It's time!!

Holy crap!  THE day is ALMOST here. 

Tomorrow at this time I will be.. well, I'll be sitting on the plane in Calgary waiting to take flight.. but yeah, details.. details.. hah.. I will be on my way to Mazatlan.

Nerves have set in!

As I was laying in bed this morning, an email came in on my phone (at 6:15 am which I was actually awake at as I am not capable of sleeping in, even on holidays) that as it was OFFICALLY 24 hrs from my departure time(!!) I could 'check in' online and choose my seat (Window, baby!) 

I chose an empty section of the airplane... granted, it IS a flight to Calgary, then a layover, so who knows how many of these people (the plane was mostly empty minus a group at the back which I hope is not a loud spring break crew!) are travelling on to Mexico!  I am also not sure how many people bother to check in online 24 hours prior.. so maybe a full flight?  Who knows!

HOLY crap.  I am almost in disbelief that tomorrow I will be on my way to Mexico. 

Did you catch the fact that 6:15 is my departure time?  Meaning I have to be at the airport for 4:15 am... an airport which is on the opposite end of the city from where I live... Meaning I need to leave about 3:30 am..... Meaning I should be up for 2:30-3:00 am to get my sh*t together.  Uggggh.  Now that is painful!  I was really hoping that since I layover in Calgary I would be exempt from the 2 hour check in and get the one hour - but no dice as I clear customs here...

I will add in that my awesome dad is driving me to the airport!  Gotta love a pop who will gladly drive you to the airport in the (virtually) middle of the night!  My mom added in that hopefully it will be a night she suffers from insomnia and will be up ANYWAYS to join us for the ride.  I love my folks :-)

So today will be filled with the last minute things (who am I kidding - I started packing 2 weeks ago - today is filled with last minute worrying/panicking.  I am a chronic worrier) - charging my Ipod, going over my packing list to ensure I have everything (and by everything I mean anything I may or may NOT need) and hopefully an early night of sleep!



                                  (Why yes, I do need this much stuff for one week.. It's all necessities. hah)

We will see you in a week! ♥

Travelling to Mazatlan: Part 3: Things to DO: The Aquarium & the dump

Oh my!  With only a few days left before I leave for my solo trip to Mazatlan (Nerves are setting in!) I've been looking at a few more activities I want to partake in:

The first being the local aquarium.  Located on De Los Deportes ave, which according to Google Maps is a 3km (37 min) walk or 5 min pulmonia ride away from the Golden Zone just off the Malecon.  Gotta love how that works, eh?

(No, that is not the aquarium, I just wanted a photo of a fish and that's what I had hah)

 

The aquarium features over 250 species of fish, a marine museum, walk-through exotic bird exhibit and crocodile area. There are also three shows several times a day: a sea lion show, bird show and diving exhibition (in which for a fee you too can swim with nurse sharks. Eeeep!).  Price wise, about $7 for admission.

Second activity I am contemplating doing:  The dump.  Yes, you read that correctly.  So WHY on earth would I want to go to the dump? 

One of the local churches, the Vineyard, participates in a Dump Feeding Tour.  What is this?  Due to the high levels of poverty in the Mexico, Mazatlan included, many people spend their day at the dump sifting through garbage in hopes of finding something of value to sell in order to get some money.  This is their income.  Some actually call this HOME as well.

http://www.vineyardmcm.org/locations/mazatlan/weekly-dump-feeding-tour/

I want to stress this is not a gawking tour or a money grab.  The church is providing the tours in order to have volunteers come down to assist in first making sandwich's and then handing out a small meal and fresh, clean water to these people at the dump.

I feel like it would be a very enriching experience.  I may not have a lot, but realistically I have enough to be able to GO to Mazatlan.  My bills will be paid when I get home.  I am never without.  I like to give back when I can!

I am still trying to figure out when the tours operate and how I arrange to participate..

Travelling to Mazatlan: Part 3: Things to DO: Shopping

I talked about the Central Market in a previous post.  Very much a great place to look if you are in the market for souvenirs (clothing, jewelry, etc).  As a whole, there are a TON of little shops scattered about the Golden Zone to shop in.  I have never been into the Gran Plaza mall (it's on my list this year to check out, mostly for curiosity sake) - but if you are looking for your American style shopping mall - that is the place to go!

 

If jewelry is your thing, look at the silver. A word to the wise: If you are buying silver you should look the numbers "925" stamped on it.  It's a mark of quality/real silver.

 

Leather is also very cheap down there.  As a vegetarian who borders more on a vegan lifestyle, I personally don't wear leather.  I'm not one to preach my beliefs - so if leather is your fancy, giver.  A great shop to look for leather wallets/purses, pants/chaps, saddlebags, jackets/vests, sandals, cowboy boots, hats, and belts is Constantinos.  A friend had wanted a leather vest - Constantinos measured her and a few days later she picked up a custom made vest for about $40.  Seriously.

 

If you have ever been to Mexico, you are probably well aware of the plethora of hand crafted goods you can purchase.  Personally,  I am in LOVE with the bright colors.  I bought a few of the blue & white dishes you see below & have bought some of the hand painted tiles and turned them into coasters.  Basically you can find anything ceramic hand-painted from dishes to sinks.  (And for the record, friends PURCHASED and brought back a sink last year)

 

 

Another item I scooped up was some Mexican spices - and the name of the game IS spicy!  As mentioned in a past post, it's a popular to add a chili lime mixture to fruits and veggies.   Also interesting; to buy a bottle of real vanilla is a fraction of the price in Mexico compared to Canada/US.  

 And remember, you can always barter about the price!  If you are interested in purchasing goods from vendors on the beach ALWAYS barter for the price - they start off very high and pretty much expect you to talk them down.  It's not offensive, it's the custom out there.

Travelling to Mazatlan: Part 3: Things to DO: The Malecon

The malecon, a waterfront street, stretches for miles (I've read different distances from 4 miles to 21 km, so I am unsure the EXACT distance!) & connects Old Town and the Golden Zone in Mazatlan.  It's divided into nine sections: Puntilla "Ferry Pier", Lighthouse, Centennial, Olas Altas, Claussen, Avenida del Mar, Shrimp - Chad, Chad - Cerritos, Cerritos - Nuevo Mazatlan. 

Along with shops, restaurants, & clubs dotted along the way, a walk or drive down here will bestow you with sights of statues/monuments such as The Shield, which contains the coats of Sinaloa and Mazatlan AND if you are lucky, a cliff diver!

                                                      ((Photos courtesy of Wikipedia))

While I have had the opportunity to drive down the roadway in a pulmonia, I haven't had the chance to walk the malecon.  I am really hoping to walk at least a portion of the way this time around so I can have some photos of my own :-)

Travelling to Mazatlan: Part 3: Things to DO: El Faro

So, I've covered quite a few different things to do and see in Mazatlan so far (and I have to say, throwing up these blogs is getting me quite excited for my trip which is now 11 days off, especially with the huge dump of snow we received yesterday!) - there are a few activities I haven't had the chance to partake in yet, but am hoping to this time around.

El Faro - the lighthouse

See that dot at the top of the hill... That would the lighthouse!

Sitting atop the hill at the mouth of the harbours inlet, sits Mazatlan's lighthouse - the world's highest (for the elevation at which it sits) working lighthouse!  Pretty cool, right?

Even cooler - it you are so inclined, you can make the 500 foot climb to the top!  As daunting as it sounds, apparently it only takes about 20-30 min.  Apparently it is VERY much worth the trek as the view is par to none!  According to reviews, the hike is half a dirt road path and finishes with 300 concrete steps and is best done earlier in the day (to avoid the heat) in comfortable shoes.

Travelling to Mazatlan: Part 3: Things to DO: Islands/Beaches

Okay, so I have covered some activities to do outside of the hotel area - the central market, the cathedral, zip lining and the tequila distillery! 

An obvious activity that most of us partake in when on a sunny holiday - the beach?  Oh yes, the beach!  There is NO shortage of places to dig your toes into the sand there..

 

Whether it's plopping down a towel directly outside of your hotel, or going across the ocean to one of the islands directly across from the Golden Zone beaches; from north to south, Isla Pájaros – Bird Island, Isla Venados – Deer Island and Isla Lobos – Wolf Island.

We ended up finding a 'guide' and boat driver on the beach and booked a catamaran ride (for about $20) to Deer Island for snorkeling (Which ended up being a little too murky) and a little change of scenery.  In a more secluded area we were able to see tons of fish, crabs, etc.  Very cool!

Above: Looking over at the Golden Zone

Below: Our driver "Monkey" (seriously)

Below: Enjoying some sun and cold beers on Deer Island

 

One of my travel companions was also interested in learning how to surf (and surprisingly to me, Mazatlan has a pretty booking surf crowd!) and booked a 2 hr date with a surfer (met on the beach)for about $20 to learn how to surf - he showed her the basics and provided a wetsuit top and the board.  

We ended up doing a lot of relaxing on the beach - enjoying the scenery, visiting and on occasion, paying a mariachi band a few pesos for a song (and dance hah), or looking at the snacks/jewelry/products that people sell on the beach.  We also came across ladies who would do the old' Bo Derek braids for a pretty reasonable price, if that's your thing.  There was also the options to parasail, water ski, body surf, take a banana boat ride, etc, etc! 

Also good to know is that jellyfish are common in Mazatlan from June - November.. There is a lot of marine life in the water/on the beach - so be wary of where you step.

If you happen to be in Mazatlan in the summer months (Aug and Sept), you can participate in the release of baby sea turtles, or see their mothers lay eggs. I would SO love to do this one day!

As a whole, the peddlers are not OVERLY aggressive, but it can be a tad annoying when you are trying to relax.  It's also difficult to not want to buy from everyone - you see many mothers with children on the beach ALL day trying to sell various items - and knowing this may be their only source of income. 

We did travel to a few more 'local' (verses tourist) beaches and this was virtually non existent.

Below: Watermelon, coconut, mango, honeydew - all fresh and served with a chili lime mix which is sooooo amazing!

 

Also good to know is that jellyfish are common in Mazatlan from June - November..   There is a lot of marine life in the water/on the beach - so be wary of where you step!

Travelling to Mazatlan: Part 3: Things to DO: Immaculate Conception Cathedral

Before you say, "WHY would I want to visit a church when I go on holidays?" - the stunning architecture is so worth the visit, regardless if you are religious or not! 

The first time I was in Mazatlan, we didn't get a chance to stop and go into the cathedral due to our tour guide needing to head home.  However, the view from the outside was stunning in itself and I vowed to see the inside when I returned the following year - which I did (although not for mass, which I hear is amazing).

Located in the heart of downtown Mazatlan (One block away from the centro market I talked about a few posts ago) the Immaculate Conception Cathedral was completed in 1899 after over 40 years of work! 

Very interesting to look at, to say the least, with what is desscribed as an eclectic mix of architecture, combining Moorish, Gothic, Baroque, and a touch of Neo-classic.  Outside, large white sculptures of St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke, and St. John stand at each of the four corner entrances.  One extremely interesting fact about the cathedral is there are 28 Stars of David, one for each of the amazing stained glass windows. Apparently, this was a done in tribute to a Jewish family that helped financially to reconstruct the cathedral in its time of need.

 

 

Amazing statues grace the inside of the cathedral.

 

 

 

Below you can see the main alter.  The arch above the alter has a Spanish quote from Jesus: "Come to me all who are afflicted and I will console you".  The main altar is flanked with statues of saints and angels made of Italian marble. 

The pictures don't do the architecture or statues(or size of the cathedral!) justice.

Open daily from 6 am - 1 pm and then 4 pm - 8 pm.

Travelling to Mazatlan: Part 3: Things to DO: Huana Coa canopy adventure

As I mentioned in yesterdays post about the tequila tour - on the same property in foothills of the Sierra Madre mountains awaits the Huana Coa canopy adventure (aka zip lining!)

 

 

 

This zip-line tour/course consists of nine runs totaling 1 mile and divided up between 12 platforms mounted in trees and hills of the semi-desert tropical jungle.

Upon arrival, (and the zip lining is BEFORE the tequila tour - although a shot or two would have been nice to alleviate the jitters hah) we were given a small locker to stow our valuables (purses, etc) before the guides fit us with our zip lining gear - a body harness, helmet and heavy duty leather gloves. 

As we has discussed taking part in this trip prior to coming out and knew we would want to take photos, I had purchased a cheap (don't judge me) fanny pack.  Yes, it looked dorky, but it was perfect to tuck my camera into.. (and for the record, you don't see it on me in the photos as it conveinently was too large for my waist and had to be worn by one of my friends. Whooops hah).  Otherwise, I would only recommend ONLY taking a camera along if you have a VERY secure pocket (IE zipped) to tuck it into. 

 

After being fitting, we were loaded up into an old school army vehicle called a Pinzgau, a Swiss-terrain vehicle that eased up the side of the foothills along a VERY narrow and steep dirt path - THAT alone was an adventure! 

 



After a short walk, the guides gave us an explanation of what the techniques and safety measures such as hand placement were, along with descriptions of the hand gestures from the guides, more safety, etc.. I am pretty sure I absorbed 2% of it, as I was too busy being petrified.. Did I mention one of my biggest fears is heights? 

 

From there, we were divided up into smaller groups and led to begin our journey!

 

 

I should mention, the platforms are about 50 feet off the ground!  Eeep!  Though I was petrified for the first run, I honestly felt safe as the guides really put you at ease with their professionalism (they each have over 200 hrs of training) mixed with humor... and the fact they double check the lines EVERY run and are there to help if need be.

The above photo is a look of terror, I think :-)

 Remember how I said the guides are there to help?  Below would be a such a situation - THAT would be a photo of me stuck in the MIDDLE of the line as apparently when you are light, you do not fly with as much ease while doing the one hand on the line technique.  Yup.

 

Once we reached the end of the lines (about 2 hrs later) we finished with straight rappel down to ground level.. Again, a look of terror on my face.



 

All in all, I had a blast!  I would HIGHLY recommend checking out Huana Coa.  Even though I was initially terrified, this was a highlight of my trip, for sure!

 





Website: http://huanacoa.s462.sureserver.com/

Travelling to Mazatlan: Part 3: Things to DO: Los Osuna Tequila distillary

How can you go to Mexico and NOT have some tequila?  C'mon! 

I have to say before going to Mexico, I was not a fan of tequila.  The cheap crap I had grown used to at home turned my stomach and pretty much tasted like paint thinner to me.. well, what I would assume paint thinner would taste like as I am also not in the habit of drinking paint thinner... but yeah, I digress... basically, I did not like tequila.

However, I am also one to say "When in Rome!" (or Mexico as it may be) and tried the local tequila.

Hello, Tequila!  Where have you been all of my life?  Good tequila is smooth and has a crisp woody taste.  IT is meant to be sipped, not shot and chased with a lime (but don't worry, there are good tequilas that are also enjoyed perfectly well that way)

The last time I was in Mazatlan, I had to chance to book a chartered trip to visit the Los Osuna Tequila Distillery and see first hand (and taste!) how tequila is made - from the harvesting of blue agave plants RIGHT on the property, to the bottling!

Located about 45 min outside of Mazatlan, this is one of those trips that is worth the time & cost (We were able to get a group deal - about $60 US for the 45 min tour which included transportation, the tequila tour AND the zip lining on site - more about THAT later)

Meet your tequila... THAT is agave!

Cooking/baking the agave pinas in this oven, before they are crushed to extract the liquid

 

 

Turning the agave into liquor!  The above mentioned liquid is fermented then distilled

 

Actual oak barrels aging the tequila

The guide explaining about the different types of tequila.  We were taught about the types, invited to taste them and learnt how you experience different notes of the tequila depending on which nostril you sniff from.  Like wine, you can tell a lot about tequila by the notes and legs. 

 

 

I actually had no idea there were different types of tequila:
Plata (silver) which is a clear/light colored drink aged less than 45 days.  Gold tequila is silver tequila with coloring added.
Reposado tequila that has been aged between 60 days and 11 months.
Anejo tequila aged at least one year in wood, and Extra Anejo is aged three years in wood.

Cool, right?

And the end of the tour?  ALL you can drink tequila!  Aye, dios mios!

 There is also a gift shop on site where you can purchase a bottle or two of this lovely tequila for a reasonable price!  So all in all, a trip you should look into if you find yourself in Mazatlan!