Parades

Mexicans love parades and so do I!

We've seen quite a few since we arrived in November. There was the big one, of course, on Revolution Day, but also many smaller ones. One of my favourites was the baseball team, about 20 or 30 little boys, marching down Aquiles Serdan on a Saturday afternoon. They were preceeded by 2 police cars, sirens blaring and were followed by their proud parents. There was a car blaring banda music (what else?) and several more police cars in the rear. Everyone stopped what they were doing to watch and cheer the boys on. It was priceless.

The first parade of Carnaval was on Sunday, going North from the Fisherman's Monument to Valentinos, the start of the Golden Zone. On Tuesday the parade will march again, going the other direction, heading south to Olas Altas (our part of town).

The parade is actually in 3 sections. The first part was the Pacifico pre-parade, and the second was the sponsor parade. The third, and final part was the official Carnaval parade.

We had been invited to watch the parade from the apartment balcony of friends who have a place right along the route, so once again, we had a perfect view of the festivities. We have so many nice friends! Just before the parade started several of us decided to improve the view even more by dashing down to the street and standing right in front of one of the beer tents! We were close enough to reach out and touch the participants.

We were also in the perfect position to catch the many items that were tossed to the crowd and came home with quite a haul - T-Shirts, CD's, water bottles, bags of tortilla chips, strings of beads, a lighter, and also the odd package or two of condoms. Hey, it's Carnaval, guess folks should be prepared for everything!!

The cab dropped us off on Av. Insurgentes, and as we walked up to Av. Del Mar (the Malecon) we were able to check out the vendors



and also the 'street' food. Yummy.



Of course, there was also food at the apartment.



We weren't the only ones having a picnic.



We've simply got to stop eating!!

The view was stunning. This was looking north



and this was south. Our casita is on the other side of the hill with the towers on the top (Ice Box Hill).



And then there was the parade!!

















Tonight we're going to pass on all the food and just watch the parade, again.

WOW!!

We're well into Carnaval now. We were a little surprised on Friday evening when we wandered down to the Malecon to check things out - there were not as many people as we expected and everything seemed a little low key. In retrospect we realize that things were happening in other parts of the city, and we were a bit early for the Malecon. Nothing starts til much later - and then the party continues til 3:30 a.m.

However, Saturday night was a different story. We set out around 8 p.m., picked up friends on the way, and headed over to Lookout Hill to watch the fireworks. The house was packed, and we know why! The view was magnificent, one of the best places in the city to watch the fireworks. We've decided that hosting the annual fire works party should become part of the rental agreement!!



The show is called 'Combate Naval' and the ship to shore battle fought in fireworks commemorates the Battle of Mazatlan, fought in 1864, when a small local force repelled troops from the invading French warship. The fireworks display was astounding. It started around 11 p.m., and ran for a least 45 minutes. It was breathtaking. It's difficult to take pictures at night, and the ones we did take really don't do justice to the display. This short mini-movie turned out rather well, however. Just hit the arrow on the left-hand side, sit back and enjoy. We certainly did. We noticed that the fire works shot from the ship were not nearly as large, or as dramatic, as those that came from the shore!



The four of us headed back to 'our hill' after the show was over, but decided to walk along Olas Altas to check things out. The streets were thronged with people, the bandstands were all pounding out music, and there were vendors everywhere.



It's amazing how enterprising the people are right now - homes along the side streets have t-shirts for sale hanging in the windows and garages have been turned into restaurants.

Our favourite spot by far was the garage with 3 porta-potties!!

Photos

I was scrolling though the photographs that we've taken since we arrived and realize that there are hundreds of them. Today I think I'll let you browse along with me.

The sky in the early evening




The fountain at La Siesta Hotel



A favourite house




Restorations in progress





Our street, 2da Penuales




Smiling faces



Hard at work



Fishing Boats



Oysters



Fisherman's Monument



Water and Sand




Enjoy your day!

Campbell's Cream of Poblano Soup

Okay, I'll tell you right now. Don't bother looking for this soup at Safeway! I googled Campbell's Soup recipes, and apparently it doesn't exist.

However, we have found it. At Mega. And we invented dinner!

We had company from home a few weeks ago, and they discovered, and loved, the Chicken in Poblano Sauce served at one of our favourite restaurants. We wanted them to have the 'full Mexican experience' so of course we took them grocery shopping, to the Market and also to Mega, because we love the Market but there are just times when you need a really big grocery store. While we were cruising the aisles at Mega, Ann discovered the soup and decided to take a can to Canada to experiment with.

I picked up a can this week, just couldn't resist.

We have a lot planned for the next week and we decided that perhaps we should just stay home tonight and conserve our energy. It seemed like the perfect night to 'invent'.

Michael and I love to cook, and not to toot our horns or anything, we are pretty good at it. I made sure when we came down in November we brought the important ingredients I was afraid we wouldn't find here - Raspberry Vinegar for the best ever salad dressing (thanks to Christie), lemon juice (of course), and various and sundry herbs and spices. We've grown our own basil, oregano and rosemary and have learned to make-do with dried thyme (sigh).

But there are times when you just feel like taking it easy, or experimenting. Tonight seemed to be one of those evenings.

So, I made Chicken with Poblano Sauce (ala Sandie).

I roasted a Poblano pepper and a couple of cloves of garlic. After they were done, the peppers were peeled and the garlic was smashed (very theraputic, by the way). The chicken breasts were browned with just a few sliced onions, then the garlic and peppers were added, with corn niblets. Corn and poblano peppers just seem to go together. The secret ingredient was added (that would be the soup!) and everything just simmered away until we were ready to eat.

It wasn't the same as Manuelo's Poblano Chicken, but it was pretty darned good!

Thank you, Mr. Campbell.

CARNAVAL!!!!!

Well, it's here, the event we've all been waiting for. Carnaval is a 6 day celebration, held every year just before Ash Wednesday. Mazatlan's Carnaval is the biggest in Mexico, and third in the Americas, after Rio de Janeiro and New Orleans and this year is being held February 11 - 16.

Carnaval is special this year,as Mexico is celebrating the 200th anniversary of Independence from Spain, or at least the start of the fight. This is also the 100th anniversary of the 1910 Revolution that lead to the downfall of the dictator, Porfirio Diaz.

The theme of Carnaval this year is "Con Fervor Patrio" (with Patriotic Passion).

And so ends the lesson. Apparently, it is now time to party. And to pull out the ear plugs!!!

The preparations have been going on for weeks, and we decided today to just go 'walkabout' to see how things were moving along.

There are signs and banners everywhere.







The drink of choice appears to be Pacifico. Actually, there is no choice; they have cornered the market.





The designated drivers can always enjoy a nice, cool, Coca Cola.



The marketing people at Tecate and Pepsi Cola must be pretty depressed right about now!

There appears to be no shortage of ice, so the beer, and Cokes, should all be well chilled.





Actually, no one really drives during Carnaval. The Malecon is blocked off for miles during the evenings and travel is strictly by foot. Many of us who live here have decided to just keep our cars parked for the duration. There's a lot of beer out there. It's just seems like a good idea.

Tickets are purchased at booths (20 pesos per person - less than $2.00) and then entry to the Malecon is through the gates.



There are gates to let us in, this one on Sixto Osuno just by the Library




and this one is on Angel Flores.



There are also barricades to keep people out. No one gets in without handing over their 20 pesos!



Passes are issued to people who live within the gated areas. As we are outside, we will have to pay our 20 pesos each and every time we enter, even if we are just passing through to the other side, as we will do the evening we go to the watch the fireworks with friends. Oh well, it's less than $2.00, and it goes to a good cause!

Of course, no celebration in Mexico is complete without music




and it couldn't possibly be Carnaval with the bling!



So, this is Carnaval, before.

Carnaval, during, will follow.

Street Games

Our Casita is on Ice Box Hill and the streets are steep. Mike and I are getting used to the climb, but our friends are usually quite tuckered out by the time they reach our front door. The steepness of the streets is also a challenge for the local children at times. Playing baseball or soccer is an art - miss that ball on a downhill throw or kick and you have to run a long way to catch it!

We were amazed a few nights ago when we came across this bunch.



There were sitting on an assortment of items - a lid from a paint can and a flattened 2 litre Coke bottle to name a few! After much jockeying for position they were off, careening down the street at full speed, roaring with laughter.




This picture is rather blurry, but I have to use it anyway. She was so cute, and had absolutely no fear. Guess it's all about keeping up with your big brother!



I have no idea how they survived, or what their mothers said to them when they got home!