Day 1 in Mazatlan

The morning started with a 9 am tour.  We were picked up at the campsite by five "Pulmonias".  They are open air Volkswagons.  Jude picked the car with the coolest rims and it just so happened that the tour guide landed in our car.  Each one seats 3-4 people plus the driver.  Our guide was so wonderful and told us all about the city!  She said that Mazatlan first got small Pullman Motor driven taxis years ago.  These small open air taxis arrived in the winter and people nicknamed them "Pneumonia".  At some point, they were swapped for VW's but the name stuck - so hundreds of "pneumonias" drive around the city transporting tourists wherever they would like to go.  It is a really fun way to explore the city - and a relief to not have to drive our big trucks around.  

Our first stop was the malecon - a beachside walkway filled with vendors and paper mache statues celebrating upcoming Carnival.  Many of Mexico's cities have large metal letters with the city's name, so we took a group picture in front of the Mazatlan sign.  As we headed towards old Mazatlan, we stopped and watched cliff divers drive 45 feet into water only 6' deep.  It was wild!  Next we drove to the older part of the city and were able to get out and walk around the cathedral.  Jude asked about ice cream, so our new friend Alma took us to a little stand behind the church -- she had me try cheese and corn flavored ice cream -- I tried them but happily settled on chocolate for my pick.  

We drove past the large a general market, a flower market and the shrimp market.  Mazatlan is known as the shrimp capitol of the world, so they had shrimp in all shapes and sizes - some larger than my hand!  

Next up was a lunch at -- guess where? -- back to Mr. Loronzo's - the same restaurant as last night.  Many people ordered the shrimp and we really enjoyed our food.  Jude bought a boogie board to use at the beach near our campground.  We headed back to the campsite after lunch and relaxed a bit.  Stuart and Jude went into the waves so he could use his boogie board.  Buster and Blu also ran around the beach together.  

It was really fun to be at the same beach that local people visit.  Families were gathered and vendors were selling trinkets and donuts on the beach.  A wedding started right outside of our campground later in the afternoon -- in fact - it's 8:30 pm right now and the music is still going for the wedding festivities.  We are settled into the camper for the night.  Tomorrow we have another tour - to the countryside this time.  It has been a packed weekend!