Trip to El Quelite

I am working on this while trying to watch the Daytona 500 too, both on the laptop. Isn't working too well as every time I try to go back and forth I lose the Internet.  

We've had a couple of busy days. Have been to El Quelite twice and to Centro once. Out to eat a couple of times I'm sorting through my pictures trying to make sense of them. Some are on the phone, some on the camera. The first time we went to El Quelite we hired a driver - I know - We sure do miss having the Jeep. And it is hard to take pictures from the back seat behind the driver. So work with me, I did the best I could. The first thing surprising were the military check points on the road out of town. Both coming and going. Didn't stop us either way or either day but they were there. 

Especially with Carnaval in full run there are lots of police and military personal driving around town . So far it is working. 

The little town just over the bridge before the turn off to El Quelite. They now have a pretty sign. 

They also have a military presence. 

Like I said hard to get some of the pictures I wanted. The arch, looks like it could stand some TLC. Kind of faded and overgrown by the bushes. That was a tractor pulling a wagon in front of us. 

This home always has a big kettle of chicharrons being fried up. Looks like now they are selling other things too. 

Notice the two story house on the left. It is about ten feet wide. Skinny and long and tall. 

I don't remember seeing this pretty house before. 

I'm glad this has been kept up - it is a nice welcome to town. 

We've stopped several times at this store and hotel. And now it is for sale! I wonder why. The store is in the front the hotel in the back and upstairs. Somewhere back in time we got to go up the stairs and see the hotel rooms. But I don't remember when that was. They were really nice. 

This building has been several different restaurants over the years. Looks like it is yet another one now. Hope it makes it. 

We went on Friday and got there about ten o'clock. Vendors were already lining the street. I liked all the little flags and ribbons hanging across the streets. Until later when I discovered they made shadows. 

There were a couple of army trucks and soldiers there right in the middle of town. 

See what I mean about the ribbons and shadows. My favorite buildings have been painted different colors again. 

The shadows make the buidlings and sidewalks look weird. 

There goes Bill right through my picture. 

The big restaurant on the other side of the street, no shadows. 

There is a new mural on the side of this building, you can just see part of it behind the vendors on the right. 

This is a little bit of it. Interesting. A women's face in a tigers mouth. 

I always liked this porch with all the rocking chairs.  The sun was just not in a good place to take pictures. 

Going into the restaurant  This area is usually full of tables!

And so is this! What was going on? 

We were so glad to see Dora there. When we were here last time two years ago she told us she was retiring. Dora and I go way back to the first time we went to this restaurant about 16 years ago. She was one of the waitresses who help me clean up after the iguana pooped on my head. Memorable occasion.

Just thought this was funny on the menu. The underlined part. 

This is the table before we got our meals. Fresh fruit dish for both of us. Cheese made right there in town, By products of the cheese making, for lack of a better description Curds and Whey. Tortilla chips salsa, Fresh squeezed orange juice. Coffee. And Gorditas. Then we got our orders. 

This lady was the other waitress who helped me wash my hair and they also gave me a blouse to wear while they washed mine. She and Bill were remembering. For several years whenever I walked in I was known as The Iguana Lady. 

The way back room of the restaurant. It was not there the first few years we went here to eat. 

A middle room, this is where we were eating. Bill asked why no tables in the front. Dora said they don't leave them out when they are not busy because they just get dirty. There is no roof in the entrance rooms. Open to the air. 

Bill's breakfast. Some kind of marinated meat, French fries and guacamole. He forgot to say no beans. I had scrambled eggs with ham and chilaquiles. 

I have lots more pictures but will include them with Sundays excursion. Leaving town. 

Our driver, Guillermo and his taxi. Bill and for some reason the pharmacist form the pharmacy next door. Have to discuss the state of the world I guess. 

That night - until writing this I didn't realize it was Friday the 13th! That night we went to Torres to eat. I had fish and chips. Good. So will stop here as this is already too long. 

Belated Happy Valentine's Day

 Just a quick post to let all know we are fine. Internet is very iffy. The hotel is full and every one seems to be on their phone and computers. 

We continue to be busy. In fact today we are going out of town to visit one of the small villages we love so much.  Weather is good. Humidity is down. Town is full of people - around 3 to 4 hundred thousand come to Carnaval. Going any where in Uber is more expensive and takes MUCH longer to get any where. But we have gone anyway. Seeing parts of town we've never driven through before. I'll try to post tonight when we get back. Well, after Daytona IF I can get it on laptop. So all is well here. 

The Historic Center of Mazatlan is a feast for the eyes.

We continued our walk in the Centro Historico on Wednesday. We were on our way to this amazing building which houses the restaurant Via Condotti. We were hoping to sit outside but all those tables were full. 

The ceiling inside. 

And this is what we went for Quiche Lorraine with salad. For a while a few years back they quit serving it. If you wanted some you had to buy the whole quiche, which we did a few times. So we were delighted to find it back on the menu. Yum. 

Some pictures from the inside. Looks like Audrey Hepburn to me.

Bill talking to one of the waiters as we were leaving. 

Some pictures of the outside of the building. The tile and wood work around the windows and the balconies. 

Another view of it. 

Tile on the underside of the balcony too. And along the roof line. 

This building is across the street. It is the Casa Haas. Many years ago we got to see the whole inside of it with the contractor who was doing the restoration. Again I have written a lot about it. You can find it by using search feature for the blogs. 

A group of school children were in the building which is now housing a selection of Carnaval Queen's gowns from the past. 

Continuing on down the street towards the Plazuela Machado. This whole street is amazing. Notice the yellow metal gates. They are to control the crowds during Carnaval which started the 12th. When I'm writing this. 

Just pictures of the area we were walking through. 

This building was restored several years ago. Some interesting features on it. 

The other side of the street. 
Tile steps and flooring at the restaurant we eat at on Friday evenings while listening to music. 

Oh, oh, looks like some kind of piping problem. The guy in the blue shirt was really working hard to break up the ground with a steel pole. 

I was really glad this year to see that the Pacific Pearl magazine was being published again. Their office is now in the Plazuela Machado. I always look forward to it coming out while we were in the RV. 

In front of the Angela Peralta Theater, she is intent on where she is going. 

The Music School building on the corner of Constitucion and Carnaval. The first Pulmonia was built here in December of 1965.

Look at the detail on the top of this building. 

"It is typical of those with narrow minds to be against every thing that does not fit within their code." I can't make out who is being quoted. 

Just a street scene. 

There is a gift shop in there. A really neat place. 

More older colorful buidlings. 

Another utility box with a quote. " Here even a poor person feels like a millionaire...,How beautiful everything is in Mazatlan."  Jose Alfredo Jimenez   he was a popular singer and actor 

Colors every where!

This used to have a flower vine painted on it, it was a women's boutique then. Now I don'ts know. But I like the horse.

We picked up my now black sandals from the shoe repair man and went on home.