Reset search
Mexico
Satellite

Mexico
Comunidad Isla de la Piedra

Discover travel destinations of travelers writing a travel journal on FindPenguins.
Travelers at this place
    • Panamerikana mit dem E-bike
      Day 46

      Mazatlán

      May 5, 2019 in Mexico ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

      La Paz 3 und Mazatlán vermischen sich etwas, aber jeder, der mir bisher folgen konnte überlebt auch Weiteres.
      Nach dem Aufstehen und einer weiteren heißen Dusche, fühlte ich mich restlos vom Sand des herrlichen Strandes befreit. Lediglich die Schultern reagieren noch sensibel auf Kleidung. Da half auch Sonnenschutzfaktor XXXXXL nicht.
      Ich flüchtete aus dem Zimmer, um mir keine Unterkühlung zu holen (ich übertreibe), und kam mit einigen Leuten ins Gespräch. Ein 74-jähriger Mexikaner erzählte mir, er machte eine Rundtour zu Fuß durch sein Land und wenn er keine Lust hat, nimmt er den Bus. Jeden Tag braucht er aber seine Tabletten fürs Herz, und Zucker hat er auch. Eine junge Deutsche studiert in La Paz Ozeanographie, einer der größten Universitäten auf diesem Gebiet, ich kenne nur Kiel, und ein verwegend aussehender Typ reist mit seinem Motorrad durch Mexiko. Er hat früher als Architekt gearbeitet.
      Meine Beine sind immer noch müde von der langen Tour. Beim Tennis dürfte ich den Ball momentan zweimal aufkommen lasse.      Read more

      See translation
    • Roch PelletierMexico 2019
      Day 4

      Airbnb Nb Nb

      December 16, 2019 in Mexico ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

      AIR BNB
      For most of our travel, Brenda and I book our accommodations through Airbnb and we have, for the most part, been very happy with our lodging and with the service provided by Airbnb.

      In June, when we were booking our Mazatlan stay, we were already a little late to get the choicest spots in our desired location. We figured that our options would only diminish as we got closer to tourist season, so we booked our entire 85 day stay at a listing in Centro, Mazatlan's historic area.

      Before we arrived we had several email exchanges with the host, who was always responsive and helpful. As we were uncertain of our ETA she left the keys for us in a lockbox at the entrance door.

      By the time we arrived night had fallen, but we couldn't initially get the lights to turn on. There was an overwhelming chemical smell in the apartment that I thought might be insecticide. We couldn't find the wifi address or password to contact the host. The last straw was the bathroom layout. When we opened the door we realized the shower stall and toilet shared the same space, which we've seen before in Europe. However, in this case, one had to go through the shower area to get to the toilet. In other words, if we had to use the toilet after we had showered on the morning, we had to walk over the wet floor.

      Things were not going well.

      After we got our phones working, we contacted the host and told her we could not stay under these conditions, particularly since we were scheduled to be here for three months. She came and met us the following morning and agreed to let is out of the contract with no penalty, which was very nice of her.

      NB
      In the interim, Brenda and I had been scrambling to find alternative accommodations, but as we suspected, picking were pretty slim. Brenda found a place in the relatively upscale Machado area, but it was already booked from December 24 through January 3. We decided to book it for all the available dates through March 6 and moved in here for the first part of our stay to December 24.

      NB
      So what are we to do over Christmas and New Year's? Brenda has generously invited me to spend the holidays and my birthday with her in Mexico City until January 4. We've heard there's a booming vegan culture there and were excited to try it out.

      Our hosts at our Machado Airbnb have agreed to hold the bulk of our luggage while we're in Mexico City so we can just travel with our carry ons.

      So that's it. After our European trip where we were packing and unpacking continuously, we were looking forward to arriving here, unpacking only once and repacking when we returned to Vancouver. Sometimes the best laid plans find a way to go awry.      Read more

    • Roch PelletierMexico 2019
      Day 28

      Jesterday....

      January 9, 2020 in Mexico ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

      When we arrived in Mazatlan we saw posters everywhere advertising a Beatles tribute concert at El Teatro Angela Peralta, a fully restored 19th century opera house. Given my love of the Fab Four and our desire to visit the opera house, we went to the box office and snapped up tickets for the January 9 show.

      The opera house is a beautiful piece of architecture with a facade graced by four Roman columns. The theater originally opened in 1874 and, while it operated continuously until 1964, poor maintenance caused it to fall into disrepair and, eventually, ruin. In 1975, it was flooded by Hurricane Olivia and was for a time used as a parking garage with a giant ficus tree growing at center stage. In 1985, the city had the building slated for demolition, but a group of concerned citizens staged the first Mazatlan Cultural Festival in the ruined and roofless structure, complete with a symphony orchestra performing in front of the dilapidated stage and under the ficus tree at it's center. The grand lady was saved!

      Through public and private funding, the building was restored to it's former glory and was declared a national historical site in 1990.

      Attending a concert there is a treat. The hall has only eight hundred forty one seats, and there's not a bad one in the house. Acoustics are outstanding and the restored cast iron balconies project the history of the venue.

      It's a must see for any visitor to this city.

      Now, about the show. Last year Brenda and I attended a "Beatles" concert in Vancouver that included orchestration provided by the VSO. Admittedly, we were a little spoiled by that one and I guess our expectations for last night's show were pretty high.

      As it turns out, the band on stage this night, Grupo Help!, was formed in Mexico City in 1985 by three Beatles-loving brothers. During the show, they covered three eras of the Fab Four's career, and did an admirable job with the music and hitting the right notes vocally. But there was no disguising their Spanish accents.

      She loves you, ja, ja, ja....

      Jesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away...

      They even managed to perform one of my favorites from 1967's Sargento Pimienta, A Day In The Life.

      And despite the Latin rather than Liverpudlian accents and a few annoying technical glitches, the show was very entertaining and well worth the 500 peso price of admission.

      I am the walrus, koo koo kachoo!      Read more

    • Roch PelletierMexico 2019
      Day 73

      Combate Naval

      February 23, 2020 in Mexico ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

      In 1864, the Mexican army and navy succeeded in repelling a French force that was intent on capturing Mazatlan. The French flagship, La Cordelière, was heavily damaged by Mexican cannon fire during the battle.

      Every year during Carnaval, the battle is recreated with a free fireworks display that is, for many, the highlight of the celebrations.

      Last night, Brenda and I braved the crowds and patiently awaited the 11:00 PM start of the pyrotechnics. The number of people attending was truly impressive, with every inch of El Malecon filled with revelers.

      The show started with a spectacular display put on by dozens of drones that was, as far as we were concerned, the highlight of the show. "Mazatlan" was spelled out in the night sky with a pulsating red heart behind the word. Then the drones reformed to announce "Carnaval '20". The music changed and the drones drew out a line of three cannons and a blue, blanc et rouge masted ship, which was rapidly sunk by cannon fire.

      The drones retreated and the fireworks got under way with a bombastic, but somewhat frenetic, display. Frankly, both Brenda and I were a little disappointed by the performance which was impressive in its aggressivity, but chaotic in its presentation. There was no lull in the action with shells constantly exploding at both low and high altitudes. Although one could argue the display was synchronized to the non-stop upbeat Latin rhythms blasting over the PA system, it all came across as a little heavy-handed.

      Nonetheless, it was something we felt compelled to attend and can now check it off our to do list.      Read more

    • Roch PelletierMexico 2019
      Day 75

      Carnaval Parade

      February 25, 2020 in Mexico ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

      Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Tuesday, call it what you will, but the days leading up to Ash Wednesday, the commencement of Lent, inspires celebration throughout the Christian world. The forty day period leading up to Easter Sunday is a time where many Catholics commit to fasting, as well as giving up certain luxuries in order to replicate the sacrifice of Jesus Christ's journey into the desert for 40 days; this is known as one's Lenten sacrifice. Thus the elaborate parties in preparation for the fast.

      The Mazatlan Carnaval celebrations ended on Tuesday with the second of two parades along the Malecón. This parade and celebration is much more tame and family oriented than the parades at New Orleans’ Mardi Gras. Drinking is done on a small scale and there is none of the nudity that is so prevalent in the USA, although some of the parader’s costumes left little to the imagination. All of the country’s respective floats matched the themes of their statues that have decorated the city for the last couple of weeks. Each float was preceded by a dance troupe clad in colourful and imaginative costumes aso matching the theme. Candies, t-shirts, noise-makers and water bottles were tossed into the crowd by the people riding on the floats and all of this was backed by a non-stop barrage of up-beat Latin music.

      Brenda and I left before the end of the parade as our bellies were starting to cry out for food by 7:30, but we thoroughly enjoyed the two hours of it that we saw.

      As much as we enjoyed Carnaval, we’re glad the city is now returning to the peaceful, uncrowded place we’ve come to love.      Read more

    • TravelerDive&Bike au Mexique
      Day 54

      📍 -Mazatlan

      December 10, 2021 in Mexico ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

      Journée avec les 2 couples suisses à profiter de Mazatlan
      Café/pain le matin
      Puis une version de la raclette mexicaine en resto typique après avoir chercher longtemps.
      Visite d'un vendeur de tortillas et des décos de NoëlRead more

      See translation

    You might also know this place by the following names:

    Comunidad Isla de la Piedra

    Join us:

    FindPenguins for iOSFindPenguins for Android

    • 2024© FindPenguins
    • Home
    • About us
    • Blog
    • Group Tracking
    • Press
    • Terms
    • Privacy Policy & Cookies
    • Support
    • Legal notice