The "KIDS"

We met the wonderful "Foley Family" about a week ago. They are also staying here at the RV park. They are slowly heading south towards South America. The 5 of them and their 2 dogs are traveling in a unstoppable camper set up.

We have adopted the kids and they spend a lot of their time with us, which we enjoy very much. They are so delightful, so behaved, with a great since of humor. Knowing them makes us miss our grandchildren even more.

Andy was able to arrange a private showing at the local aquarium for the "Sea Lion Show".  Here is the entire audience. Well, minus me, I am taking the photo of course!  The show lasts about 30 minutes and is well worth it.

Left to right starting with the top row:  Wyatt, Andy, Casey, Carson, Kaila, Malia , Annie and Melody.

We love these kids!!

                The show was so great and we all had a blast. They were very talented sea lions.

Let the show begin !  They even sang for us !

Who wants to come down here and get a "seal kiss" !  She was not so sure about this !

She is so dang cute !  Not the seal !

Melody just couldn't help herself. Hats and T shirts for all !  Just look at that face !  How could you NOT want to !

Andy here:  Since I went kayaking a month or so ago, I've been wanting to do it again.  Light bulb moment...I bet I can rent one!  My best buddy, Jim Bob, said "let's do it", so now we have them until we head home next week.  We've been out a few times. The mornings, the water is like glass.

See that island in the background? On our first day we went all the way around it.  The water is very clear and we saw some pretty fish swimming about

Off we go!

Hasta la vista

Jim Bob

This is an actual photo Jim took...no photo cropping.

We heard there had been dolphin sightings in the area so on our next excursion we were on a quest!

OH MY !  There they are!!!   We had about 8 of them around us.  We followed them for about 45 minutes.  At times, they were within 5 feet of the kayaks. It was absolutely amazing!  Something I will never forget.  We will be back out this week looking to do it again.

After the first day Jim, Preston and I were done carrying kayaks back and forth across the highway and down to the beach.  How are we going to keep doing this?  We are too old and broken to keep this up.

So we found a couple of entrepreneurs willing to carry our kayaks for a small fee, 50 pesos each.  All parties were very happy with the arrangements.

Wyatt and Carson.....kayak haulers.

We spent the afternoon on the beach. Casey brought his Bocce ball game.  The object of the game is to throw you big heavy ball closest to the small white ball.  I think Casey cheated. It was his game and he won ! He said it was the first time he's ever played the game sober. LOL

Peek a boo !  I see you Jim !


We were just hanging out just minding our own business when all of a sudden something came out of the ocean. What was it? Where did it come from?

Oh no !  a Sea Weed Monster !

Don't move...maybe it doesn't  see us !

It is getting closer !

Run ! Run !

That was close!  She made it !

We are winding down on our time here in Mexico. Only a week left.  Our new family will only be here for a few more days. We are going to miss them terribly.  Our life on the road is so amazing but there are downsides too!  Saying goodbye is the hardest !  It will be extremely hard this time knowing there is a good chance we will never see them again.   Andy's been crying for days.

Stone Island, Mazatlan, Mexico

We decided to take a water taxi to Stone Island.  To catch the water taxi we took a short walk, or you can take a regular taxi, to the very small ferry terminal.  Well, it is not really a terminal but a shack. The boat ride to the island takes about 4 minutes.

Water Taxi...$30 peso's each for a round trip ticket.  $18 peso's to the US Dollar !

Stone Island isn't really an Island. It's just what people call it ! I guess the drive to the island would take a very long time...maybe they don't even have a road to it.

It is a wonderful place. You can just relax and soak up the sun and sea.  There are restaurants all along the beach. You can rent horses, ATV's or take a  Banana Boat ride. We opt just to lay on the beach with a drink in our hand and of course taste the food.

While on the beach you will have many...I mean "many" locals trying to sell you stuff.  About every 3-4 minutes someone will ask you if you want to purchase something.  They were very polite and not pushy.  We would just say no thank you. They would respond with; "no problem" or "almost free"! Again,  it wasn't a problem at all, they were very polite and friendly.

A man with many hats !

This guy would walk up and down the beach pushing his wheel barrel selling blankets.   Hard workers !

This guy was a clothing department store. He was carrying lots of clothing.

View from our beach chairs.

When we got to the beach we just wanted to just lay back in a beach chair and have a tropical drink. So how you get a free beach chair, an umbrella and even some beach towels,  There is secret to it!   Really !  I will share with you what took me forever to figure out !   Just sit down and ask for it  !!

Our spot under the umbrella. See Andy !

The hard life.

Fu Fu drink !

These are just photos to give you an idea of what the beach area looks like and the general feel of the place.

The best view on the beach !!

Carnaval

This is where we are calling home for the next 7 days. We are on the 8th floor over looking "Olas Altas". We are smack in the middle of the Centro Historico which is walking distance to the ferry for Stone Island and the Cerro Del Creston (lighthouse).

Thought I would try out the infinity pool.  Pretty cool...never been in one !

                                                      We decide to take a walkabout

Coats of Arms of Mazatlan and Sinaloa.

Mazatleca Woman Monument.

Have no idea the name of this sculpture !  

We were just walking down a side street and saw this. Someones front yard !

Historical Square.

Republic Square.

Not missing her gnome !

Inside the Cathedral Immaculate Conception.

Beautiful !

Not sure I was supposed to be taking photos during mass.

At the plaza.

Very interesting place !    It is a pool !    High tide fills it.

Another view.

As we were walking by...what the hell is he doing up there ?

Oh ! Now we know !  Watch out for the rocks !

Saturday night we walk out the front door and we are in the middle of the Carnaval festivities.  Lots of music, vendors and the fireworks.  We didn't leave the condo until about 9:00 pm.  Andy said it's probably the first time in 25 years she left the house at that time of the night.  She actually stayed up until about midnight.

The music was great, even if we couldn't understand a single word they were singing. Everyone was laughing and having a great time. So did we !

Later, when we went to bed, it was like trying to sleep in the middle of a disco. The party went on until 0500!!! The music is so loud you can't even talk to each other in the condo !  Hey...relax... we are in Mexico.  We can always sleep later !

As the band plays on.

Dancing in the streets. Oh yea... drinking too !

Every 50 feet or so another band is playing.

She was pretty much ready for bed before we even headed out,. Glasses on, make up off, surprised she didn't wear her PJ's.

Spectacular fireworks display.  Some of them were out over the ocean and simultaneously some were going off directly over our heads.  You could even see the ashes from the fireworks streaming down on the crowd. It was amazing and would never happen in the States !

One of the main events of "Carnaval" is the parade.  We are about 4 or 5 miles from where it was so we grabbed a taxi and headed over to the festivities around 1:30. The parade was going to start around 5:30 pm.  The taxi's are golf carts. I highly recommend using them.  It is very inexpensive. You will get a wild ride dodging cars, motorcycles, people and what ever else can get in your drivers way. Loved it !

Once there, we noticed half of the road was covered in white plastic outdoor chairs.  These chairs are lined up for miles and miles. They all look the same !  Who put these chairs here ?   Where in the hell did they get so many chairs from the same manufacturer  ?   How do you get one? Does it costs to sit in one ?  If so, How much ?

We walked for awhile until we saw a "Gringo" to ask.  He tried to sell us two of his tickets for $26 USD a piece. For that price we will get a white chair and a buffet.   We decided that seemed a little weird so we politely declined and kept on going.

After asking a few other people we came across a very nice Gringo couple, Dwight and Kitty. They live here full time. We will see them later this week, maybe for lunch or dinner ! They were sitting with a local Mexican family. Next thing we know we've been invited to join them.

We found out how to get a white chair(s) ! Three or four days before the parade the locals park their car in a parking space.  I believe, but not for sure, the morning before the parade you must move your car for the parade and you replace the car with those white plastic chairs, tables and rope off your area.  Sometimes, they have to hire a person to sit in their spot if they have to work.

These two people below are two of the most gracious generous people I have ever met.  Not only did the offer their space but shared all of their food and beer too.  I have heard how friendly the Mexican people are... but I didn't expect this.  NOT AT ALL !  They treated us like we were friends for years. They kept offering food and beer. Which I accepted with gratitude.  They didn't expect nothing in return but friendship. IT WAS AMAZING !

We talked with them for several hours, of course in English, I don't speak Spanish !  They shared their stories about living in the States and their life in Mexico.  We found out they had lived in Idaho for a number of years. They even have a Gringo daughter. Well, that is what she called herself. It was definitely an eye opener to hear the pros and con's from their perspective.

I wish I could have gotten their names and phone numbers because they are people I would have liked to know better !!! Well, I did get their names, I just don't remember them, lol.

Our amazing hosts!!

This drink is made of tomato juice, clam, and beer !  Nope ! Didn't try it !

                This was early on in the day before 800,000 people showed up for the parade.  

See all those white chairs !  Did Walmart have a large sale or something !  lol 

Before the parade starts, about 2 hours, the sponsors have their own little parade.  They have dancing girls and they throw out free stuff to the crowd.  I tried but I didn't get anything free !  Dang !!!

Dancing mermaid girls.

See the free orange plastic cups.  Nope I didn't get one !

The US Army even had a float in the Parade...they are a sponsor !  Very surprising !  They don't look soldiers I know !

They party is just starting to warm up!

Yea, here is the story!  We didn't get to see the parade! Nope !  Since the Parade didn't really get to our spot until after 7:45pm and would last at least two hours we knew we would have to walk the 5-6 miles back while dodging the crowd. The decision was made. Lets try and get a taxi. It took awhile but we got one.  We would still be there if we had waited until the parade was over !

One thing that stands out about the Carnaval !   There are a lot of Mexicans here!

I still believe the trip was well worth it even if we didn't see the parade !  We meet some wonderful people I will never forget !!!  I know Andy feels the same !!!