48 2da Penualas

This is the Casita - and we are thrilled to tell you that it will be our home when we come back in November. We love the house, the location is perfect(ok the hill can be an effort but we know a short cut!), the view is awesome and the neighbours are wonderful. We already feel such a part of the neighbourhood and we've only been here since the middle of April. By the way, the furniture in the living room is usually white, and stunning, but we had it covered the day I took the pictures as we'd just come back from a wander and as I've said, it's hot and we were dusty!

By the way, we have two bedrooms.......

Hot Hot and Hotter

We have really noticed a difference in the weather in the last week or so - it has become much more humid and the temperatures are rising steadily. It is warmer than normal for this time of the year - the locals have told us this is pay-back for the lovely winter that they had this year. Too funny - we suffer with the cold in the winter and they suffer from the heat in the summer. We are finding that we are starting to spend more time in the water.

We often go to the pool at the top of the Freeman hotel and will more than likely visit a few more hotel pools in the next 3 weeks. We have been welcomed with open arms - it`s pretty quiet around here right now.

We`ve also started to spend more time at the beach. The wonderful thing about Maz is the number of beaches - Stone Island, Playa Norta, Playa Bruja, Cerritos and of course, the beach along the Golden Zone.

Our friends, Brenda and Wayne, have an apartment across the street from the beach at the north end of the Golden Zone and we joined them yesterday for a beach day. We brought our own chairs and refreshments, although we did buy some fruit from a vendor. Wayne and Brenda have an umbrella, something we`ll definitely have for next year.

By the way, I have no idea what on earth they were pointing at - Superman maybe, or it could have been the guy with the fruit!

Abi's Adventurous Day

We woke up this morning and I realized pretty quickly that it was going to another scorcher (the folks checked and every day this week is going to be 32 - with a low of 19). Now, I know I'm not getting much sympathy here but that's pretty darn hot when you wear a fur coat and no shoes to protect your feet from the sizzling pavement. Plus, I realized that the cleaning lady was coming this morning, and apparently I get in the way. Hey, I'm just trying to be sociable. I notice that the sympathy level has dropped a bit more. Sandie says to tell you that Angelica came with the house, and that she still sweeps and dusts, only maybe not as much. Hey, it's a tough life.

Last time Angelica came I kept Sandie and Mike out on the patio, but it is simply too hot to sit out there (and as I said, for some reason they don't want me getting in Angelica's way in the house?!) so I suggested we go to the beach. Sandie and Mike went yesterday, but I had to stay home. They took me once before and it was fun and since I had to do the guard dog thing yesterday ....

We went to Playa Bruja, and it was super. There was no one there so I got to run on the beach without my leash, even went jogging with this really cute Mexican guy who appeared out of nowhere, but then Sandie and Mike sort of got mad at me when I went exploring and didn't come back when they called me, and Sandie put my leash back on. Rats. But I did meet some really cool Mexican crabs but they were shy and didn't hang around long. The fish wasn't too sociable either. Actually, he looked a bit like the one Sandie and Mike had for lunch the other day. Just kidding!!!!!

I generally try to stay pretty tidy while we're out, but really blew it today. To be truthful, it was Sandie's fault. She was wading in the ocean and called to me. Because of the repercussions of my last attempt at faking deafness (the dreaded leash)I of course obeyed instantly and rushed right over, just as a really big wave was coming in. Apparently I'm going to have to have another bath tonight. Sigh.

I'm not too happy with Mike either - if he'd had the lock on the leash I would have stopped about 3 feet short of the water but, ohhhh nooooo, he just had to let me keep running. And they had the nerve to laugh at me, like it was funny or something.

It all ended well though - we went to a great restaurant at the end of the beach and I got a chance to relax and dry off while Sandie and Mike had something to eat. They always bring some water for me and today they even remembered my treats. I've never been to an 'inside' restaurant, but Sandie and Mike often take me with them if it's an 'open air' place. I really liked this place. Sandie and Mike said the view was stunning and the restaurant itself was really pretty and spotlessly clean - they even had a table at the entrance way with antiseptic hand soap for people to use. Wonder if they have it all the time, or if it's for the flu that no one talks about anymore? I was a bit worried that they were going to wash my feet like they do after my walks at home, but they let me off the hook. Could have been because of all the sand between my toes.

Actually, I liked it because the floor was nice and cool - and dry!

I love Mexico!

Palapa Dining

A couple of days ago we decided that we were due for another fish feed at the beach so headed off to Loco Lupe's Palapa on Playa Norta. I continue to amaze myself because I really was looking forward to another grilled fish. Mandy (a new fiend from Sausalito, Ca) and I were just disgusted when Mike and Don (her husband) ate one the day we went to Stone Island with them and here it is, 6 weeks later, and I'm the one suggesting that's what we order. Red Snapper is my favourite.

I do, however, completely draw the line at octopus - that is simply never ever going to happen!

The kids were from a large family group and they're waiting for their coconuts. Check out the machete - we checked to see if he still had all his fingers. He did.

Iguanas, again

Yesterday as Mike was relaxing on the patio he noticed someone giving us the once over from the house across the street. The picture hasn't been adjusted - he really was that green.

And the fog rolled in

Every day in Mazatlan, so far, has been brilliantly clear and sunny, but a few days ago we woke up to this. It didn't last for long and by 9 a.m. the sun was shining again, as usual.

Pictures - The Hood

These are just some photos of the `Hood`around Azueta Street. Bear in mind, some of the buildings look positively ancient, and terribly poor and run down. Mexicans quite often don`t care about the outside of their homes, just what`s on the interior. Some of these houses are lovely when you peek inside the windows or through the interior courtyards. Someday soon, however, I will send alongs pictures of some homes where as much attention has been paid to the exterior as well as the interior.