5C's Que Pasa

I went into Mazatlan the other day to get my hair done at Tippy Toes.  So nice to have a real professional in town to do what needs doing.  Colin joined me later and we just strolled around for a bit before ending up for a late lunch/early dinner at the Plazuela Machado.  There were four restaurants open at 3 PM and we had no trouble finding a place to have a great meal.  It is so wonderful that I can walk around town this year, such freedom.

Always so much to see on each street.

I have so many emails requesting information about this and that regarding Mexico I have decided to incorporate some of my answers into a blog post.

Susan H asks” I noticed in the picture of the computer with the magic jack phone plugged in.  What do you use for internet when you are not plugged in at an RV park with internet? I am curious as that is something we are looking into for next year.  Also I am curious about what you need to take your dogs across the boarder into Mexico.  Anyway when you get settled on the Isla and have a free moment I would love to hear from you. “

Susan I’m not sure if you are referring to a US RV park or here in Mexico.  In a recent post I explained that we have been using Verizon wireless but no longer.  In Mexico if an RV Park has no internet than we don’t either.  Here at Tres Amigos RV Park the wifi system is very good until it for some unknown reason drops off now and then.  Fortunately that only happens about 1% of the time.  As we need a new system for the USA we have decided to order a device that will allow us to create our own wifi hotspot  whether we are in Canada, the US or here in Mexico.  It is an unlocked device and we will just change the SIM cards depending on where we are.  Many people already have ipads or Smart phones that you can do this with.  We did not want the expense of  buying something we would not use so came up with this device idea instead.

As to dogs or cats, you need to carry proof of their rabies shots as well as have your vet fill out an International Travel Certificate.  I did a blog post in 2011 on this subject.  In all our years of travel to Mexico we have only been asked to show our papers once while crossing back into the USA.  I suggest that if your pets are on a special diet that  you bring all your food with you.

Love the colors! Those birds are fake.

Lots of Christmas decorating taking place. Stylish.

Janet A suggested……Would it be worth a post to advise first timers what they SHOULD purchase in Canada or the US before crossing. You cannot buy Hawkins Cheezies in the US!  So, have heard about mayonnaise and butter. What is the beef about bringing beef? We drink Carolyn’s every morning with our coffee, so like your Vino Blanco, we are going to ensure we have enough for our 65 day trip. May have to get inventive hiding it in our camper!  Love the posts and pictures, look forward to seeing your posts every morning when I fire up the IPad.

Janet, what to bring is really is up to the individual.  There are so many things that you can only get in Canada and then there are things I can only buy in the US.  You can get mayonnaise here but it might not be your brand, you can get butter at the Mega store, it is from New Zealand, some like it and others hate it. If there is something you can’t live without, I suggest that you bring it with you.  We bring a lot because we can and have the space plus I hate going into Mazatlan for basic groceries.  You can get drinkable cheap wine here for about 90 pesos a bottle, too expensive for me.  There is much cheaper wine available but I won’t drink it so I bring my own.  Every year more and more items are being added to the shelves in the Mexican stores.  At one time you could not get canned tomatoes nor mustard nor relish but those can now be found.  Pickles are very difficult to find.  Peanut butter in a jar tends to be the Jiffy type brand.  If you like your peanut butter bring your own. Here in Mazatlan you can sometimes get fresh peanut butter at the organic market on Saturdays.  It is a bit of an experiment as to what to bring.  After your first visit you will know for the next time.  As to beef, it is illegal to bring it into Mexico, their country so their rules.  You can get beef  here and many say it is even better than at home. Kahlua and Baileys are readily found here.  Some food items are less expensive and others cost more than at home.  I promise you won’t go hungry.

Every corner is different.

This little girl was all dressed up and just flitting around the Plazuela. Sorry for the blurry shot.

Snapped this from our table.

All so interesting and so much detail

Thank you to Jean R for information on where to find coconut oil in Mazatlan and a great link about it.

I only noticed on the trip back from Mazatlan that the pangas all have candy cane hook like handles to use for getting getting on and off. A great addition for us older folks.

Thanks for all of your emails, comments on the blog and questions.  Love to answer them.

Tags: Mazatlan, Mexico, sunsets, travel

There is a new place to eat on the Isla.  Best of all it is open late, up to 10PM.   Most restaurants on the Isla close between 5 and 6 PM unless you let them know you are coming in late.  A few weeks ago ( where does the time go ? ) we had a visitor, Jorge.  He and a partner had just opened a new restaurant and wanted to let all of the RVers’ know about it.  So I wrote up a wee blurb that was emailed to all of those here at Tres Amigos.

It is upstairs just before the embarcadero and across the road from the Super Deli.

For a small place I think they have a great menu.

Part of my email blurb……

This morning a young fellow came by to announce the opening of his new restaurant.  Jorge and his partner who is the chef would like to invite us all to give his place a try.

LOCATION:  Directly across the road from the Super Deli and upstairs

HOURS:  1:00PM to 10:00PM

NAME:  RESTAURANT INTERNACIONAL

ALCOHOL:  They so not serve alcohol but we are welcome to bring our own

AMAZING FACT:  Every item shown on the menu below is only 40 pesos per plate

So a few of us decided to check it out for lunch.

The view is pretty nice.

We brought our own vino and cerveza. There were no tableclothes but they do have matching salt and pepper and napkin sets and all the condiments you might need.

We were all served at the same time and the food was hot as well as very tasty.

A large serving of pasta for 40 pesos and it was served with french bread and dipping sauce on a separate plate.

The dorado fish burger was delicious and filled with lettuce, tomato, onion and avocado on a large fresh sesame seed bun.

We all said we would go back.  Meanwhile Val & John have been back as have several others on a variety of occasions.  I have only heard one complaint and that was that the french fries were cooked in too much oil.

On John's second visit he had what he claims to be best hamburger ever in his life. This was the ranch burger and it came with bacon, ham, cheese, avocado, lettuce and tomato. Notice the onion rings on his plate. A new addition. All for approx. $3.06USD. Such a deal.

I sure hope that this place gets enough business to stay open.

 

Tags: Isla de la Piedra, Stone Island

The girls needed their anal glands expressed.  Yes it is uckey but it needs to be done.  At home it is $45.00CAD per dog and here it is 50 pesos each, less than $5.00 and the pulmonia ride is only 40 pesos each way.  Win/ win for us.  The girls don’t like it at all.

Arriving on the Mazatlan side of the embarcadero. A seven peso ride from the Isla, about 50 cents.

We bought half of this dorado for a mere 70 pesos and our neighbors purchased the other half. A real steal of a deal for over 1 kilo of fresh caught dorado aka mahi-mahi.

The girls were with us and we just had to press on.

Wow...new wall art along the way. Someone has been very creative.

Carmeh was good about it all and Caeli only squealed the once.

Many of the RVers use Dr. Rafael at La Jungla. He is a great vat and speaks English.

The pulmonia ride back to the embarcadero was fast.

We boarded the panga for the ride back to the Isla but sat for a bit waiting for it to fill up. Meanwhile another group of folks arrived from the Isla.

This fellow was pulling up a net just a few yards away.

A A pelican waiting for a handout. 

We pass a Mexican Navy vessel pulling out of port.

That is the Isla in the distance.

Hanging around buoy #14.

Back to the car at the embarcadero where some school children were playing during a break from classes.

A quick stop to pick up our laundry where I noticed this house across the road.

All of the this in and hour and a half.  Back to our site on the ocean where re relaxed for the rest of the day.

The dorado before cooking.

After being cooked in garlic and wine.....yum!

Just another day in Mazatlan.

Tags: Isla de la Piedra, Mazatlan, Stone Island, The girls, vet

I have been on the phone with Verizon for the past 45 minutes fighting to cancel my contract.  It took one customer service rep and two supervisors to get what I wanted.  I was strong and never wavered.  They really tried to break me down but I hung in and got what I wanted.  I wanted to get out of my wireless contract.  I set it up over 2 years ago with the intent of being able to only activate it while we transited the USA.  I was able to go online every 90 days and re suspend the service at no charge.  I only paid what we used as we transit the USA twice per year.  A few months ago I was contacted by Verizon to inform me that they were no longer allowing this to happen as it was not legal or in the rules any longer.  Bottom line was that I would have to pay for 6 months of service even though I used under 4 weeks of service annually.  In order to get out of this situation I would have to pay a $95.00USD contract cancellation fee.  So we argued back and forth needlessly.  I even told the last supervisor that she was a great negotiator and used all the correct words and phrase but we were not going to get anywhere.  I finally suggested a mediator.  She finally asked what I wanted and that was when I proposed I only 50% of the fee.  Okay she said!  Done!

I had spent the earlier part of the day sorting out a replacement for my international internet.  That involves shipping from Hong Kong to Mazatlan.  Stay tuned.  Time for some vino and fun in the sun……..

Tags: USA, vino

We started Sunday with a quiet and leisurely stroll along the beach. Loved the laundry drying with a prime ocean view.

At the far end of the beach, the words..." El Mar Es Templo De La Vida". Rough translation..."the sea is the Temple of life" .

As we turned to walk back I picked up a sand dollar, just laying there at my feet.

Our place is just slightly out of the picture on the right. Most mornings we walk in the other direction as we can go for a long ways but today was just a stroll.

Carmeh meets a new friend, try as she did she just could not reach up high enough to get a good sniff. It is early yet and all the restaurants are setting up and waiting for visitors to the Isla.

Yet another new friend.

This fellow was a pug/beagle cross, very interesting dog.

After some relaxation, reading and a smoothie we walked down the beach with Val & John to check out some shirts for sale. The guys each got 3 new shirts and we girls got to carry them. Nice to go shopping and not even have to put shoes on.

John managed to snag this unique hat before Colin even saw it.

After even more relaxing we were treated to a great show in the sky.

So ended our quiet Sunday. Just another perfect day on the Isla.

Tags: Isla de la Piedra, Mazatlan, Mexico, Stone Island, sunsets, The girls