CHAPTER 21B. MEXICO - MAZATLAN

We go first with the Myers to the Mazatlan Torres Resort on the beach quite a ways north of the main resort area; it is beautiful and luxurious with several 5 story buildings containing the suites, pretty grounds, tennis courts, pool, and a good restaurant. It is, however, a long bus ride to stores and restaurants.

The Myers also have a time share at the El Cid Resort and we move to it with them. It is not as luxurious as the Torres (no dishwasher) but is closer to stores and restaurants. While there we attend a sales breakfast and buy a time share, something we said we would never do, but it works OK for us as we spend the next 11 winters in Mazatlan.

The time share at El Cid is in a high rise tower close to the water. We have 1 week and are not on the ocean front; our first stay we have Gregg & Mary Jane as our guests and soon decide to upgrade to a suite on the ocean front. We are allowed to bring a week forward from the end of the contract and we soon buy a second week to give us a 4 week stay without moving. The selling point to us is the ability to have guests, and we think our family will enjoy the extensive swimming pools and the nice ocean beach. Our daughter Karen Redman always loved the ocean on our vacations at Hermosa Beach as she was growing up. She and her daughter Nicole come for a week every year, bringing a “boogie board” to ride the waves. One time our other daughter Kathie and her husband George Park come, and another time she brings her children Kyle and Teresa Donovan.

So the “guests” feature works well. One year we are able to entertain for a week our friends and bridge players Bill and Rosemary Lynn whom we met at the Andrea. But we don’t really get to know others staying at El Cid as we did at the Andrea; most are there for only a week and are friendly enough when we meet in an elevator, but we don’t bond. We do see a lot of Gregg and Mary Jane who are usually in Mazatlan at the same time.

There are good restaurants near us, several within walking distance, and some far enough away to require a taxi. The Costa Marinera R. has good fish and a special “fiesta de camarones” hibachi of assorted prawns that is a treat. It is a picturesque place on the beach and often has mariachi entertainment; the Lynns really enjoy it, as do family guests. As usual we eat our main meal out about one in the afternoon.

The best restaurant is The Casa Loma, in a residential area about a half mile up a hill from the main road; we take a taxi or open air “pulmonia” going here. In the afternoon it is almost deserted and there may be only one or two other couples there; Gregg always has a birthday party for Mary Jane in the evening there, and it is crowded at night. It was started by a man from San Francisco whose son now runs it; the son’s widowed mother often eats lunch there and we become acquainted with her. The dining room is of dark wood paneling and looks very formal. The fresh fish dishes are excellent and come in a variety of very tasty sauces; they also have a very good marinated hearts of palm salad that we split. After lunch we often walk down the hill to the Bing’s Ice Cream and have a cone before catching a bus or taxi back to El Cid.

We don’t eat much at the El Cid restaurant because the service isn’t good and the food doesn’t arrive hot; we pity the people who take the “all inclusive” option. However there is an Italian restaurant on the premises that has tasty pasta and a good marinated tomato salad and we often eat there.

A block away from El Cid is the Los Arcos, a Mexican R. chain with good fresh fish and shrimp dishes. It is attractively decorated with hanging piñatas and mobiles, has good service and some very tasty dishes like shrimp in green sauce and stuffed fish fillets.

Other restaurants nearby that we find acceptable are the Inn at Mazatlan, a time share on the beach with nice grounds and an al fresco dining area overlooking the water; the Parador, a Spanish restaurant on the main road; and the El Cid Marina where one eats on a balcony overlooking a marina of beautiful large yachts.

Our time at Mazatlan is quiet and restful, with a lot of reading and solving crossword puzzles (we cut out and save NY Times Sunday puzzles for trips). We go out for dinner every day at one P.M.; walk some around the El Cid grounds and sit at the edge of the beach to watch swimmers, vendors, people up in parachutes pulled by boats, beach walkers, etc.; make an occasional trip to the supermarket for breakfast, snack, and margarita supplies; and sit on our balcony in the evening with a margarita to watch the sun drop into the ocean and maybe give us a colorful sunset. We have color TV and satelite so we can keep up with the news via CNN. We even play games of Scrabble, especially when Karen and Nicole are visiting.

All the above is in warm, non humid, weather; although here, as in Guadalajara, we prefer rooms on the south side because they are warmer, and the balcony is better protected when a cool north wind blows.

Our El Cid salesperson, Susan Noseworthy, is very helpful and rescues us a couple of times when we are led astray in the time share world. She helps with reservations for the next visit, and keeps us up to date on the constant changes at El Cid. She even appreciates our “world famous” margaritas and accepts an invitation to come for one each year.

With health problems and advancing age we miss our 2005 winter visit to Mexico, and may not return again. We will not forget the joys of spending some time in Mexico, nor will we forget our great 30, or more, years of extensive independent travel that we were lucky enough to have.