Club Nautico, Old Harbor Mazatlan

We moved South Trail down to the Mazatlan municipal anchorage with the help of our dear friend Capt. Jack Hinely and his fiancé, Elvia. We spent the day “moving” from our slip at the Isla Mazatlan downtown via this great little anchorage at Deer Island where we slipped in for a swim. The municipal anchorage is much more to our liking than the Marina portion north that we spent two weeks at. First off, it is an anchorage and therefore feels much more cruisin’ than a slip. You have to get your dinghy to shore and that requires a little effort. Once on shore, it is a quick jaunt via Pulmonia (indigenous taxi’s of Mazatlan. Picture a golf cart with a VW engine. Good times!) to downtown which is just so fabulous, unique and picturesque. Jack and Elvia live just a few blocks from historic downtown and about a 20 minute walk from where were anchored. They took us to all sorts of fabulous places. We ate at the old town square with Dover. We bought fresh shrimp from the outdoor tiendas and went to a local cantina to have them prepared for us. We went to the historic downtown cathedral. We went to the municipal Mercado where we saw beef and pig heads. Elvia informed me that folks do actually cook these items and they are delicious. After tasting Elvia’s fabulous cooking, I do not doubt that she could make a pig head that I would savor! Instead though, she made me and Craig Chili Rellenos stuffed with shrimp. The best Chili Rellenos we have ever had. Dover got a bowl of Mexican rice from Elvia and now she is his absolute favorite person. It was a very nice dinner for all three of us at Jack and Elvia’s casa. It was on a Saturday night and when we left to walk home to the anchorage all the neighbors were in the streets with tables and chairs and food and music on almost every block! It was magical. Craig and I are not night people. Heck, sometimes we are not day people either. This was a rare look, for us, at the neighborhood, local night life of this amazing city.

Craig and Dover after a meal at one of the lovely cafes in the old town square...  Dover tried to jump on top of the table when we arrived!  Not a practiced city dog!  He was very good after that and sat under the table without so much as a peep while we finished our meal... 

Jack, Elvia and Dover sailing into Mazatlan Harbor on South Trail after spending a few hours swimming and marveling at the sites on Deer Island.

Elvia, Craig and Jack purchasing local shrimp on the street.  We then went to a local Cantina around the corner that cooks the shrimp for you.  Elvia, who was born in Mazatlan, was our designated haggler.  She knows what the prices should be for just about everything and will not let vendors get the better of her gringo friends!  All Hail Elvia!  She really showed us an amazing time in her city!