. I suspect a lot of people think of Mexico as it is depicted in a lot of old western movies. Lots of huts and falling down adobe shacks. There are amazing buildings here. I don't post many pictures of the real modern ones as they are boring but some of the older ones WOW

A closer look at the sculptures

I knew the street I was looking for was in the neighborhood where we were walking but for the life of me I couldn’t find it. Finally we just gave up and headed back to the car. Bill kept asking me to describe the street I was looking for. I described it as best I could – we see it all the time. Just as we got to the car he said, “Oh, I know which street you mean. Get in I know exactly where it is.” And sure enough he did. It was just down from the area where five years ago we got stuck in a tiny narrow side street in the Alfa. A definite moment to remember. To get out of there we had to unhook the car and move it a block away, back the Alfa up and make a sharp turn down another narrow street the wrong direction. Not one of my better navigating days. (We were only about five miles from where we should have been.) I'm sure my cousin Jeff who was with us remembers it well. Thank goodness it was before I started blogging cause that conversation sure couldn’t be printed. Any way this is the street.

I took several pictures of it. I think it will look nice on canvas someday. I’ve been experimenting and think I have all the printer settings figured out now.

On the way back towards the Malecón I got a picture of this sign. Looks a little familiar – I think someone has been to Las Vegas.

Carnaval starts tomorrow and the city is getting prepared. Some of the beer kiosks going up on the Malecón. I do believe they plan on selling lots and lots of adult beverages.

And a platform either for viewing or performing is being set up in the middle of the street.

We finally heard from our friend in Indiana, he is going to be here in about a week so now we are kind of on hold as we want to go a lot of places after he gets here. So the rest of the day we relaxed. Well I did. Bill washed all the bugs off of Alfie’s windshield. It was so streaked with bug guts it looked terrible when the sun shined through it in the afternoon. And I used the clean windshield to take this picture as the sun was going down. Those are lots and lots of birds in the trees. On the little tree those are not leaves they are birds.

And another picture when the sunset was at its best.

The end of another beautiful day in Paradise.

This morning we went out to breakfast and drove around the harbor.

Until later.....