First, there’s the question of just how to get to town—if you drive, it’s at least an hour one-way to get all the way down the peninsula and around the harbor. Fortunately for Isla residents, there is 24-hour panga (boat taxi) service that only takes about 10 minutes and costs only 7 pesos each way (around 55 cents).
You board the panga at the Isla’s embarcadero
One water taxi is reserved only for the pelicans!
The harbor is decent sized, but always a flurry of activity, from giant cruise ships, to freighter ships, to fishing boats, to panga taxis. There’s always something to see and good fresh sea air to breathe along the way.
When you disembark on the city side, there are usually taxis to drive you where ever you need to go in town. But, like the pangas, Mazatlan does those with a unique twist as well! The taxis are called pulmonias and are essentially souped-up gas engine-powered golf carts. Most trips run between 40-70 pesos ($3 to $5).
On my first trip to town, I headed to the Telcel store to have them look at why my SIM card had stopped working (it turned out to be just a simple setting to update, so I was soon on my way down the Malicon back towards the older part of town. Lots more color and character than the large high-rise hotels and condos in the “Golden Zone”
Every casa is different, and most don’t have clothes dryers so they hang laundry up on the roof!
A typical corner store…
A typical residential side street…
Evelyn and I went to lunch at the Panama restaurant next to the Marcado, and as we waited for a table, we admired (but did not sample!) their elaborate bakery.
After lunch, we took a few photos of the main cathedral across the street with vibrant yellow-colored spires.
and then it was time to experience the central Marcardo (market) where you can buy just about anything from fresh produce, meats, and sweets to tourist t-shirts, hats, purses, sandals, and sun dresses!
On subsequent trips to town, I explored the Centro Historico and the Plazuela Machado where all the most colorful and best-preserved buildings are located.
Contessa posted great pics of this trip on her blog. So much more to still explore here!
Love the photos, love the story line. Your shots of the embarcadero are special. Where are those green buoys with the pelicans? I have only seen the red ones! Great post.
ReplyDeleteWhat a colorful world. Great pics.
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures, thanks for the tour!
ReplyDeleteYour last series of posts from the drive down to Yuma has convinced me that the View 24J is the best most practical RV for the single traveler. The info as you present it is very clear and realistic. Reading about the fuel need differences from 2007 to 2008 was enlightening.
ReplyDeleteBetween you and me I would suggest staying on that beach as long as you can, especially since you mentioned it may be developed soon.Here in Hawaii we have seen that process for years. They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.
Now, hey, did Millie coax you into posting that comment?!!! She is so happy here on this beach, I'm not sure I'll ever get her to leave! As I was sitting in the RV a few evenings ago, I was thinking the very same thing about this J floorplan. I really am enjoying it quite a bit more than my last View, but then again, it's serving a different purpose--- this J is not good for hosting more than 1 (short!) house guest, whereas the H could sleep 3-5 people.
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