Off to Sea the Wizard: Mazatlan

Mazatlan Waterfront

Arrived in early morning as dawn broke, we could see land but were still six miles out...we watched as the shoreline took shape. Our destination waypoints were marked in latitude and longitude on the chart plotter, so we knew our heading, but it was hard to make out the harbor entrance...not until we got really close to land did we finally see the markers to note the channel entrance! Definitely, you don't want to make a night land fall in Mexico!

Entrance markers to the El Cid Marina

Along the waterfront of Mazatlan

Once we saw the breakwater for the El Cid Marina, the landing became easy. The marina is small surrounded by the Hotel El Cid with time share condos and pools. Many Baha Ha Ha cruisers have made this their first mainland destination so we are reconnecting with several friends:

Dot & Larry on s/v Silk

Elizabeth & Brian on s/v Autumn Wind

Nancy & Ken on s/v Gitane

Ken & Patty on m/v Oogachaka

We have arrived in Mazatlan! It's a beautiful beach town/city with multiple beach front hotels, restaurants and resorts steaming with tourists and locals...we enjoyed visiting the Mercado, where locals shop and the historic downtown plaza for dinner and music....

With friends at the Mercado...

A flurry of activity the first few days:

-first check in boat paperwork- we are not even in the marina 10 minutes, still "glassy-eyed" from the all night passage and I catch a walk into town with friends to finalize our TIP( temporary import permit) the necessary permit for transient boats in Mexico

Fresh meats at the Mercado

Pig's head, anyone?

...Next day a taxi ride to the Old Town and Mercado to see the sights. The Mercado has mass quantities of hard goods, fruits, vegetables, meats and "taquerias...we peruse the wares and the vendors watch closely...if you touch something or focus on an item, they immediately "pounce"..."for you, only 10 pesos!" they say... or "try it, you'll like it!"...all spoken in broken English as we answer back in broken Spanish!