Trip to Mazatlan

Olas Altos beach (and that ugly building)
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I am getting to be an Old Hand in Mazatlan and got a nice balcony room with sea view in La Siesta Hotel ($44 a night) and was soon out enjoying the walks along the Pacific Ocean. The Ladies Bar at the Hotel Belmar (the hotel is still a dump but they seem to be trying to refurbish it) is still as interesting as ever and with beer at $1 a bottle (50 pence UK), I undid any tension from my 7 hour bus journey through the mountains.

Mazatlan is not spectacular like Puerto Vallarta but it is a pleasing place and the small bay and beach at Olas Altos very attractive. Most of the big hotels are up to the north of the city in the Hotel Zone, but Olas Altos is just a few blocks from the old city centre with its lively plaza, market and shops. There is a lot of rehabilitation of buildings going on here but luckily no ugly new developments (the damage has already been done ; my award for the ugliest building is the seven storey monstrosity next to La Siesta Hotel .. a 1960’s building which now houses a federal agency .. truly ugly and out of place).

Street art ... demolition can be beautiful
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Mostly I like Mazatlan for its Oceanside walk .. a broad promenade which goes on for miles of traffic free walking and great views. I also walked up the hill at the south end of Olas Altos beach to a viewpoint which overlooks the lighthouse and the ferry landing (this is where my cruise ship docked in 2002). There are some lovely homes up there but I fail to see the attraction of the new developments south of there because they are totally cut off from Mazatlan by water .. it must to a long journey to get into the city.

View from my room at La Siesta Hotel
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The restaurant below my hotel is called the Shrimp Bucket and I have always ignored it because it is part of a chain (said to be the first) mostly known as Senor Frog. Usually it is filled with large groups of loud tourists. Because I was having an early start and the place was quiet on a Monday night, I gave it a try and was very pleased (and a bit sheepish for being such a snob). 10 huge coconut shrimp (shrimp coated with toasted coconut) was excellent. With cocktail and 2 beers, the bill was $20 .. not cheap by Mexican standards but good value for the quality of the meal. http://www.mazatlaninteractivo.com.mx/new/en/2006/edition-7/to-the-letter-(shrimp-bucket)/