Saturday, January 16, 2016

Leisurely January

It's been awhile since I have written.  Life has been moving along at a slow leisurely pace as we reached our mid-winter time here in Mazatlán.  The weather is now maintaining a consistent high 70's with an occasional 80 degree day.  We can go a week without seeing a cloud.  Nights cool down into the 50's so sleeping is perfect.

Our days are filled with Spanish classes, oil and watercolor painting classes, dog walking at the shelter, going to the gym (the pool is too cold to swim now).  Evenings include going to listen to music, concerts at the Opera House, finding new places to eat dinner and hanging out with friends.  Now that we have Shaw (Canadian) cable we can even follow American Idol.

The first of the "Monigotes" appeared along the Malecon.
Yesterday Terri went for a walk along the 4.5 mile Malecon.  They are putting up the 11 new statues in preparation for Carnaval which is the first week of February.  Every year they have a new theme and all new Monigotes to celebrate the theme.  The 30 foot tall figures are made of paper mache and material stretched over frames.  The same artist has designed and constructed them for decades.  I'll do a full blog once they are all up.

Designer tacos at Delerium.
We have found several new restaurants this last month.  New favorites are Delerium and Henry's.  These two places are at opposite ends of the class spectrum.  Delirium is a classy place with amazing flavors, with moderate prices which makes it a bargain.  Henry's is barely a shack on the road out to Cerritos.  Don't bother bringing much money but do bring a big appetite.  Great Mexican food with amazing stuffed potatoes.

Barely a building, but great food at Henry's
The BBQ pork topped baked potato may be life changing. 

Fuzzy photo from the Opera House.
An evening with the Sinaloa Symphony.
We will be going to see "Help" this next week.  The "Beatles" band visits Mazatlán once a year and they get great reviews.  This will be our first time seeing them preform at the Angela Peralta Theatre.

Last night we sat outside and listened to "Winging It" at McCaws in Olas Altas.  Lori Davidson on vocals and guitar was as good as ever.  Rob on the keyboard and the rest of the band round out the group and they are one of our favorite groups in Mazatlán.  It's a great way to spend a Winter evening.  Amazing musicians come spend their Winters here.  We are the fortunate recipients of their music.


It's the middle of Winter but the flowers continue to bloom although the volume and variety are a little less than normal. 


Nice theatre seating at the new luxury theatre at the Galleries.
We went to see the new Stars Wars movie and splurged by going to the fancy new theatre at the Galleries Mall.  Tickets were a little under $5.00 each and the soft leather recliners were very nice.  We did not order food or drink from the waiters but the menu showed reasonable prices.

The chocolate moose cake pictured in the menu almost got me.
Sunset through our sliding glass doors.
It has gotten cool enough that we have slid the doors shut a few evenings.  Most days they stay open 24 hours a day.  Eva likes sleeping on one of the patio chairs during the sunny part of the day.  She is definitely a Mexican mutt, she likes her sun.  (Terri is sitting in Eva's chair as I write. Poor Eva has to sleep beside Terri on the marble floor.  It's dog abuse.)

When we do have clouds it makes for even better sunsets.
Our normal boring cloudless sunset over the Marina.
Life is good as we enjoy our quiet January.  More guests will be arriving in February and March.

Hey sister Sara, hop on a plane and come visit again.  We promise more Sun and good food.


Bonus Photo:
Surfer dude in his chopped VW beetle out at Cerritos Beach.
Who would think a Bug needed to be shorter?

Saturday, January 2, 2016

2015 - Water, Water Everywhere

As I looked through last years photos it was apparent that we like being around water.  A water fall, a river, an ocean or a bay, we seem to gravitate toward water at every turn.

My mom was the same way.  If there was a waterfall, she wanted to see it.  I'm glad I inherited this trait from her.

Here are a few of the ways we were around water in 2015.

Behind a waterfall in Zion National Park.
A small lake hidden in the desert.  A Tarigosi village is built into the cliffs around the lake.
Zion
Winding Colorado River.
I liked my tall skinny shadow at Lake Powell.
I love the sounds of running water.
This time the water was in the form of snow.  Bryce National Park at 9000".
We're underwater in the front of the raft.
That's me screaming like a girl.
A river near McCall, Idaho.

Multnomah Falls, Oregon.
Bridal Vail Falls.

On the water in Vancouver, Canada.
My brother Dave and I underwater in Maui.
Hawaiian waterfall. 
On the backside of breaking surf in Maui.
A blowhole on the Northshore.
More Maui.
Beach walking with Jake and Roseta in Port Orchard, Washington.
Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
A mountain lake in the Sierras, California.
Eva running in the Sea of Cortez.
Water, water everywhere...... it has been a good year in, near, under and around water.

Sunset last night over our harbor at La Marina, Mazatlán.
Life is Good.


Friday, January 1, 2016

2015 - Wild Flowers

So here are more 2015 photos.  This time you get my flower collection from this year.  We miss having a garden of our own, but that hasn't stopped us from finding wild flowers to view.  A side benefit of hiking is a wide selection of colorful wild flowers.


















Thanks for looking at part of my flower collection for 2015.  I may not have a garden but I do find beautiful flowers everywhere we go.

Life is Good.