Our 6th grandchild is on the way and "It's a little boy"!! We couldn't be more happy for Josh and Kristi. The ultrasound was done this week and the development of Baby J looks perfect and is definitely a boy. He was moving around alot so they couldn't get a clear picture of his little heart so they will do the ultrasound again in four weeks. He is expected to arrive July 8th.
It's funny, alot of us were predicting a boy and even the "drano test" was correct. Many doubt this method but I am a believer. I used it on two of my children, Joel and Jessica and it was absolutely correct with both of them. Now that it worked on Baby J I am even more convinced. For those of you who do not know about this test here's how it is performed.
After about the 4th month of pregnancy, you take about 2-3 ounces of the mother's urine and mix it with crystal drano, about equal amounts of urine and drano.
If the mixture turns brown it is a boy. If it stays blue green it is a girl.
Anyway, we are very excited to have our 3rd grandson and 6th grandchild on the way. Also, we are very happy we'll be back up in the northwest when he arrives. Can't wait to meet Baby J!! Congratulations Josh & Kristi!!
Friday, February 29, 2008
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Back to the orphanage.....
Over the past few weeks we have been working on a project at the orphanage to repair the teeter-totters, also known as seesaws. They were in good shape until this past year when they begain to break. They have probably been there for many, many years.
On one of our recent trips to work on the project, we took our friends, Dick and Jan along. You will see Dick helping Greg in the photos below. Also, you will see a little boy by the name of Edwardo helping Greg. Edwardo is about 10 or 11 years old and he was always so excited when he saw Greg. He really enjoyed helping Greg and getting to use his tools.
Jan and I played with Pablo while the guys worked on the teeter-totters. We even got him to smile this time.
Greg was back out to the orphanage to finish up the project today and he said the kids were having a great time on their new teeter-totters. I'll have to go back and take some pictures of the kids playing on them.
On one of our recent trips to work on the project, we took our friends, Dick and Jan along. You will see Dick helping Greg in the photos below. Also, you will see a little boy by the name of Edwardo helping Greg. Edwardo is about 10 or 11 years old and he was always so excited when he saw Greg. He really enjoyed helping Greg and getting to use his tools.
Jan and I played with Pablo while the guys worked on the teeter-totters. We even got him to smile this time.
Greg was back out to the orphanage to finish up the project today and he said the kids were having a great time on their new teeter-totters. I'll have to go back and take some pictures of the kids playing on them.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Home Tour
Recently, we went on a home tour sponsored by an organization here in Mazatlan called "Pro Mexico". Every year they arrange a tour of six beautiful homes in Mazatlan. The owners donate their homes for a day, and those of us on the tour get to see wonderful examples of interesting architecture and interior design. We traveled around in buses donated for the occasion. The tickets were $30 US and all proceeds were donated to the Pro Mexico organization. Pro Mexico is a private, no profit, volunteer organization that focuses on Health and Education programs for the needy. They sponser several events each year, including this annual home tour.
We toured two homes in the very expensive neighborhood of El Cid and two in the newer part of Mazatlan, a home over 100 years old in historic old town owned by a couple from Scottsdale, AZ and one up on a high cliff over looking the ocean. The owner of this home is from Sacramento, CA. The home has 18,000 square feet in the interior and 5,000 square feet of deck area with 7 terraces. There are five guest bedrooms, one master suite, and an office above. There are two Jacuzzis, two swimming pools with a connecting walkway. On this level there is a game room and theater with a huge screen. It was just an amazing home.
Here are some pictures that we took but they just don't do justice to how incredible this home is.
Six levels
Entrance
Spiral staircase to 2nd level
Looking down from I'm not sure which level - got a little lost.
Another shot looking down
How about this bathtub with a view?
Beautiful tile work on one of the terraces.
Many mural paintings throughout.
More beautiful tile work on the stairs.
Swimming pools with swimup bar stools.
And how about a banana tree?
With your own theater.
Very comfortable theater seating for 8. Just incredible!!
We toured two homes in the very expensive neighborhood of El Cid and two in the newer part of Mazatlan, a home over 100 years old in historic old town owned by a couple from Scottsdale, AZ and one up on a high cliff over looking the ocean. The owner of this home is from Sacramento, CA. The home has 18,000 square feet in the interior and 5,000 square feet of deck area with 7 terraces. There are five guest bedrooms, one master suite, and an office above. There are two Jacuzzis, two swimming pools with a connecting walkway. On this level there is a game room and theater with a huge screen. It was just an amazing home.
Here are some pictures that we took but they just don't do justice to how incredible this home is.
Six levels
Entrance
Spiral staircase to 2nd level
Looking down from I'm not sure which level - got a little lost.
Another shot looking down
How about this bathtub with a view?
Beautiful tile work on one of the terraces.
Many mural paintings throughout.
More beautiful tile work on the stairs.
Swimming pools with swimup bar stools.
And how about a banana tree?
With your own theater.
Very comfortable theater seating for 8. Just incredible!!
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Our trip to see the Petroglyphs
Last Sunday, February 17th we took an hour and half drive north of Mazatlan to the fishing village of Barras de Piaxtla with our good friends, Dick and Jan. We enjoyed a delicious lunch at a local restaurant and also enjoyed the beautiful view of the ocean from there. There was also a beach front retreat in this area. Here is the website if you ever feel the need to really get away. We thought it might we fun to stay a couple of nights but not much longer. As you will notice in the pictures below, those nets above the beds in the pictures are because they have a few mesquitos. http://www.larosadelasbarras.com/
As we were leaving the restaurant, a group of 5 Mazatlan Universidad students arrived and wanted to take our picture. We guessed they thought we were interesting looking gringos. One of the students spoke very good english and was studying Tourism at the Universidad. We posed for the picture and headed up a very rough dirt road to the Las Labradas petroglyphs near the town of Chilacayota. These are the only petroglyphs in a beachside location in the Americas. The pictures and writings chiseled in rock on the beach date back as far as 1,500 years ago and depict the visions and beliefs of the native people many centuries past. You will see pictures in this post of many of the petroglyphs we saw on the beach.
As we were leaving the petroglyphs to head back down the rough dirt road, we again ran into the students. They were concerned about the road and if it was worth the trip to the site. We assured them it was and we headed for the highway. As we drove a few miles down the toll highway back to Mazatlan, an unexpected rock was sitting in the middle of the road - blended right in with the pavement. Dick couldn't miss it in time and ran right over it and got a flat tire. Just as Dick and Greg were getting out to inspect the flat, a truck drove up on the other side of the highway to help. He had something to do with the highway patrol and told Dick that if he could find the rock they would pay for a new tire because that would show it was the government/state, whatever, at fault. Greg walked back down the highway and did find the rock. The man from the truck told us it would be 20-23 minutes, no more than 30 minutes and someone would be back to take pictures and not to change the tire. Well, he left and the "Green Angels" arrived. The “Green Angels,” are a fleet of radio dispatched trucks with bilingual crews, however this one wasn't bilingual. Services include protection, medical first aid, mechanical aid for your car, and basic supplies. You will not be charged for services, only for parts, gas, and oil. The Green Angels patrol daily, from dawn until sunset. There is a number to call them but if you are unable to call, you are susposed to pull off the road and lift the hood of your car; chances are good they will find you. They patrol all the toll roads, which is what we were on. We had paid $100 pesos or $10 US going out and $100 pesos coming back to use the road. The patrol assured us someone would be by with the camera soon and he too left. Well those were definetly "Mexican minutes" as it was going on 1 hour and guess who stops to help us - the students! We were very happy to see them and they placed a call for us to the Green Angels. We had failed to get any numbers from the others that had stopped. The student found out the insurance guy with the camera was just 5 minutes away. We thanked them for stopping and they were on their way probably telling stories of those crazy gringos. The insurance man did arrive in about 5 minutes - took pictures of the flat tire, filled out some paperwork instructing Dick where to take his car for the new tire and as it turned out rim also. When Dick and Greg took the tire off to change it, they discovered the rim on the backside was badly bent. So after about a 2 hour ordeal we were back on the road driving slowly back to Maz on the spare tire. All in all, we felt the assistance we received was very good.
Anyway, it was an interesting trip to see the petroglyphs and we learned alot about how the toll roads and the Green Angels work too. Our adventures here in Mexico just keep going.
View of the beach from the restaurant.
Entrance to the restaurant.
Having lunch with Dick and Jan.
Dick is 6 foot tall.
Rooms to rent at the beach front retreat.
This is the english translation of the sign at the entrance to the beach where the petroglyphs were.
Welcome
Beach Las Labradas
Visting a place with important traces of old cultures.
With your payment of rights you contribute to maintain.
Enjoy it and conserve it.
Area protected for plant and animal.
Plateau of Cacaxtla
There was also a museum at the site and this was part of it.
Some of the drawings.
The "Green Angels" truck.
As we were leaving the restaurant, a group of 5 Mazatlan Universidad students arrived and wanted to take our picture. We guessed they thought we were interesting looking gringos. One of the students spoke very good english and was studying Tourism at the Universidad. We posed for the picture and headed up a very rough dirt road to the Las Labradas petroglyphs near the town of Chilacayota. These are the only petroglyphs in a beachside location in the Americas. The pictures and writings chiseled in rock on the beach date back as far as 1,500 years ago and depict the visions and beliefs of the native people many centuries past. You will see pictures in this post of many of the petroglyphs we saw on the beach.
As we were leaving the petroglyphs to head back down the rough dirt road, we again ran into the students. They were concerned about the road and if it was worth the trip to the site. We assured them it was and we headed for the highway. As we drove a few miles down the toll highway back to Mazatlan, an unexpected rock was sitting in the middle of the road - blended right in with the pavement. Dick couldn't miss it in time and ran right over it and got a flat tire. Just as Dick and Greg were getting out to inspect the flat, a truck drove up on the other side of the highway to help. He had something to do with the highway patrol and told Dick that if he could find the rock they would pay for a new tire because that would show it was the government/state, whatever, at fault. Greg walked back down the highway and did find the rock. The man from the truck told us it would be 20-23 minutes, no more than 30 minutes and someone would be back to take pictures and not to change the tire. Well, he left and the "Green Angels" arrived. The “Green Angels,” are a fleet of radio dispatched trucks with bilingual crews, however this one wasn't bilingual. Services include protection, medical first aid, mechanical aid for your car, and basic supplies. You will not be charged for services, only for parts, gas, and oil. The Green Angels patrol daily, from dawn until sunset. There is a number to call them but if you are unable to call, you are susposed to pull off the road and lift the hood of your car; chances are good they will find you. They patrol all the toll roads, which is what we were on. We had paid $100 pesos or $10 US going out and $100 pesos coming back to use the road. The patrol assured us someone would be by with the camera soon and he too left. Well those were definetly "Mexican minutes" as it was going on 1 hour and guess who stops to help us - the students! We were very happy to see them and they placed a call for us to the Green Angels. We had failed to get any numbers from the others that had stopped. The student found out the insurance guy with the camera was just 5 minutes away. We thanked them for stopping and they were on their way probably telling stories of those crazy gringos. The insurance man did arrive in about 5 minutes - took pictures of the flat tire, filled out some paperwork instructing Dick where to take his car for the new tire and as it turned out rim also. When Dick and Greg took the tire off to change it, they discovered the rim on the backside was badly bent. So after about a 2 hour ordeal we were back on the road driving slowly back to Maz on the spare tire. All in all, we felt the assistance we received was very good.
Anyway, it was an interesting trip to see the petroglyphs and we learned alot about how the toll roads and the Green Angels work too. Our adventures here in Mexico just keep going.
View of the beach from the restaurant.
Entrance to the restaurant.
Having lunch with Dick and Jan.
Dick is 6 foot tall.
Rooms to rent at the beach front retreat.
This is the english translation of the sign at the entrance to the beach where the petroglyphs were.
Welcome
Beach Las Labradas
Visting a place with important traces of old cultures.
With your payment of rights you contribute to maintain.
Enjoy it and conserve it.
Area protected for plant and animal.
Plateau of Cacaxtla
There was also a museum at the site and this was part of it.
Some of the drawings.
The "Green Angels" truck.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Valentine's Day
We just wanted to let you know we had a wonderful Valentine's Day together. We celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary at Torres Mazatlan. We had a delicious filet mignon dinner and a beautiful sunset to watch too. Below is a video clip I took as we enjoyed our dinner. The sunset just kept getting more brillant in shades of red but I had to get back to my dinner. Also, I have posted a couple pictures of us from that evening too. Enjoy!
There was a drawing that evening too. A jeweler from Canada donates a piece of jewelry every year to be raffled off and the proceeds go to the 35 employees (waiters, bartenders, kitchen and activities staff) at Torres. This year it was a $2,000 US diamond and pearl pendant necklace. We didn't win but they raised $4,000 US that was divided among these employees. A very nice, well-deserved bonus for each of them.
We hope you all had a nice Valentine's Day and we think of you often as we continue our adventures here in Mexico.
Enjoying our margaritas at "Happy Hour" before dinner.
Valentine/Anniversary dinner at Torres Mazatlan.
There was a drawing that evening too. A jeweler from Canada donates a piece of jewelry every year to be raffled off and the proceeds go to the 35 employees (waiters, bartenders, kitchen and activities staff) at Torres. This year it was a $2,000 US diamond and pearl pendant necklace. We didn't win but they raised $4,000 US that was divided among these employees. A very nice, well-deserved bonus for each of them.
We hope you all had a nice Valentine's Day and we think of you often as we continue our adventures here in Mexico.
Enjoying our margaritas at "Happy Hour" before dinner.
Valentine/Anniversary dinner at Torres Mazatlan.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
4th Annual Terry Fox Run (now aka "The Run for Cancer")
This event happened here in Mazatlan today, Sunday, February 10th. My friend Jan and I, participated in this 1 - 10K run. We chose to do the 10K (about 6 miles) but we walked it. The registration fee was 100 pesos or $10 US to support cancer research
If you aren't familiar with who Terry Fox was, here is a little recap. I took this info directly from an internet site that contained his biography.
"Terry Fox was a young Canadian whose battle with bone cancer prompted him to run across his country, despite already having had one leg amputated. Fox grew up in Port Coquitlam, outside of Vancouver, British Columbia. Diagnosed with osteogenetic sarcoma in 1977, he had his right leg amputated just above the knee and was fitted with a prosthetic device. To draw attention to the disease and to raise funds for research, Fox announced he would run a marathon per day (more than 26 miles) across Canada, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. He began his trek on 12 April 1980 in St. John's, Newfoundland and ran until he was almost to Thunder Bay, Ontario. (According to the Terry Fox Foundation, he traversed 3,339 miles in 143 days.) Fox was forced to abort his trip on 1 September 1980, when he learned cancer had spread to his lungs. He died less than a year later, a month shy of his 23rd birthday. His strength in the face of adversity made Fox a national hero, and since his death the Terry Fox Foundation has raised hundreds of millions of dollars for cancer research and treatment."
Since the run began here in Mazatlan in 2005, it has attracted more than 1,200 participants who have contributed 110,905 pesos or about $10,500 US. The monies go to research at the Hospital Pediatrico de Sinaloa, in Culiacan, where every year, at least 80 children from northern Mexico are admitted for cancer treatment. We hope this event will attract more participants in future years and the contributions will grow for this worthwhile cause.
There was a little confusion, as with most organized events here in Mexico, as to just where the race would start and finish. We didn't get any photos of the race but here is a picture of Jan and I having breakfast at a restaurant on the beach on our way back home.
If you aren't familiar with who Terry Fox was, here is a little recap. I took this info directly from an internet site that contained his biography.
"Terry Fox was a young Canadian whose battle with bone cancer prompted him to run across his country, despite already having had one leg amputated. Fox grew up in Port Coquitlam, outside of Vancouver, British Columbia. Diagnosed with osteogenetic sarcoma in 1977, he had his right leg amputated just above the knee and was fitted with a prosthetic device. To draw attention to the disease and to raise funds for research, Fox announced he would run a marathon per day (more than 26 miles) across Canada, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. He began his trek on 12 April 1980 in St. John's, Newfoundland and ran until he was almost to Thunder Bay, Ontario. (According to the Terry Fox Foundation, he traversed 3,339 miles in 143 days.) Fox was forced to abort his trip on 1 September 1980, when he learned cancer had spread to his lungs. He died less than a year later, a month shy of his 23rd birthday. His strength in the face of adversity made Fox a national hero, and since his death the Terry Fox Foundation has raised hundreds of millions of dollars for cancer research and treatment."
Since the run began here in Mazatlan in 2005, it has attracted more than 1,200 participants who have contributed 110,905 pesos or about $10,500 US. The monies go to research at the Hospital Pediatrico de Sinaloa, in Culiacan, where every year, at least 80 children from northern Mexico are admitted for cancer treatment. We hope this event will attract more participants in future years and the contributions will grow for this worthwhile cause.
There was a little confusion, as with most organized events here in Mexico, as to just where the race would start and finish. We didn't get any photos of the race but here is a picture of Jan and I having breakfast at a restaurant on the beach on our way back home.
Saturday, February 09, 2008
All Carnaval pictures have been posted!!
I have finished posting the pictures from Carnaval. We hope you enjoy them.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Carnaval is over and our guests have gone home.
Carnaval was alot of fun this year and very special since we had two of Greg's cousins, Janet and Diane here with us. They arrived last Thursday, Jan 31 and left Monday, Feb 4. It was a short visit but we think they enjoyed their time, visiting a small Mexican village, El Quelite, Old Mazatlan, the Coronation of the Carnaval Queen, the Carnaval parade and they even had time to catch a few rays and relaxation on the beach. Oh, of course, lots of margaritas and chips and salsa.
Here are pictures of our visit with Janet and Diane and the Carnaval too. Enjoy!
The first evening of Janet and Diane's visit was the first day of Carnaval too. We took them to the Plazuela Machado (El Centro/Old Maz) that evening to enjoy the beginning of Carnaval. As I explained in a previous posting, Carnaval ran from Jan 31 - Feb 5. On Feb 6, Lent began so the party is over and fasting for 40 days begins. As you know, Mexico is a Catholic country so most would be following this tradition.
These are a couple mimes that were standing in the Plazuela that evening. We at first thought they were just gold statues but realized they weren't when we got close and they began to move, as you can see in the picture. It was quite startling. They were both very good mimes.
Janet, Diane & Greg posing at the entrance to the Carnaval in Old Town.
On Friday, we took a drive to El Quelite, a small mexican village about a 45 minute drive from Maz. Here we are having lunch together at one of the local restaurants.
In this video we are watching the parrot being fed at the restaurant.
El Quelite is famous for the ancient game of Ullama. Janet and Diane were lucky to see one actually going on while we were there.
These beautiful bougainvilla flowers outside the restaurant made for a nice photo opt of Janet and Diane. We walked the streets and enjoyed the sights and sounds of this authentic mexican village.
On our way home from El Quelite we stopped in at our timeshare, Torres Mazatlan, for happy hour and dinner. I didn't get any pictures but we had a wonderful time watching a beautiful sunset.
On Saturday, I took the girls with me to my yoga class on the beach. We walked about 1 mile down the malecon to the class. There were some pictures but not allowed to post. :) After our class, we had breakfast at the restaurant on the beach where the class was held and then walked back. Here are some pictures we took along the way.
Some of the carnaval art along the malecon.
Janet and Diane posing in the pulmonia statue on the malecon.
Stopping to pose with the seals.
On Saturday evening, we went to the Coronation of the Carnaval Queen. We didn't get any good pictures but a couple of the videos will give you an idea of the festivities surrounding the crowning of the Carnaval Queen, Olga Rodriquez. There was lots and lots of confetti, fireworks, music and dancing in her honor. Also, honored that evening was the Carnaval Queen from 50 years ago and 25 years ago. Very special. You will see pictures of them on their floats later in the blog.
These were the characters that greeted us as we entered the Salon Bacanora next to the Bull Ring where the coronation was held. Because Mazatlan's baseball team, the Venados, got into the playoffs this year, all of the carnaval coronation pageants that normally take place in the Teodoro Mariscal Stadium had to be moved to this location which was much less spacious. However, they still put on a fabulous performance.
Here are some very special guests that were in the audience.
These are the Seattle Seafair Clowns.
They have been attending the Mazatlan Carnaval for 20 years.
You'll see another group picture of them later when I post the parade pictures.
The Carnaval this year seemed to have a Chinese/Asian theme as you will notice in the following two videos. You probably noticed this in the photos of the art I posted from the plazuela and along the malecon. The crowning of the Carnaval Queen is what is happening in these two videos.
Following the pageantry, a singer by the name of Manuel Mijares took the stage. He is a very popular Latin American recording artist. We hear many of his hits on the radio here in Mexico. The coronation was very beautiful and entertaining.
The Carnaval parade was the next evening, Sunday. We didn't get alot of good pictures but here are a couple of videos that turned out pretty well. Also, you will see a couple of videos of the huge fireworks show that happened on Monday night. The festivities just kept going and going.
As we wait for the floats to arrive, we were entertained by the huge crowds and much banda music and dancing along the malecon as you can see in this video.
We have our margaritas and ready for the parade to arrive!! Oh and what a beautiful sunset we enjoyed too.
This is a video of the float that the Carnaval Queen, Olga Rodriquez was riding on. As you can hear in the video the crowd was very excited as she passed by.
On Monday night we enjoyed a spectacular fireworks show which we could see right off our terrace. We actually viewed it from our friends, Dick and Jan's, terrace on the 10th floor. Here is a video we took of some of the show. They were shot off up and down the beach right in front of our building.
The last day of Carnaval, Tuesday (Fat Tuesday), the floats lined up again along the malecon right in front of our building but this time during the daylight so we got some better pictures.
I have to correct myself on the following video. I stated it's the day after the parade. It really is two days after the parade, which was on Sunday, when the floats lined up again on the malecon. Also, I think when Lent starts they obstain from more than just food. I think it's lots of different things. Guess I need to do some research on that subject.
The parade begins.
Pacifico was one of the main sponsors of the parade.
The Pacifico girls!
Carnaval Queen Annabelle of 50 years ago. She looks a little scared up there.
We didn't quite understand why there were two Queens from 25 year ago but here they are.
And the Carnaval Queen 2008, Olga Rodriquez!!
Infantile Carnaval Queen.
Lots of floats with authentic mexican/indian costumes.
Want some candy? Lots of interesting snacks.
These were dancers from Veracruz. Their authentic dress was just beautiful.
The Veracruz dancers.
The Seattle Seafair clowns. They have been participating in the parade for 20 years. They go around giving everyone little stickers to put on your face or whereever. They are very entertaining for the crowds.
This says "Clowns of Seattle". The vehicle the clowns rode in during the parade.
There were queens from all over Latin American and even the US. If you look closely, the third queen from the left is Seattle's Seafair Queen.
Mexican dancers from the state of Sinaloa which is the state Mazatlan is in.
That's our building in the background of this float.
The parade ended with this local fire truck.
And this interesting little fireman.
It was a very busy, but really fun 6 days, with lots of carnaval festivities. Seems very quite out on the beach and malecon right now but more events are coming up this spring that will bring more fiestas to enjoy. The Mexican people have gone back to work after 6 days of enjoying the escape from the hard work they have to do here in Mexico just to get by, day to day. We are happy for them that they have this escape every year.
Here are pictures of our visit with Janet and Diane and the Carnaval too. Enjoy!
The first evening of Janet and Diane's visit was the first day of Carnaval too. We took them to the Plazuela Machado (El Centro/Old Maz) that evening to enjoy the beginning of Carnaval. As I explained in a previous posting, Carnaval ran from Jan 31 - Feb 5. On Feb 6, Lent began so the party is over and fasting for 40 days begins. As you know, Mexico is a Catholic country so most would be following this tradition.
These are a couple mimes that were standing in the Plazuela that evening. We at first thought they were just gold statues but realized they weren't when we got close and they began to move, as you can see in the picture. It was quite startling. They were both very good mimes.
Janet, Diane & Greg posing at the entrance to the Carnaval in Old Town.
On Friday, we took a drive to El Quelite, a small mexican village about a 45 minute drive from Maz. Here we are having lunch together at one of the local restaurants.
In this video we are watching the parrot being fed at the restaurant.
El Quelite is famous for the ancient game of Ullama. Janet and Diane were lucky to see one actually going on while we were there.
These beautiful bougainvilla flowers outside the restaurant made for a nice photo opt of Janet and Diane. We walked the streets and enjoyed the sights and sounds of this authentic mexican village.
On our way home from El Quelite we stopped in at our timeshare, Torres Mazatlan, for happy hour and dinner. I didn't get any pictures but we had a wonderful time watching a beautiful sunset.
On Saturday, I took the girls with me to my yoga class on the beach. We walked about 1 mile down the malecon to the class. There were some pictures but not allowed to post. :) After our class, we had breakfast at the restaurant on the beach where the class was held and then walked back. Here are some pictures we took along the way.
Some of the carnaval art along the malecon.
Janet and Diane posing in the pulmonia statue on the malecon.
Stopping to pose with the seals.
On Saturday evening, we went to the Coronation of the Carnaval Queen. We didn't get any good pictures but a couple of the videos will give you an idea of the festivities surrounding the crowning of the Carnaval Queen, Olga Rodriquez. There was lots and lots of confetti, fireworks, music and dancing in her honor. Also, honored that evening was the Carnaval Queen from 50 years ago and 25 years ago. Very special. You will see pictures of them on their floats later in the blog.
These were the characters that greeted us as we entered the Salon Bacanora next to the Bull Ring where the coronation was held. Because Mazatlan's baseball team, the Venados, got into the playoffs this year, all of the carnaval coronation pageants that normally take place in the Teodoro Mariscal Stadium had to be moved to this location which was much less spacious. However, they still put on a fabulous performance.
Here are some very special guests that were in the audience.
These are the Seattle Seafair Clowns.
They have been attending the Mazatlan Carnaval for 20 years.
You'll see another group picture of them later when I post the parade pictures.
The Carnaval this year seemed to have a Chinese/Asian theme as you will notice in the following two videos. You probably noticed this in the photos of the art I posted from the plazuela and along the malecon. The crowning of the Carnaval Queen is what is happening in these two videos.
Following the pageantry, a singer by the name of Manuel Mijares took the stage. He is a very popular Latin American recording artist. We hear many of his hits on the radio here in Mexico. The coronation was very beautiful and entertaining.
The Carnaval parade was the next evening, Sunday. We didn't get alot of good pictures but here are a couple of videos that turned out pretty well. Also, you will see a couple of videos of the huge fireworks show that happened on Monday night. The festivities just kept going and going.
As we wait for the floats to arrive, we were entertained by the huge crowds and much banda music and dancing along the malecon as you can see in this video.
We have our margaritas and ready for the parade to arrive!! Oh and what a beautiful sunset we enjoyed too.
This is a video of the float that the Carnaval Queen, Olga Rodriquez was riding on. As you can hear in the video the crowd was very excited as she passed by.
On Monday night we enjoyed a spectacular fireworks show which we could see right off our terrace. We actually viewed it from our friends, Dick and Jan's, terrace on the 10th floor. Here is a video we took of some of the show. They were shot off up and down the beach right in front of our building.
The last day of Carnaval, Tuesday (Fat Tuesday), the floats lined up again along the malecon right in front of our building but this time during the daylight so we got some better pictures.
I have to correct myself on the following video. I stated it's the day after the parade. It really is two days after the parade, which was on Sunday, when the floats lined up again on the malecon. Also, I think when Lent starts they obstain from more than just food. I think it's lots of different things. Guess I need to do some research on that subject.
The parade begins.
Pacifico was one of the main sponsors of the parade.
The Pacifico girls!
Carnaval Queen Annabelle of 50 years ago. She looks a little scared up there.
We didn't quite understand why there were two Queens from 25 year ago but here they are.
And the Carnaval Queen 2008, Olga Rodriquez!!
Infantile Carnaval Queen.
Lots of floats with authentic mexican/indian costumes.
Want some candy? Lots of interesting snacks.
These were dancers from Veracruz. Their authentic dress was just beautiful.
The Veracruz dancers.
The Seattle Seafair clowns. They have been participating in the parade for 20 years. They go around giving everyone little stickers to put on your face or whereever. They are very entertaining for the crowds.
This says "Clowns of Seattle". The vehicle the clowns rode in during the parade.
There were queens from all over Latin American and even the US. If you look closely, the third queen from the left is Seattle's Seafair Queen.
Mexican dancers from the state of Sinaloa which is the state Mazatlan is in.
That's our building in the background of this float.
The parade ended with this local fire truck.
And this interesting little fireman.
It was a very busy, but really fun 6 days, with lots of carnaval festivities. Seems very quite out on the beach and malecon right now but more events are coming up this spring that will bring more fiestas to enjoy. The Mexican people have gone back to work after 6 days of enjoying the escape from the hard work they have to do here in Mexico just to get by, day to day. We are happy for them that they have this escape every year.
We really enjoyed having Janet and Diane with us during carnaval and invite all of you to come down and join us in the fun during this annual event here in Maz. We hope you have enjoyed the pictures and videos in this posting.
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