Mazatlan

December 3 to 29, 2008

A Photo Album

 

December 3, 2008:   Following Rick and Sheri on their catamaran, Tigger, we arrived at the entrance to the Mazatlan old harbor around 7 a.m.  The sun was coming up and the sky was a beautiful orange color.  Three large cruise ships were on their way into the channel so we waited for them to enter.  It had been a tiresome passage from La Paz, Baja California, because of the problem we had with the clogging fuel filters so Mazatlan was a welcome sight.  

The Creston Hill Lighthouse atop this big rock is said to be the second highest lighthouse in the world, 515 feet above sea level.   There is a path to the top and it is our intention to hike it before we leave Mazatlan.  By the way, just in case anyone is wondering, the path is on the other side of the rock.  I will include pictures from atop when we get up there.



Another beautiful view from the old harbor, I took this picture the next morning after arriving.  It is looking out to Goat Island with yet  another beautiful sunrise.  Later as we explored the island we saw wild goats still living there.    Well, I assumed they were wild as they were free to roam, but they looked like ordinary barnyard goats to me!
The Panga fishing fleet
     The morning sunrise has left a beautiful orange glow on Creston Hill.

 

 Today, December 23, we hiked to the top of this beautiful rock.  You can see the trail that traverses back and forth up the hill.  Some parts of the path was dirt or stone, some was concrete and there were concrete steps in some places.  It was well worth the hike as you will see from the following pictures. 


Goats on Goat Island (barnyard goats?)  I was expecting more exotic goats!  We really didn't get this close to them.  I have a great zoom lens!
   

View from atop Creston Hill.  This is the old harbor where we anchored for 2 weeks.  As you can see, the scenery at the old harbor was spectacular, but unfortunately the facilities were in a terrible rundown condition.  When I say "facilities" I am referring to the banos (shower and toilet).  Worse yet was the horrible smell that came from the nearby waste treatment plant.  A few of us left this beautiful harbor and went to a marina about 10 miles north to get away from the nauseating odor.  The only things to boast at marinas are water,  electricity, wifi internet and usually great banos.  You'll never see anything this beautiful at a marina. 
 
The very narrow channel that leads to the harbor.  Goat Island is in the background.  We got to the "island" by a panga ferry.  



Rick and Charlie
and Sharon's shadow

   
The lighthouse dog Just to prove we made it to the top, this is up close and personal.  No zoom lens here!
Sheri, Rick and Charlie on the way down the path with the old harbor in the distance and two cruise ships at dock.                                                                                                                    
We spotted this iguana on the path to the lighthouse It wouldn't be Mazatlan without "petroglyphs" 
This is the source of the terrible odor......Talk about prime property We took our morning walks up these stairs.......................... and around this hill, sometimes all the way into old town.

 

 
There are hundreds of these little pulmonia taxis and can only be found in Mazatlan.  We used these a lot after grocery shopping Another taxi seen all over Mazatlan. We took one of these with 10 other people on our way to Carnaval in February.
 		  
We stopped here frequently after our morning walk to have bean tacos at this pulmonia .   This was our most frequent mode of transporation costing less than 50 cents per ride.   

 

Beautiful well maintained Old Town row houses. Notice all the electric wires going to each house. Mazatlan's Old Town Plaza
It appears that these row houses are now being restored in this old section of town. Again, this row was immaculate  

 

2008 Sand Sculpture at the Old Town Plaza This nativity scene came complete with its own rat!
Immaculate Conception Cathedral 1879



The beach at Punta Camaron is located about 4 miles north of Marine Mazatlan.  
Pictured above are Steve and Kathy of S.V. Psyche, a Taswell 43, whom we met at the marina and just happen to be heading the same way we are going........South!
 
   
 
This brings back fond memories of when our kids explored the tidepools at the  John Fitzgerald Marine Reserve in Moss Beach, CA where we lived for almost 40 years.  Our starfish never looked like this one, however.   
 
The beach from Punta Cameron looking toward Marina Mazatlan.  We walked this stretch of beach (4 miles) two days in a row.  On this day the beach was empty probably because the wind was blowing 20 kts.  The next day the wind stopped and the beach was crowded again.

 

Tuesday, December 30, 2008:    Plans were to leave Marina Mazatlan in the afternoon so our arrival at out next destination, Isla Isabela, about 18 hours later would be during daylight.  As we listened to the daily cruisers net we heard that there would be a minus 3 tide and anyone leaving the marina should do so immediately.  We quickly got things in order, checked out of the marina which took forever, and got to the fuel dock at 10 a.m.  The dredge was supposed to start at 10 and when it starts, boats can neither enter nor exit the harbor.  Fortunately, we were all fueled up and ready to leave in about 8 minutes and we made it out of the channel, followed by S.V. Black Dog.  We didn't know it at the time, but we were on the same course as Black Dog and would enjoy its company along the way.

As I mentioned above, it was too early to depart Mazatlan so we headed for the old harbor to wait it out until later that evening before leaving for Isla Isabela.  But, the co-captain (Sharon) felt a little queasy so we spent the night anchored at the old harbor.   Black Dog followed us in to the old harbor, but they left later that evening as we had originally planned to do.  And, actually, it was nice spending another night there as we enjoyed the company of Rick and Sheri on S.V. Tigger, and I was able to get a great shot of one of the cruise ships leaving the harbor. (pictured below)  Also in the picture is Sol Mate.  Unknowingly, they were  on the same course as Black Dog and CaST Away. 

The cruise ship is the Norwegian Star.  Sailboats in the background are "Sol Mate" to the left and "Black Dog" on the right.  The Baja Ferry was also getting ready leave about the same time as the cruise ship.  It crosses the Sea of Cortez delivering cars and passengers from Mazatlan to LaPaz. 


Please Visit "2008 Isla Isabela" for CaST Away's next adventure.