Now before I begin let me put to rest a couple of rumors running around out there. While I don't know this to be curtain I still suspect this to be true.
- No I am not dead or at least at the time I posted this blog.
- No I have not given up sailing. I sailed down and back to Puerto Vallarta from Mazatlan and then after a couple of weeks I sailed over to the Sea of Cortez to play around my favorite islands and clear blue waters.
I spent a number of months in Mazatlan from early summer until March the following year. Summer time was to hide from hurricanes since I have no desire to experience that event again. The fall and winter months were spent there to enjoy the pleasant weather before pushing off when the weather is more predicable.
I threw off the dock lines in March to sail down to Puerto Vallarta to visit friends there and to wait for the arrival of a very large cruise ship that carried my brother in-law and sister in-law. I showed them around a bit and then after our feet became sore we went to my boat in a near-by marina to kick back and enjoy a couple of cocktails after which we selected a nice restaurant to enjoy a mid-afternoon lunch. Then I sent Harry and Kris off to rejoin the ship before it sailed off without them. The three of us had a very enjoyable time. I will post a couple of photos I took while walking around the Malicon.
I stayed around PV for another couple of weeks before heading back north to Mazatlan where again I held up waiting for a friend to get his boat ready to sail off. He is a new sailor and a new boat owner with little experience with both. I offered to wait for him to get his boat ready and I offered to sail aside him over to La Paz in case he had problems. All went well and be both arrives safely in La Paz where I was anxious to meet up with some more friend. Izi, the new sailor, had some problems on our way up the Sea of Cortez so I helped him return to La Paz for repairs. I decided to sail alone into the Sea giving Izi my route with hopes he could meet me along the way since it was going to be a week or so before he could set off again. All went well.
We are now back again in La Paz while Izi is again having problems with his boat. Me? I am just chilling her while I wait for my friend Tracy visiting from California. Looking forward to having someone from back home visiting me. Unfortunately it seems like everyone is caught up in their busy lifestyles to take time to meet me down here. Now I hope that note has put a big guilt trip on you and I am flooded with guests.
Let me share some photos now that you have a brief summary of what I have been doing.
Mazatlan has one of the largest shrimp fleets in the world. Here is an area nicknamed The Shrimp Ladies. As you can see in this and the next photo there are large barrels of shrimp of all sizes and shapes. The cost is around $6:00 a pound.
Here are some of the usual suspects standing around before picking up the shrimp.
The best part of selecting your shrimp is walking across the street where we hand over our catch to the waiters where they then take the same into the kitchen to cook them to your liking. The cost is 50 Pesos a kilo. A kilo is a bit over to pounds and 50 Pesos is at today's exchange rate $3.00. Now your challenge is to find anywhere in the U.S.,Canada or Europe that provides the shrimp and services for this price. Here we wait for our order of beer and shrimp.
Big-a-da boat that brought Harry and Kris.
Harry and Kris
Beautiful cathedral in PV.
Famous sculpture in PV.
Harry, Kris and Marian. Marian crewed with me from PV back to Mazatlan where I found it necessary to fire her. A long ugly story. Here we are all enjoying the moment.
I bought these three masks for my older Grandsons. The one year old will have to wait for his simular gift until he is older. These masks are made by hand one bead at a time.
A couple of friends as we sat down for dinner at a restaurant on the beach.
Now most of you have heard about a worm in a bottle of tequila. Has anyone seen or heard of a snake in a bottle of tequila? This was on a table next to us where they actually had a drink out of this jug. Needless to say it never reached our table by request.
Just another wonderful sunset.
A church in San Blas which is along the route between Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta.
Anyone out there looking for alligator shoes or belts?
Roy and I are about to set down to a great meal on the beach in San Blas. Roy sailed with me from Mazatlan to PV to give his wife a break. :)
A Taco stand in La Paz. The tacos were and are great.
Some notable anchorages.
A new restaurant at one of the anchorages.
Pyramid rock
From my viewpoint this looks like a Blue Whale jumping out of the water. See if you agree.
Don't bother me. I am sleeping.
I said don't bother me!
Unusual lava flows at one of the anchorages.
A popular anchorage.
And finally, I can't leave you without another sunset.
I am sorry it has been a while since last blog but I also have a busy lifestyle. Eat your heart out. :)
Until next time, Be safe out there.
Denny
s/v Dolce Vita
