5C's Que Pasa

Certainly not a fun day in Mazatlan for these cruisers.

Then six of us literally crammed into our car.  We were on our way to the Plazuela Machado.

We were going to La Bohemia restaurant, which is located inside a colonial era mansion, for dinner and some live music.  Note the open ceiling and neat architecture.

Our group, who just happened to be the three sets of RVers that went traveling in January.

We were there to listen to one of the best ever performances by Johnny O.  He comes from Colorado and the rest of the band were hand picked from the best of the best musicians in Mazatalan.

Blues have never sounded so good.  They all played from their souls.

We have been fortunate to listen to many of these fellows over that last few years.  This was the first time that we heard Howard, who comes from Vancouver, B.C.,  play.  He really knows how to bring the best sounds out of his sax.  Best of all we were sitting right there next to the band.

Colin with Johnny O.

I think that this very tall Carnival monigote made of paper mache is very apropos.  The perfect choice for the Plazuela based on all of the live music that is performed there and in the surrounding area.

As you know we ( RV on the left ) went on a one week trip in our Jeep.  The folks in the middle flew to Oaxaca and did a bus trip to Puerto Escondido. They were gone three full weeks.  The folks in the Cougar along with friends of theirs from the back row went on an almost two week bus trip. They first stopped in Guadalajara and then moved on to Guanajuato and then to San Miguel de Allende for a few days.  Interesting that we were all gone at the same time at one point.

So the happy hour Monday evening was to share everything about the Guadalajara bus trip.  The folks who flew to Oaxaca only got back late yesterday evening.  Likely we would have also had a happy hour then, but it was cool and windy.

We were so happy to have a sunset Monday.

We really missed seeing the sunset while away.

It turned out to be one of those special ones.

So glad to be back on the Isla.

This fellow was entertaining on his balcony, not very good, but enough to draw a crowd.

The beach is short but it certainly holds a lot of people, a real mix of visiting Mexicans, Americans and Canadians.  Many snowbirds fly down and simply rent a hotel room for a few months.

We pretty much walked from one end of the beach to the other.  I met up with two fellows at the Flamingo RV park who plan to visit the Isla in March, one coming sooner than the other.  They had contacted me through RV.net and I just happened to be in the area, so we were able to visit and I helped them with a variety of details. That RV park along with others kick out the RVing snowbirds so they can fill the park with Mexican tenters over Semena Santa, much more lucrative for the park.  What is amazing it that the one fellow is camping in the exact same spot that Colin and I had been in about 15 or so years ago.  We looked at each other and shook our heads as we had no idea how we could ever get our 40 footer into that spot again.  Oh to be young and fearless.

Lots to see.

Colin thought that maybe we should come next year and rent a room on the beach to watch all the activity.  I had to remind him that we already are renting a spot on the beach which has much less activity but is still interesting to watch.  He tends to become focused on his guitar for hours on end and doesn’t see as much as I do 🙂

The pelicans were rather tame walking around everyone looking for handouts.

We stopped for a final visit with Sandy and Rex.  An endless sea of umbrellas.  I don’t think the Isla gets this busy even during Easter week and this is just a typical weekend.

We walked to the other end of the beach in search of our first meal of the day.  It was after 2PM but we were still full from all the food the day prior.  This a view from our table.  I like the palm shadow on the sand.

There we are. They were kind enough to pull our table forward into the sun for us.

Our direct view.  Lots of fishing boats anchored at this end of the beach.  My very good margarita on the left, Colin was drinking limonada natural.

There is just the one all inclusive resort in the area and I guess this is one of their scheduled activities.

The guys in green were leading the ladies and the one guy in the back row.  They seemed to be having a good time.

We started Friday with a short walk around the hotel.  There are many Indigenous people from Oaxaca in the area and they are most interesting with the their many varieties of dress and customs.  Then there are the wonderful crafts that they are selling

This fruit looked interesting but we did not buy it.  Can anyone identity it?

We had a short visit with Hanna and Bobbie whom we have not seen for 10 years.

They spent a few years with us in Acapulco but are now RV in Lo de Marcos.

Then we went to visit a few friends at Cruz Maria, another RV park in Lo de Marcos where we know several couples.  Lunch was with Donna and Bob. A few others were unable to make it at the last moment. We turned into this town which was the way to an unusual luncheon stop.

Had Bob not said to trust him I am not sure that we would have continued to follow him. We have never had to ford a river for lunch before.

Next came a long and dusty trail.

Up and down hills and around several corners.

And then suddenly there was this vista.  There is one lone umbrella on that lovely beach.

This was the restaurant we were having lunch at in the middle of nowhere or so it seemed.  Donna, Bob and us were the only customers.  It has a good menu and everything is pristine.  The bathrooms had stalls with doors, toilet seats and electric hand dryers.  Totally first class but so very far away from everything.  It took us at least 30 minutes to drive there from the turn off.  No one goes there.  There are some rumors that it is a money laundering place.

What a view!

If it were not so far to drive to, nor on such a bad road, it would be the ideal place to spend several hours,often. You could walk the beach forever.  It is between Lo de Marcos and Guayabitos but you would be unable to find it without a guide.

On the way back we had to pull over to let these trucks pass. No idea where they were going as the restaurant is at the end of the road.

We stopped to enjoy the view before we descended into the valley. Sadly I did not get a photo of Donna and Bob this time.  I was preoccupied by the location.  Great lunch.  We will be seeing them here in March before they head home.

Who knew that a dusty little village held such a secret lunch location.

We were only back in the hotel to relax for an hour before changing and heading out to meet other friends.  Now that is a margarita!  Lots of ice though.

Dinner at Penida Restaurant in Guayabitos with Roger, Chris, Kathleen, Ron and us.  That was a fun evening. Lots of laughing and chatting.  Roger and Chris on the left are staying in Cruz Maria in Lo de Marcos while Kathleen and Ron are staying in the La Penita RV park.

So we walked over to the Thursday market.  It has grown over the years and covers many blocks.  We wandered around for a few hours.  We needed nothing but Colin did buy a very nice leather wallet for 220 peosos/$13.35CAD/$10.90USD.  It has many compartments and card slots but is very thin.  A good purchase.

There is a new but short malecon. As you can see we have not had the best weather for our road trip.

These birds have found an interesting place to roost.

We then headed over to Paraiso del Pescador RV Park to see friends and blog readers Sandy and Rex.  After some chit chat and a glass of vino for me we headed over to La Vista restaurant for a late lunch  or early dinner.  My head had been spinning from our late night and little sleep but after a few hours with these wonderful folks I was totally back to normal. A beautiful view overlooking Guayabitos but better enjoyed on a clear day.  We had RVed here for three years, maybe 15 – 17 years ago.

All our meals were gourmet. I had the mahi mahi teriyaki.  The margarita was excellent.  One of best meals we have enjoyed anywhere this year.

I think that Sandy and Rex have the best RV site all along this area of the coast.  The structure at the top left of the photo is the restaurant we dined at.

Our first sunset on this voyage.  The RV park as well as Guayabitos pretty much faces North so the sun does not set over the ocean in front but more around the corner to the left.